Research Projects

India's rapid urbanization has led to significant untreated sewage discharge, polluting water bodies and threatening public health. Conventional wastewater systems are costly, space-intensive, and unsuitable for rapidly growing urban and suburban areas. Conventional anaerobic and aerobic systems also have limitations in treating municipal wastewater, highlighting the need for innovative, decentralized, and compact systems. The project aims to develop an Enhanced Primary Treatment (EPT) unit combining anaerobic and aerobic processes to treat domestic wastewater in a compact, sustainable setup. The primary hypothesis is that a compact hybrid reactor integrating yeast-based anaerobic treatment followed by an microalgal-based aerobic process can effectively reduce suspended solids and organic matter in domestic sewage, thereby minimizing the land footprint required for wastewater treatment. This model proposes that yeast-driven hydrolysis in the anaerobic phase will solubilize suspended solids, while the subsequent microalgal-based aerobic process will increase Dissolved Oxygen (DO) levels, facilitating significant reductions in Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) and Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD). The treated effluent from this system will meet quality standards suitable for safe discharge into water bodies in urban or suburban areas, contributing to sustainable water management in these settings. Major experiments include the following: 1.Reactor Design and Setup: A reactor with distinct anaerobic and aerobic zones will be built. 2. Anaerobic Zone Optimization: Specific yeast strains will be introduced in the anaerobic zone for suspended solids breakdown. Various temperatures and yeast concentrations will be tested to optimize COD/BOD reduction. 3. Aerobic Zone Configuration: Microalgae will be used under continuous LED lighting to mimic natural oxidation, boosting DO levels. 4. Operational Trials and Optimization: Trials will be conducted with adjustments to flow rates, HRT, and lighting conditions. Influent and effluent parameters, such as COD, BOD, DO, and Total Suspended Solids (TSS) will be measured. 5. Data Analysis and Scalability Testing: Results will be analysed to evaluate performance. with a pilot-scale assessment and feasibility study conducted for application in urban and semi-urban settings. Achieving these objectives will mark a significant advancement in wastewater engineering, especially in developing sustainable, decentralized treatment systems. Proving the viability of a yeast and microalgae-based hybrid reactor will offer an efficient solution requiring less land and energy than conventional methods. The reactor's compact design with reduced land is ideal for decentralized wastewater management in urbanizing regions. If successful, this scalable model could provide a resource-efficient alternative to conventional systems, aligning with India's environmental goals and serving as a blueprint for similar applications globally.