Research Projects

The world population is expected to surpass 9 billion by 2050, putting pressure on Earth's resources. Only 20 of the globally generated wastewaters (WW) receive adequate treatment, particularly for pig production, which generates highly pollutant effluents. Conventional wastewater treatment is difficult to manage, particularly for smaller pig farms. Microalgae have shown promising results in removing contaminants with lower energy expenditure, GHG emissions, and costs. However, microalgae growth is sensitive to high ammonia concentrations, which is common in piggery wastewater (PWW). The project aims to develop a farm-scale KIT that integrates a Constructed Vertical flow Wetland (CW), a Microalgae Photobioreactor (PBR), and a Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC) to treat piggery wastewater in small-scale pig production farms. The KIT will produce valuable algal biomass for use as fertilizer, animal feed, and bio-stimulant for pigs, as well as generate electricity for micropollutant removal. The project aims to overcome the long-standing issue of wastewater treatment and nitrogen removal in the piggery industry, allowing reuse of treated water and safe disposal.