Fluorescence-Based Optimisation Of Sewage Treatment

Project Information

Fluoro-BOOST

Grant agreement ID: 329962

Project closed

Start date 1 November 2013

End date 31 October 2015

Funded under

• Specific programme "People" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013)

Total cost € 231 283,20

EU contribution € 231 283,20

Coordinated by

THE UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM
United Kingdom

Objective

The aim of this innovative Fellowship is to provide the water industry with a robust yet straightforward technique, based on novel developments in the field of fluorescence spectroscopy, to optimize wastewater treatment works performance, to reduce energy consumption and to monitor final effluent quality in real time.

The treatment of wastewater is an energy-intensive operation. The largest energy usage in wastewater treatment is found in the aeration of settled sewage in the activated sludge process (ASP) which, in isolation, contributes to over half of the energy costs associated with wastewater treatment. Currently, the process is monitored by dissolved oxygen or ammonia probes, but performance of these probes is variable and affected by location and hostile conditions in the plant. Consequently, water utilities often over-aerate in order to achieve compliance with final effluent standards. Therefore, there is a need to optimize the management of ASPs and, specifically, to optimize aeration control in order to minimize energy consumption whilst maintaining final effluent compliance.

We will quantify the relationships between the fluorescence of wastewater at several stages of treatment and standard parameters (biological oxygen demand and chemical oxygen demand) in the laboratory and at full scale. We will apply these relationships to the real-time operation of wastewater treatment works to provide a real-time control system. Meeting the project aim will deliver an appropriate technology, requiring minimal operator training, which will improve control of the ASP and minimise over-aeration, thereby offering tangible environmental and financial benefits and assisting the industry in meeting the requirements of the EU Water Framework Directive.

Fields of science

• engineering and technology › environmental engineering › water treatment processes › wastewater treatment processes
• engineering and technology › electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering › electronic engineering › control systems
• natural sciences › physical sciences › optics › spectroscopy › emission spectroscopy

Programme(s)

• FP7-PEOPLE - Specific programme "People" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013)

Topic(s)

• FP7-PEOPLE-2012-IEF - Marie-Curie Action: "Intra-European fellowships for career development"

Call for proposal

FP7-PEOPLE-2012-IEF
See other projects for this call

Funding Scheme

MC-IEF - Intra-European Fellowships (IEF)

Coordinator

THE UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM

• EU contribution: € 231 283,20
• Address: Edgbaston ; B15 2TT Birmingham ; United Kingdom
• Region: West Midlands (England) › West Midlands › Birmingham
• Activity type: Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
• Administrative Contact: May Chung (Ms.)
• Total cost: No data