RESEARCH
The Popat Lab researches electrochemical and anaerobic biological processes for wastewater treatment. The overall philosophy is contribute towards the development and deployment of processes that allow recovering energy, nutrients, and water from wastewater, both domestic and industrial. We apply principles from chemical and process engineering, along with the use of electrochemical, imaging, and molecular microbiology tools, to 1) fundamentally understand mass transport processes, kinetics of microbial reactions, and microbial interactions, and 2) design materials and develop schemes for scaling up to relevant levels.
Below is a listing of some of the current projects in the lab.
Below is a listing of some of the current projects in the lab.
CURRENT PROJECTS
MICROBIAL FUEL CELLS FOR SPACE LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEMS
We are studying the possible use of microbial fuel cells (MFCs) for space life support systems in wastewater treatment. In MFCs, anode-respiring bacteria oxidize waste organics to produce electrical current. The electrons respired then move through an external circuit to the cathode, where oxygen is reduced, usually to water. For space flights, because the goal is to recycle as much water as possible, each wastewater stream is segregated to be treated separately. We are studying whether blackwater can be treated in the anode of MFCs to result in current generation. At the cathode, we use carbon catalysts instead of precious metal catalysts, to produce hydrogen peroxide. We are studying how we can increase the efficiency of peroxide production, as well as whether feeding greywater directly to the cathode of MFCs fed with blackwater at the anode, can result in its treatment as well.
ADVANCES IN RENDERING WASTEWATER TREATMENT
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Page still under construction.
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ANAEROBIC MEMBRANE BIOREACTORS FOR DOMESTIC WASTEWATER TREATMENT
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Page still under construction.
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ANAEROBIC CO-DIGESTION OF MUNICIPAL SLUDGE WITH FATS, OILS AND GREASE
Page still under construction.
LANDFILL LEACHATE TREATMENT TO REMOVE UV-QUENCHING SUBSTANCES
Page still under construction.