Stanford University researchers are developing innovative resins to enhance wastewater purification and extract valuable resources, potentially transforming water treatment. Led by William Tarpeh, an assistant professor of chemical engineering, the team is focused on using specialized resins to not only remove contaminants but also recover profitable products like ammonia for fertilizer.
These efforts come in response to a projected global water shortage, with demand expected to exceed supply by 40% by 2030. The initiative, funded by the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment’s Environmental Venture Projects program, aims to make water treatment more efficient and cost-effective. “Wastewater treatment plants are increasingly being reconceptualized as water resource recovery facilities that achieve multiple co-benefits at once,” Tarpeh noted.
The resins, comparable to Brita filter beads, are designed to separate harmful chemicals from wastewater. This innovation offers the possibility of removing persistent perfluoroalkylated substances (PFAS), which are prevalent in various household items. The team is also working on enhancing the production process to make it less costly for water treatment plants, potentially creating new revenue streams from the sale of extracted compounds like ammonia and phosphorus.
Eric Appel, an associate professor of materials science and engineering, is refining these resins’ polymer properties for higher selectivity. The challenge is to distinguish useful elements in wastewater while reducing the costs and time for resin testing. “We can design many different polymers inspired by organisms that naturally filter water or biological receptors that bind to chemicals in water,” said Appel.
Polly Fordyce, an associate professor of bioengineering and genetics, is speeding up the testing phase through microfluidic platforms. This method allows the team to test numerous polymers efficiently, minimizing the need for large-scale experiments. Fordyce compared this innovation to the evolution of computers, from room-sized units to modern handheld devices. “We’re trying to speed the pace of screening and discovery,” Fordyce explained.
By combining their expertise, the researchers aim to facilitate the adoption of this technology within existing infrastructure, enhancing resource recovery from wastewater. “Turning wastewater pollutants into valuable chemical products can help achieve sustainability goals, enable circular economies, and mitigate pollution all at once,” Tarpeh emphasized.
Tarpeh, Appel, and Fordyce hold various positions and fellowships across Stanford’s departments and institutes, contributing broad expertise to the project. The study receives backing from the Woods Institute’s Environmental Venture Projects grants, affirming its potential impact on environmental sustainability.
