The Sustainable Energy Authority Ireland (SEAI) has awarded funding to Professor Muhammad Ali from Trinity College Dublin's School of Engineering for a new project aimed at developing a sustainable process to remove ammonium from wastewater. The innovative biological process also has the potential for resource recovery from ammonium-rich wastewater.

Ammonium is a major contributor to water pollution and is present in many industrial and domestic wastewater streams. Current methods of ammonium removal from wastewater are often energy-intensive and unsustainable, making this new project an exciting development in sustainable wastewater treatment.

Professor Muhammad Ali and his team will develop a biological process that uses naturally occurring bacteria to convert ammonium to nitrogen gas, which is harmless to the environment. The process will be optimized to be both energy-efficient and cost-effective, making it a viable option for wastewater treatment facilities. Furthermore, the project aims to explore the potential for resource recovery from ammonium-rich wastewater.

Commenting on the funding award, Professor Muhammad Ali said:

“We are delighted to receive this funding from the SEAI, which will allow us to develop a sustainable and innovative solution to the problem of ammonium pollution in wastewater. Our approach has the potential to significantly reduce the environmental impact of wastewater treatment while also extracting valuable resources from wastewater.”

The project is expected to run for three years and has the potential to make a significant impact on sustainable wastewater treatment practices. It is an exciting development in the field of environmental engineering and has the potential to benefit both the environment and the economy.

The project is an exciting development in the field of environmental engineering and has the potential to benefit both the environment and the economy. This project is an excellent example of Trinity College Dublin's commitment to research and innovation, which is essential in tackling the world's most pressing challenges.