Modular bioreactor system for passive nitrogen and phosphorus removal from wastewater

Overview

This solution offers a passive, low-cost approach to removing nitrogen and phosphorus from residual water streams using modular bioreactors that cultivate a specialized blend of microorganisms. These microorganisms are designed to isolate, extract, and concentrate nitrates and phosphates directly from wastewater, addressing a critical gap in treatment infrastructure. While many bioreactors exist for general microorganism cultivation, few are purpose-built for the complex and variable compositions found in real-world wastewater. This technology is targeted at applications such as urban stormwater runoff management and decentralized wastewater treatment.

Technical specifications

• Modular bioreactor design — Configurable for varying wastewater compositions, volumes, and turbidity levels, enabling deployment in diverse environments including high stormwater runoff areas
• Specialized microbial blend — A proprietary combination of microorganisms capable of extracting and concentrating nitrates and phosphates from wastewater media
• Validated scales — Tested at both benchtop level (ten 500 mL sterile mason jar reactors) and scaled up to 200-gallon glass tank reactors
• Sampling protocol — Daily 2 mL sterile samples analyzed for nitrate and phosphate concentrations, water quality, and microorganism cell density, with cell counts estimated via 50 uL samples at 100X magnification
• Treatment window — Optimal nitrogen and phosphorus extraction yields demonstrated within three days of wastewater collection
• Observed effect — Microorganism growth lowers the pH of the medium while increasing nitrogen and phosphorus concentration

Technology readiness level

The technology has been validated at both laboratory benchtop scale (500 mL reactors) and intermediate scale (200-gallon glass tanks), demonstrating optimal growth conditions and extraction yields within a three-day treatment window across various media types and reactor conditions. Future validation plans include deploying replicate modular bioreactors in selected areas with high stormwater runoff to test varying wastewater compositions, volumes, and turbidity over an eight-day treatment period, with twice-daily sampling to further assess removal efficacy and operational parameters.