Wastewater recycling the focus for researchers
‘Smart’ bricks which can recycle wastewater and generate electricity are being created as part of a new project which is also seeking to recover phosphates.
The 3.2m LIAR (Living Architecture) scheme is co-ordinated by Newcastle University and includes experts from the universities of the West of England, Trento, the Spanish National Research Council; LIQUIFER Systems Group and EXPLORA.
The project will develop blocks able to extract resources from sunlight, waste water and air. They are able to fit together and create ‘bioreactor walls’ which could then be incorporated in housing, public buildings and office spaces.
Each block will contain a microbial fuel cell, filled with programmable synthetic microorganisms developed by experts at UWE Bristol.
Robotically activated, each chamber will contain a variety of microorganisms specifically chosen to clean water, reclaim phosphate, generate electricity and create new detergents. The living cells that will make up the wall will be able to sense their surroundings and respond to them through a series of digitally coordinated mechanisms.
The researchers also aim to find ways to reclaim phosphate – a mineral which is becoming increasingly scarce – and create new detergents using the blocks.
Rachel Armstrong, Professor of Experimental Architecture at Newcastle University, UK, who is co-ordinating the project, said: “While this project deals with very small amounts of the substance, the insights we will be able to gather into how communities may collectively harvest reusable substances from their wastewater could potentially create an economy through re-distributing resources through councils, or other interested parties such as washing machine manufacturers.”
The LIAR project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme.
