Nutrient Pollution Removal and Recovery with a Nature-Based Treatment System
David Sedlak, Professor
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Closed. This professor is continuing with Fall 2024 apprentices on this project; no new apprentices needed for Spring 2025.
Constructed wetlands can passively treat pollutants including nitrogen, pathogens, and trace organic chemicals. Given their low-maintenance and design flexibility, treatment wetlands are appropriate for rural, decentralized, and low-resource settings, and can provide effective, environmentally friendly water-treatment in urban areas.
As part of our research, we are conducting lab-scale batch and flow-through tests to assess the removal of nitrogen, phosphorus, and silica from a diatom-based wetland under field-relevant conditions. Our goal is to use this information to inform the design and adaptation of constructed wetlands to treat a variety of nutrient impaired water bodies.
Role: The undergraduate researcher will focus on research that supports the project including:
1) Assistance with water sampling and microcosm assembly/monitoring;
2) Analysis of wetland performance by monitoring concentrations of nutrients in water samples.
Learning outcomes include development of laboratory skills related to water chemistry analysis and microcosm experimental maintenance. The student researcher also will have the opportunity to participate in data analysis and experimental design as the project progresses.
Qualifications: Prior laboratory experience (pipetting, handling water samples) is preferred but not required.
Day-to-day supervisor for this project: Scarlet-Marie Kilpatrick, Graduate Student
Hours: 6-8 hrs
Related website: http://sedlakgroup.berkeley.edu
Related website: http://bwc.berkeley.edu