Living Machines

Background, Technical and Non Technical Considerations, Case Studies

and Design for Outdoor Lab Facility

Emily Amaya EvansScott LeachJay Shah

Brianna Shanklin

Introduction

Living Machine: Patented system that uses a biological sequence of nitrifying, denitrifying and aerobic bacteria to transform organic wastes, ammonia, and pathogens into desired nutrients supporting plant life downstream

Natural Wetlands and Conventional Wastewater TreatmentCase StudiesTechnical and Non Technical Aspects of Living MachinesDesign

Natural Wetlands and Water Purification

Natural wetlands have provided a mechanism for natural water purification for centuries.

This process capitalizes on the symbiotic interaction of several different natural components.

Conventional Wastewater Treatment: Why?

Though nature has an incredible ability to purify polluted water its ability to effectively thrive under such conditions has been taxed:• Increasingly concentrated pollutants• Increasing volume of wastewater

Conventional wastewater treatment goal: produce contaminant free effluent• Primary Treatment• Secondary Treatment• Disinfection• Tertiary Treatment

Use of Natural Systems for Water Treatment

Recognizing the simplicity and effectiveness of nature's processes, the blending of technology with natural systems may indeed create more efficient wastewater management.

• Ultimately, the communities of microbes that transform waste in the wastewater systems are the same as those used in nature

• Designed ecosystems can remove a wide range of potential pollutants with processes similar or identical to mechanically sophisticated systems, but using simpler components

Mimicking natural environments to treat wastewater is especiallyimportant where conventional treatment is not possible

• In many parts of the world, water is scarce and often polluted • Population density and the location and size of reservoirs create water

distribution problems• Inadequate wastewater facilities pour excess untreated sewage into

rivers, lakes and oceans

Case StudyAdam Joseph Lewis Center for

Environmental Studies

“Is it possible to design buildings so well and so carefully that they do not cast a long ecological shadow over the future that our students will inherit?”

--David Orr, Oberlin professor

Adam Joseph Lewis Center for Environmental Studies

The building was designed to:• Be powered by sunlight• To mitigate the concept of waste• To preserve biological diversity• To restore damaged ecosystem

Living Machine•capable of treating 2,470

gallons/day

Case Study

Environmental Center Living Machine

Case Study

Non-Technical Aspects of a LMBiomimicry and Systems Thinking

Process mimics nature• Recycles and reuses waste: Waste Food• Integrates natural methods with human devices• Decreases output of harmful and wasteful

material to the environment (little true “waste)

LM

Wastewater

Nutrient-enriched water

Purified non-potable

Chemical-, odor-, and noise-freeSmall ecological footprint*Aesthetically pleasingRelatively low costs*Little maintenance*Micro-finance options for developing communties

Non-Technical Aspects of a LM

Advantages Disadvantages

Can attract insects/rodentsNeed to tailor to site location• Flow rate• Climate• Flora and fauna

*Compared to traditional wastewater treatment, including operation and maintenance

Non-Technical Aspects of a LM

Supplemental Uses

Researchers currently studying remediation of various contaminants of concern (COC)• MTBE (fuel additive)

Technical Considerations and Design Procedure

LM capitalizes on natural abilities of organisms to break down macromolecules and metabolize organic nutrients typical of wastewater

Design PrinciplesMineral Diversity – Ex: rainforestNutrient Reservoirs – Nutrients in available form. Ex: nitrifying bacteria require appropriate inorganic carbon source to degrade nitrogenous waste.Steep Gradients – varying redox potentials, pH, oxygen regimes, temperature, and humic and ligand statesIncorporation of Earth Processes/ Whole Systems ThinkingMaximize Surface Area of Living Material in Contact with Waste Stream - floating aquatic plants, upwelling through aeration

Design Principles ContinuedAnimal and Plant Diversity –Four Types of Plants -

FloatingOxygenating-restrict algal growth, add DO, consume

CO2Marginal or “Emergents” – need pruningDeep Water- found in last and most deep aerobic

tankNo more than 70% plant coverage

Surface Area Requirements for Different Types of Aquatic Plants

6543211Deep Water

181614121084Marginal

1812108642Floating

302415121385Oxygenators

1501209060402515Total Surface Area

Surface Area (square feet) to be covered by plants

Design Principles Continued

Types of AnimalsSnails – aid in sludge reduction, tank maintenance, and ecological fluidized bed and marsh cleaning. Control filamentous algae.Filter Feeders – include bivalves, algivorous fish, zooplankton, protest, rotifers, sponges, clams. Remove particles from 0.1 to 50 micrometers. Clams filter up to 40 L/day.Fish – Require little O2, feed on algae, control mosquitosand pest larvae and fertilize plants. SUNLIGHT – may require greenhouse

Present Worth Comparison of LM’s and Conventional Systems

Cost Difference Less Than Twenty PercentCost Difference Greater Than Twenty Percent

$8,579,978 $1,903,751 1,207,036Conventional System

Greenhouse

$9,232,257 $1,570,246 985,391Living Machine without

Greenhouse

$10,457,542 $1,710,280 $1,077,777 Living Machine with

1 million GPD80000 GPD40000 GPDProcess

Influent and Effluent Characteristics for Domestic Wastewater

104-105 /100mL104-106 /100mLFecal Coliforms

107-109 /100mLTotal Coliforms

100-400Volatile Organic Compounds

0.1-0.57Phosphorus

1 to 100Nitrates

0.001-0.010Nitrites

0.1-125Free Ammonia

15Organic N

2 to 1240Total Nitrogen

430COD

10 to 20140TOC

5 to 20190BOD5

10Settleable Solids

5 to 20210Total Suspended Solids

500Total Dissolved Solids

720Total Solids, TS

Effluent Conc., (mg/L)Influent Conc., mg/LContaminant

CU Living Machine

PrimaryScreen

Water In-Flow

Holding/Overflow Tank

(10 Gallons)

Closed Anaerobic

Tank(30 Gallons)

Reed Bed (for wasted sludge

and option for methane re-capture)

Closed Aerobic

Tank(48

Gallons)

Anoxic Tank(12

Gallons)

Open Aerobic

Tank

Solids pumped back to closed

anoxic tank

Clarifier(36

Gallons)Ecological

Fluid Bed #1

Water Out-Flow (for gray water use)

Ecological Fluid Bed #2

ScreenAnaerobic ReactorClosed Aerobic TankOpen Aerobic Tank

Water from Clarifier

Water dishcharged to surface water and/or holding tank

Water from Clarifier

Water dishcharged to surface water and/or holding tank

Flora and FaunaBiodegradation of waste depends on a variety of microorganisms and plants• Bacteria, protozoa, snails, macroinvertebrates

Microorganisms can be taken from local sources• Nearby, mucky pond• Biofilms from pipes

Period of “natural selection”

Plants from another working LM will thrive more quickly in a new LM

Flora and Fauna

Each biological process requires a specific type of microorganism

Anaerobic process Anaerobic bacteriaAnoxic process Facultative bacteriaAerobic process Aerobic bacteria

Denitrifying/Nitrifying process Denitrifying/Nitrifying bacteria

Flora and Fauna

Biofilters are required for anoxic zone (odor-control) and closed aerobic tank (moisture control)

Open aerobic tank requires vegetation

Clarifiers need duckweed (prevents algae)

EFB needs growth medium to support microbial growth