This REFRESCH group is focused on researching, designing and implementing a variety of innovations within the food-energy-water (FEW) domain that could be used in multiple socio-economic and geographic settings around the world. Technologies and methods of integration are being developed that can be adapted to various settings through iterative system designs in the form of prototypes and predictive models.
Biodigestion for value-added products
A novel bionic membrane bio-reactor is being developed in order to enhance the microbial activity of hydrolytic and acidogenic populations.
Ammonia recovery from urine
The project developed a method to synthesize activated biochar from Prosopis wood (invasive plant) and used it to recycle ammonia off-gassed from urine for soil amendment purposes.
Aquaculture
The practical viability of a modular, sustainably constructed, low-cost recirculating aquaculture system is being evaluated by assessing shrimp growth, nutrient conversions, and microbial community structure.