"Wisdom begins in wonder" – Socrates
Category: Urban Systems
Coagulants
08/18/24
“What substances promote coagulating pollutants out of water supplies?”
Coagulation uses chemical reactions between an inserted substance and polluted water to separate the toxins out. Coagulants are the substances inserted. Coagulants are typically positively charged.
Image credit https://advancedchemsys.com/
Coagulation For Water Treatment
08/16/24
“How can we filter mixed contaminants in water as separate solids?”
Contaminants mixed in with water can be very difficult to filter out. They seem stuck and stubbornly hold on. But what if we could apply some of our chemical knowledge to solve this? Well, we know that some pollutants have a slight negative charge. So what if we were to insert a non-toxic positively charged material that would bond with the negatively charged material? That way we can then physically filter out the pollutants. This process is called Coagulation For Water Treatment and is a common application around the world.
Image credit https://www.dober.com/
Phosphorous Water Pollution Remediation
08/13/24
“How can we remove phosphorous pollution from water?”
Phosphorous pollution can lead to algae outbreaks in water bodies, choking off life that lives there. So how can we take phosphorous pollution out of the water? Well, it turns out there are many ways to do this. Phosphorous can be removed chemically through iron and aluminum coagulants, biologically through specialized bacteria, or physically through sand filtration and membrane technologies. Phosphorous Water Pollution Remediation is a necessary step to healing tainted water.
Image credit https://news.illinois.edu/
Nitrogen Water Pollution Remediation
08/12/24
“How can we remove nitrogen pollution from water?”
Nitrogen pollution can lead to algae outbreaks in water bodies, choking off life that lives there. So how can we take nitrogen out of the water? Well, what if we were to use a series of bacteria to convert the excess nitrogen to another form? This is how Nitrogen Water Pollution Remediation works and is an important part of keeping wastewater treatment plants operational.
Sources of Phosphorous Water Pollution
08/11/24
“What are sources of phosphorous pollution in water?”
Phosphorous pollution in water can cause explosive algae growth. Sources of phosphorous pollution usually come from phosphorous-rich substances like fertilizers, plant decomposition, pet waste, geological phosphate material, and wastewater. These came seep in through storms, runoff, spills, and infiltration. These are the primary Sources of Phosphorous Water Pollution.
Subsurface Constructed Wetlands
08/10/24
“How can we filter wastewater by pushing it through toxin-absorbing plants?”
Wastewater typically contains toxins that prevent it from being used directly by humans. Certain plants can purify wastewater by absorbing these toxins. So what if we were to build a trench with impermeable walls, fill it permeable material like rocks, plant these toxin-absorbing plants on top, and then mechanically run wastewater through it? Well, that’s the idea behind Subsurface Constructed Wetlands. Subsurface construction is a great way to obtain recyclable water supplies while supporting plant life and not using dangerous chemicals.
Image credit media.springernature.com
Sources of Nitrogen Water Pollution
08/09/24
“What are sources of nitrogen pollution in water?”
Nitrogen pollution in water can cause explosive algae growth. Sources of nitrogen pollution usually come from nitrogen-rich substances like fertilizers, fossil fuels, and wastewater. These came seep in through storms, runoff, spills, and infiltration. These are the primary Sources of Nitrogen Water Pollution.
Why the EU Wants All New Buildings After 2030 to Be Zero Emissions
08/07/24
“Why does the EU want all new buildings after 2030 to be zero emissions?”
The EU has some ambitious climate plans. It aims for member states to be net-zero emitters of greenhouse gases by 2050. The buildings sector is one way of accomplishing this. To ensure this target is reached, the EU plans through the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive ((EU) 2024/1275) to make all new buildings built after the beginning of 2030 climate neutral. This is Why the EU Wants All New Buildings After 2030 to Be Zero Emissions.
Why Heat Pumps Don’t Work Well in Cold Environments
08/06/24
“Why don’t heat pumps work well in cold environments?”
Heat pumps depend on using a working fluid to transfer heat from the outside environment to the inside. The working fluid becomes much less efficient when the outdoor temperature hits 5 degrees Celsius. This makes it much more difficult to heat your home effectively. This is Why Heat Pumps Don’t Work Well in Cold Environments.
Image credit: i0.wp.com/ctnewsjunkie.com
Isaac's Science Blog 
