ACUA Pilot Project

Atlantic County Utilities Authority Microplastic Remediation Pilot Project

PROJECT INFORMATION

Conventional wastewater treatment technologies are not capable of effectively remediating tiny microplastics particles. While larger pieces of microplastics would be mostly removed by coagulation, flocculation, and reverse osmosis, smaller microplastic particles that are hydrophobic and buoyant would still pass through most of the filtration stages and end up in the effluent streams that discharge into the ecosystem.

PolyGone’s pilot deployment schematic design

To deal with the microplastics that escape through the conventional treatment process, ACUA is partnering with PolyGone Systems to implement PolyGone’s latest biomimetic filtration technologies to capture hydrophobic microplastics in the treated effluent before it’s discharged into the ecosystem. The effluent enters the equalization basin to be settled for days before the water is neutralized and released into the natural ecosystem. PolyGone is aiming to deploy a system of filter’s array to intercept microplastics from entering the equalization basin. The project is expected to be launched on site in May 2024.

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PARTNERSHIPS

PolyGone Systems is the leading team and technology provider in this pilot project.

Leadership Team:

Nathaniel Banks, CTO

Yidian Liu, COO

The Atlantic County Utilities Authority is responsible for enhancing the quality of life through the protection of waters and lands from pollution by providing responsible waste management services. The Authority is an environmental leader and will continue to use new technologies, innovations and employee ideas to provide the highest quality and most cost effective environmental services.

New York Sea Grant (NYSG) (PI) is a partnership between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Cornell University and the State University of New York (SUNY) and is part of a nationwide network of 34-university-based programs working with coastal communities.

Pilot is funded by NJCSIT Pilot CleanTech Demonstration Grant Program.

Idea International and Chengyue Stainless Steel Manufacturing Group is a steel manufacturer in Shenzhen, China. Chengyue Stainless Steel Manufacturing Group manufactured the Educational Pavilion structure.

M. Davis and Sons is an industrial construction company in Kennet Square, Pennsylvania. M. Davis and Sons’ Construction and Installation department is constructing the main pilot structure.

NEFF is a leading industrial automation solutions provider in Indianapolis, Indiana. NEFF is the supplier and procurement partner for the main pilot structure.

Sanderson MacLeod is a twisted wire brush manufacturer in Palmer, Massachusetts. Sanderson MacLeod manufactured the microplastic filters used in this pilot.

Curbon is a Princeton University group that does impact studies and corporation verifications for large companies.

SITE INFORMATION

ACUA Wastewater Treatment Facility

The project site is located at a 40 million gallon per day wastewater treatment facility run by ACUA in Atlantic City, NJ. The facility accepts wastewater collected from 14 municipalities in Atlantic County as well as additional sludge/biosolids, grease, scum, dried municipal sludge and leachate for treatment and disposal.

PolyGone’s pilot is located at the effluent channel into the equalization basin

PROJECT TIMELINE

MICROPLASTIC REMOVAL PILOT VIDEOS

Pilot Construction

Completed Pilot Construction & Installation

BROADER IMPACT

Paired with the pilot deployment, PolyGone is also designing an educational pavilion on site for public visitors and local student groups to learn about the microplastics problem and PolyGone’s environmental mission. The pavilion exhibits feature several interactive exhibits that explain the scale and causes of microplastic pollution.