From wastewater to fertilizer: DLSU’S faculty-student team-up recognized for sustainable, pioneering research

A TEAM of researchers from De La Salle University (DLSU) and De La Salle-araneta University (DLSAU) placed second in the Philippine Water Challenge (PHLWC) for “Project Nexcities [Water-energy-nutrient Nexus in Cities of the Future]: Wastewater to Fertilizer.” The awarding ceremony was held on December 14, 2021.

Project Nexcities is an initiative that aims to demonstrate ways fertilizers can be produced from septic-tank wastewater and used in agriculture.

DLSU faculty members involved in the undertaking were Prof. Michael Promentilla, Dr. Aileen Orbecido and Dr. Arnel Beltran of the Department of Chemical Engineering. Maria Eda Apple Suplido, executive director of Dlsau-agrivet Sciences Institute, is the main proponent for the project. She was joined by Elma Pulgarinas, Elmer Montebon, Emmie Marie Rosales, and Rey Arniel Japay.

Master of Science Chemical Engineering student Regina Damalerio, Science Research Specialist and MS Environmental Engineering graduate Engr. Alberto Longos, as well as University of Surrey PHD student Engr. Carla Mae Pausta, were also part of the award-winning group.

Aside from DLSU and DLSAU, Project Nexcities partnered with University of Surrey and the Society for the Conservation of Philippine Wetlands.

The Project Nexcities concept identifies factors involved in efficient energy and resource-wastewater management to improve water resources, enhance water quality, develop sustainable-food production, and create positive social impact.

It aims to contribute to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals No. 6 on “Clean Water and Sanitation” and No. 11: “Sustainable Cities and Communities.”

For the PHLWC, the researchers submitted a small-scale solution for less than 1,000 households for community access to safe sanitation facilities (Theme No. 2). According to them, over 2 billion people worldwide have no or limited access to sanitation, and more than two-thirds of these unserved people are also found in the rural communities.

The team added that many areas in the country use septic-tank systems, with most of the sewage being discharged without proper treatment. This contributes to “nutrient pollution” in water bodies, and that poorly designed or maintained septic tanks may also result in an increased incidence of waterborne diseases.

“Our innovative approach to solve the underlying problems is to rethink the sanitation system as a resource-oriented system to reduce cost burden and losses of nutrients relative to existing sanitation systems in the Philippines,” says Promentilla. “The main product from the resource recovery is a recovered phosphate fertilizer which can be used by our farmers for crop cultivation or by social enterprises to promote circular bio-economy.”

Organized by the United States Agency for International Development or USAID’S Safe Water Project, the PHLWC is a platform to promote innovations, support improvements, and scale-up the application of such innovations. The team received P100,000 partnership fund and five mentorship package sessions.