Microvi and Cranfield University Awarded Winners of Ofwat's Water Discovery Challenge
HAYWARD, CA (February 20, 2024) - Microvi Biotech, Inc. and Cranfield University are thrilled to announce their selection as winners of Ofwat's prestigious Water Discovery Challenge. This competition, a part of Ofwat's initiative to foster innovation and collaboration in the water sector, is delivered in partnership with Challenge Works, Arup, and Isle Utilities, aimed at delivering solutions that benefit customers, society, and the environment. Following a successful finalist stage, the Cranfield/Microvi collaboration resulted in being selected as 1 of 10 winners to receive further industry support. This accolade comes with funding to take the next steps in technology development through deployment of a pilot unit at an operating wastewater treatment facility.
Phosphorus (P) poses a dual challenge as both a pollutant and a valuable resource in wastewater treatment. Current practices rely heavily on metal-based coagulants for P removal, but these methods are burdened with limitations, necessitating exploration of alternative approaches. With the forthcoming Price Review 24 (PR24) outlining significant projected expenditures exceeding £4.5 billion on P removal initiatives during the Asset Management Period (AMP8) from 2025 to 2030, there's a particular emphasis on small-scale treatment systems.
Microvi’s MNE biocatalyst offers a novel solution for P removal from wastewater, bypassing traditional coagulants. The bio-mineral P removal (BMPR) process offers an intensified, adaptable solution capable of achieving high-effluent quality (<2 mg P/L) while facilitating nutrient recovery in the form of struvite. Versatile in its applicability, BMPR is suitable for deployment in both small and large treatment facilities.
Dr. Ana Soares, Professor of Biotechnology Engineering at Cranfield University, expressed enthusiasm for the project's potential impact: "It's exciting to see new solutions for the circular economy being piloted and proven with full support from the end user. It's critical that there is a pipeline from academic research on new technologies to scaling them to full-scale solutions. The Water Discovery Challenge offers funding to allow the fast track for innovative laboratory research to assessing viability at scale, aiming for quick implementation."
Ajay Nair, Global Director of Commercial and Technical Strategy at Microvi, highlighted the significance of the technology: "Microvi is delighted to offer a novel biological solution for phosphorus removal from wastewater, particularly one that can provide a secondary value by producing biostruvite, which could be reused in fertilizers. Microvi continues to push forward, developing solutions for the water and wastewater industry by focusing exploiting the best microorganisms for reduction of nutrients and contaminants. Our technology focuses on the creation of the ideal microenvironment to retain the chosen microorganism, which allows for high performance with smaller footprints and reduced costs when compared to traditional treatment technologies."
About Microvi
Microvi is a transformative biology company based in the San Francisco Bay Area that delivers next-generation biotechnologies for the water, wastewater, bio-based chemicals, biofuels and biopharma industries. Microvi offers commercial technologies around the world to reduce waste, increase productivity and provide disruptive economics across the value chain. Learn more at www.microvi.com.
About Cranfield University
Cranfield University is a British postgraduate university based in Cranfield, Bedfordshire, England. It has a significant emphasis on technology and innovation, with close ties to industry, business, and government. Cranfield University's expertise in water and environmental sciences makes it a key partner in driving forward solutions for the water sector.
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