Cleaning Up Sewage: How Tiny Ceramic Powders Help

Ever wondered how we can make sewage treatment more effective? Scientists have discovered that using tiny ceramic powder carriers in a special treatment bed can really make a difference. They tested this method on simulated sewage overflows, and the results were impressive. The ceramic powders, smaller than a grain of sand, helped the treatment system meet strict pollution standards throughout the process. They found that these powders could boost the ability of sludge to accept and donate electrons, which is crucial for removing nitrogen from the water. This process is called denitrification, and it's like the sludge's way of cleaning up the water. The scientists also looked at the genetic material of the microbes in the sludge and found that the ceramic powders increased the presence of genes involved in denitrification. This means that these tiny powders could be a game-changer for treating sewage overflows.