Surjith Krishna, a civil engineering student at Georgia Southern University, is part of an innovative student-led research project funded by the EPA to develop a biofilter using algae and 3D printing to combat water pollution and the to improve water quality.
Surjith Krishna grew up in India and was fascinated by the tall buildings that surrounded him.
“I had a passion for civil engineering from a young age,” he said. “I was really fascinated by the high level of infrastructure that existed in my area. I admired the mind behind these structures.”
Krishna later worked as a surveyor, but over time his interests evolved. With a newfound interest in ecology, he switched from looking at buildings to finding inspiration through looking at water.
Globally, two billion people, or 26% of the population, lack clean drinking water, and there is an imminent risk of a global water crisis, according to a 2023 UNESCO report.
“Water is becoming one of the most scarce commodities,” he said. “Everyone needs water to live. Lack of clean water leads to fatal diseases such as liver damage and skin irritation. This issue needs to be resolved as soon as possible. So that’s my primary goal.”
Eutrophication, a major environmental problem, occurs when excess nutrients in water cause harmful consequences, including algal blooms. These blooms can lead to ecosystem damage, human health problems, and increased water treatment costs.
Krishna, a civil engineering student at Georgia Southern University, is part of a team of student researchers funded by a $100,000 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) grant to find practical solutions for cleaning up water systems . The team is developing a biofilter for water streams that uses algae and other organic elements to absorb these nutrients.
Krishna's involvement, as well as that of many other students, is one aspect of the project conducted by principal investigators Kamran Kardel, Ph.D., associate professor of manufacturing engineering in the Allen E. Paulson College of Engineering and Computing, and Francisco Cubas Suazo, Ph.D ., associate professor of civil engineering and construction, are particularly pleased.
Cubas Suazo, who teaches a course on watershed management, said he and Kardel intentionally designed the project to prioritize student participation.
“I see a lot of students interested in solving this problem,” Cubas Suazo said. “It was very important to us to design this project to involve as many students as possible, both undergraduate and graduate, so that they can participate in a real-world solution. We also have many students who live in rural areas and can bring different perspectives to inform our approach.”
The biofilter is a 3D printed cube with cavities to promote biofilm growth, allowing algae to thrive and effectively capture phosphorus and nitrogen as runoff water flows through. Although the exact dimensions of the filter have not yet been determined, the project has already attracted widespread attention due to its potential impact on water quality.
“This biosystem acts like an agent for us,” Kardel said. “They can take care of the phenomenon for us and improve the quality of water draining from urban and agricultural watersheds.”
The use of 3D printing is also attracting attention. Brennen Smith, a civil engineering student preparing to graduate this December, believes the proliferation of 3D printers will be critical to this and many other industries.
“You can make any shape you want,” he said. “The resource requirements are relatively low, the material is quite cheap and with the axis system of the 3D printer it is possible to create a model that fits any shape. 3D printers have made it easier to produce technical concepts as a whole as models.”
Kardel and Cubas Suazo added that the simplicity and flexibility of 3D models are particularly important in this context, as they allow the filter to utilize a higher surface-to-volume ratio. This means that more algae can grow in a smaller area, increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of the biofilter.
“The idea of 3D printing in manufacturing is not necessarily new, but in the past there may not have been the resources to apply it to biofilters,” Kardel said. “We found that this technology is the only way to maximize the high surface area to volume ratio that is critical to the success of a biofilter.”
In addition, the professors found that the ease of use of 3D printed materials greatly facilitates maintenance and upkeep, preventing the clogging and deterioration that currently occurs with biofilters.
Although the project is still in its early stages, Kardel noted that it could have broader applications for water treatment in urban and rural areas.