NASA Funded Program
Helps Stop Water Contamination
August 17, 2005
A device that removes phosphorus contamination from water has received
important validation from the NASA-funded Space Alliance
Technology Outreach Program (SATOP). The program offers free
technical help to small businesses through the expertise of the
U.S. Space Program.
The device, called the Knight Nutrient Reduction Device (KnuRD),
is the creation of Jay Knight, president, Doug Nelson, vice
president of science and technology, and Mark Noga, vice
president for marketing and distribution, at Knight Treatment
Systems in Oswego.
"The removal of phosphorous from wastewater is essential to
the continued preservation of the Earth’s lakes and rivers,"
Knight said. "As phosphorus levels increase in water, the amount
of oxygen decreases, which can lead to contamination and
eventual toxicity. The KnuRD is designed to prevent that
toxicity by removing the phosphorus."
The KnuRD relies on manufactured media within the device to
remove the phosphorus from the water. The media is any substance
that will allow the charged phosphorus particles to attach to it
and therefore be removed from the water. The partners had found
a type of media that removed the phosphorus, but it needed to be
replaced every six months. Dissatisfied, they began searching
for a more permanent solution or validation that they were using
the best technology available.
Prior to contacting SATOP, the team researched and discovered
several options to the media they were using, but all proved to
be cost prohibitive. "We completed as much testing as our
resources allowed and we knew our technology worked; however, we
were hoping to find a more effective media that would not
necessitate a semi-annual replacement," Knight said.
After learning of SATOP from the Central New York Technology
Development Organization, Knight filled out a Request for
Technical Assistance (RTA) with SATOP’s New York office in
Syracuse. On Knight Treatment System’s behalf, Ryan McLaughlin,
SATOP New York engineering manager, contacted Todd Willoughby at
AJT & Associates, who possessed experience in wastewater
treatment.
"There is a definite need for a type of technology such as
the KnuRD," Willoughby said. "I was excited to be a part of the
process."
Willoughby was able to confirm that Knight Treatment Systems
was indeed using the best possible media to remove the
phosphorus.
"The media that Knight Treatment Systems was utilizing is the
one most suited to their needs," Willoughby said. "There are
many different types of media, many of which involve the
addition other chemicals or consumables. The media they are
currently using is an excellent phosphorus removal system and is
the most efficient in terms of removal and cost."
That validation was enough to move the KnuRD more quickly to
the next stage in the manufacturing process than Knight Systems’
internal capabilities would have allowed. The KnuRD has been
limited to test installations thus far, but thanks to SATOP, the
partners expect to bring the device to both the commercial and
residential markets in the fall.
The Knight Systems team expressed satisfaction with their
experience with SATOP.
"The most interesting thing is that a program like SATOP
exists to begin with," Nelson said. "It is great to be able to
work with someone with NASA credentials and bring their
expertise into our business."
Source: Space Alliance Technology
Outreach Program August 17, 2005 |