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����ֱ��Awarded U.S. EPA Grant to Combat Harmful Algal Blooms

Harmful algal blooms in Florida’s Lake Okeechobee in 2018. (Photo credit: Brian Lapointe, Ph.D.)

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Harmful algal blooms (HABs) have become an increasingly common threat to lakes, rivers and coastal waters across the United States, endangering drinking water supplies, aquatic ecosystems, public health and local economies. Now, researchers at ����ֱ�� are developing an innovative technology that could help stop these blooms before they spread.

�󴡱�’s College of Engineering and Computer Science has received an $800,475 grant from the Gulf of America Division of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to develop an artificial intelligence-guided system that removes excess phosphorus – one of the primary drivers of HABs – from freshwater systems. The three-year project began July 1.

The project, titled “AI-Guided Use of 3D-Printed Adsorbents for Phosphate Removal,” is led by principal investigator Masoud Jahandar Lashaki, Ph.D., an associate professor in �󴡱�’s Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatics Engineering. Co-principal investigators are Yalan Liu, Ph.D., an assistant professor, and Mohammed Abdellatef, Ph.D., an assistant professor both from �󴡱�’s Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatics Engineering. Huichun (Judy) Zhang, Ph.D., of Case Western Reserve University, will serve as the project’s sub-awardee.

Excess phosphorus entering lakes and waterways from agricultural runoff, wastewater, failing septic systems and urban stormwater fuels explosive algal growth. These HABs can cloud waterways, deplete oxygen needed by fish and other aquatic life, produce toxins dangerous to people, pets and wildlife, and cause significant economic losses for communities that depend on clean water for tourism, recreation and fishing.

Lake Okeechobee, one of Florida’s most important freshwater resources, has experienced recurring HABs fueled by elevated nutrient levels. Because the lake sits at the headwaters of the Gulf of America watershed, phosphorus flowing downstream affects numerous rivers, estuaries and coastal ecosystems, making nutrient reduction in the lake critical to improving water quality throughout the region.

Current methods for removing phosphorus often are costly, produce waste or present environmental challenges when used on a large scale. Some chemical treatments generate large amounts of sludge, while biological approaches require tightly controlled conditions that are difficult to maintain outside treatment facilities. For example, although lanthanum-based materials are highly effective at capturing phosphorus, they typically are applied as fine powders that settle into lake sediments, where they can slowly release lanthanum back into the environment. The FAU-led team aims to overcome these limitations by combining advanced manufacturing with AI.

Researchers will develop durable, retrievable 3D-printed structures made from sargassum, a naturally abundant seaweed, which are modified with lanthanum to capture phosphorus from both the water column and lake sediments. Unlike conventional powdered materials, the 3D-printed structures can be deployed, retrieved, regenerated and reused, significantly reducing waste and minimizing the potential for lanthanum to enter the environment.

“This award provides an exciting opportunity to transform how we manage one of the most persistent causes of harmful algal blooms,” said Lashaki. “By combining sustainable 3D-printed materials with the power of AI, we can develop a smarter, more effective and environmentally responsible solution for removing phosphorus from our waterways. This funding allows us to accelerate the development and field testing of this technology while creating a model that can ultimately benefit freshwater ecosystems far beyond Florida.”

AI and machine learning will play a central role throughout the project. Researchers will use AI to rapidly identify the most effective adsorbent formulations, determine the optimal locations for deploying the structures and predict where phosphorus removal will have the greatest impact on preventing HABs. By integrating environmental monitoring data with information on land use, weather patterns, fertilizer applications, livestock operations and septic systems, the technology will help guide more precise nutrient management strategies.

The project also will demonstrate the technology in Lake Okeechobee under real-world conditions. Researchers will monitor improvements in water quality, water clarity and reductions in HABs using field sampling, publicly available environmental data and unmanned aerial vehicles. The resulting dataset will be shared through the U.S. EPA’s Water Quality Exchange to help other communities adopt similar approaches.

Beyond improving water quality in Lake Okeechobee, the technology is designed to be scalable and transferable to lakes, reservoirs and watersheds throughout the U.S. and around the world facing similar nutrient pollution challenges. The project is expected to reduce phosphorus levels in Lake Okeechobee, improve water quality and clarity, decrease the frequency and severity of HABs, reduce downstream nutrient pollution throughout the Gulf of America watershed, and demonstrate a reusable technology that can be adapted for watersheds worldwide.

“This award exemplifies the innovative, interdisciplinary research taking place in our college to address some of society’s most pressing environmental challenges,” said Stella Batalama, Ph.D., dean of �󴡱�’s College of Engineering and Computer Science. “Professor Lashaki and his collaborators are developing a solution that combines advanced manufacturing, AI and environmental engineering to protect one of Florida’s most important natural resources. The impact of this work extends well beyond our state, offering a scalable approach that has the potential to improve water quality and protect ecosystems in communities around the globe.”

-FAU-

Tags: faculty and staff | technology | environmental coastal and ocean sustainability | AI | engineering | research