The Department of Chemistry of the University of Hong Kong (HKU), and a start-up company, EC Innovation Limited, will exhibit their latest invention, “EC Flow System,” at the “InnoCarnival 2023” to be held from Oct. 28 to Nov. 5. This invention can collect agricultural wastewater, remove toxic nitrogen oxides and residues, and then convert it into a solution containing nutrients for irrigation and fertilization. The R&D team hopes that this project can help create a sustainable plantation ecology for the local farming community and even extend it to other regions.
HKU mentioned that when fertilizers are added to plants traditionally, only 40 percent of the fertilizer is absorbed, while the remaining 60 percent is discharged. Not only is it a waste, but the fertilizer containing toxic substances will pollute the environment and wreak havoc on marine ecology. The “EC Flow System” can collect agricultural wastewater, remove toxic nitrogen oxides and residues, including nitrates and nitrites (NOx), and convert it into a solution containing nutrients for irrigation and fertilization. Ultimately, it can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve water quality, and reduce the cost of fertilizing.
“EC Flow System” uses an intelligent control interface that allows users to control water flow, monitor catalyst status, and receive extreme weather alerts on mobile devices. The project won the Bronze Medal with Special Congratulations earlier this year at the 2023 (48th) International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva.
Dr. Tse Chun-ming, Assistant Professor of the Department of Chemistry at HKU, said that the “EC Flow System” uses environmentally friendly electrocatalytic technology to remove, treat, and upcycle nitrogen oxides lost from agricultural fields and urban water flows. At the same time, the real-time fertilizer production system can carry out the conversion process directly on the farmland, eliminating the chance of seawater pollution caused by transporting agricultural wastewater to sewage treatment plants or flowing into the sea. In addition to achieving environmental protection, it can realize nitrogen and carbon recycling. This technology is currently unique on the market and has been patented in the United States and China.
Mr. Jackson Yip, CEO and Co-founder of EC Innovation Limited said that “EC Flow System,” as a fully decentralized green agricultural technology product, can be employed in indoor and outdoor urban farms, rooftop gardens, greenhouses, and hydroponic farms of all types and sizes. Currently, they have established full cooperation with several local farms, including the K-Farm in Kennedy Town and Herbs Country in Lam Tsuen, Tai Po.
He pointed out that the “EC Flow System” can effectively reduce nitrogen emissions in agricultural wastewater by 40 percent, reduce carbon emissions in fertilizer production and transportation by 50 percent, and reduce the cost of fertilizing for the related farms by 40 percent.
