Prof. Irene LO’s Research Team and Water Supplies Department Won 2024/2025 HKIE Best Environmental Paper Award for Pilot-Scale Phosphate Removal System for the Cleanup of Local River Water

(From left to right) Dr. Zheng Zexiao (Research Assistant Professor of HKUST), Ms. Zhang Yu (PhD candidate of HKUST), Ir Dr. Raymond K. L. Chan (Chairman of the HKIE Environmental Division), Ir Prof. Irene Lo (Chair Professor at HKUST), Mr. Roger Wong Yan-Lok (Director of the Water Supplies Department (WSD)), Mr. Gary Yip Ka-Chun (Assistant Director of WSD), Mr. Kwok Yau-Ting (Project Assistant Secretary (Water Safety) of Development Bureau) and Ms. Leung Chui-Fan (Chemist of WSD) [Download Photo]

Prof. Irene M. C. LO, Chair Professor of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at HKUST, and her research collaborators from the HKSAR Government, Mr. CHOY Tak-Yip and Ms. LEUNG Chui-Fan of the Water Supplies Department (WSD) and Mr. KWOK Yau-Ting of the Development Bureau, along with her research group comprising Dr. ZHENG Zexiao and Ms. ZHANG Yu, have won the 2024/2025 Best Environmental Paper Award, bestowed by the Environmental Division of the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE).

The award honors their successful implementation of an automated and efficient pilot-scale phosphate removal system in real river water conditions in Hong Kong, using two new types of adsorbents (i.e., nano-composite lanthanum-based and superparamagnetic-based adsorption materials) developed by the HKUST team’s patented technology, with the aim of improving raw water quality.

While phosphorus is an essential nutrient for plant growth, excessive phosphorus can lead to algal blooms in water bodies. The decomposition of dead algae also consumes a large amount of oxygen, resulting in low oxygen and nutrient overload, which adversely affects water quality.

In their eight-month pilot study at the Lam Tsuen River in Tai Po, the team found that the adsorbents quickly removed phosphorus, specifically targeting phosphates, and achieved excellent treatment results by removing about 91% of orthophosphate and 78% of total phosphorus under natural water variability. Additionally, the adsorbents used in the system can be efficiently regenerated and reused, making them highly economical and practical.

The research findings of this pilot study have been published in Chemical Engineering Journal, in a paper title “Pilot-Scale Application of Lanthanum-Embedded Polymeric Adsorption System for Efficient Phosphate Removal from River Water in Hong Kong”, which was recognized with the 2024/2025 HKIE Best Environmental Paper Award.

The pilot study demonstrated not only the technical performance and environmental robustness of the system, but also the feasibility of scaling up novel materials for full-scale river water treatment. It also reinforces the critical role of cross-sector collaboration between academia and the industry in addressing environmental challenges.

Through recognizing exemplary research on environmental pollution control and sustainable development, HKIE’s Best Environmental Paper Award aims to promote engineering excellence and encourage transformative solutions to today’s environmental challenges. The 2024/2025 award was presented on May 6, 2025 at the HKIE headquarters, by HKIE Environmental Division Chairman Ir Dr. Raymond K. L. CHAN, who was joined by Mr. Roger WONG Yan-Lok, Director of WSD, and Mr. Gary YIP Ka-Chun, Assistant Director of WSD, both attending to cheer for the award-winning project. Members of the HKIE Environmental Division’s judging panel were also present at the ceremony.

As a leading researcher in environmental engineering, Prof. Irene Lo has long dedicated her career to advancing sustainable water and wastewater treatment technology. Her work integrates novel material development with system-scale applications, bridging the gap between academic research and real-world impact.