Oklahoma State University Secures $2 Million for Innovative Multidisciplinary Initiative on Water and Energy Conservation in Farming -

Original Article Written By Alisa Gore

STILLWATER, Okla. – A collaborative effort among three prominent land-grant institutions is underway to integrate energy production from livestock manure with wastewater purification into a single, streamlined technology.

Oklahoma State University Secures $2 Million for Innovative Multidisciplinary Initiative

Currently, distinct technologies are available for three key functions:

Producing methane for energy from animal manure
Treating wastewater to remove contaminants
Extracting phosphate from manure for reuse

“These methods have traditionally operated independently, with ongoing research focused on enhancing their efficiency and minimizing environmental damage,” explained Kiranmayi Mangalgiri, an assistant professor specializing in water quality within Oklahoma State University’s Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering.

The central challenge: Can these approaches be merged into a unified solution? Researchers from Oklahoma State University (OSU), Kansas State University (KSU), and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln are tackling this issue through a newly funded project backed by $6 million from the National Science Foundation.

“Our aim is to design an integrated system that allows farmers to manage animal waste effectively while conserving energy and water resources,” Mangalgiri noted. “The process should be environmentally neutral and yield useful byproducts, such as hydrogen peroxide.”

The proposed system leverages carbon in animal manure to generate energy. A portion of this energy powers wastewater treatment, enabling the recycled water to serve as a source for drinking, irrigation, and crop needs—ultimately reducing reliance on the Ogallala Aquifer.

Prathap Parameswaran, a civil engineering professor at KSU, has pioneered a microbial method for methane generation. The team is expanding on this foundation to investigate:

Integration strategies for advanced wastewater treatment with established energy-recovery processes,
Optimization for maximum efficiency, affordability, and minimal ecological harm,
Customization for farm operations across the Great Plains.

“What sets this initiative apart is its fully integrated collaboration,” Mangalgiri emphasized. “Rather than dividing tasks among institutions, all three universities are jointly advancing every component of the project.”

Mangalgiri leads efforts in wastewater purification. Mark Krzmarzick, professor and interim head of OSU’s School of Civil & Environmental Engineering, is analyzing residual antibiotics in treated water and pinpointing microbes that boost energy yields.

“Antibiotic resistance stems from bacterial genes that enable tolerance to such substances,” Krzmarzick stated. “By tracking how these genes persist or degrade in treatment systems, we can safeguard the well-being of farmworkers and livestock.”

Douglas Hamilton, associate professor in OSU’s Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Department, partners with KSU experts to refine the microbial energy-recovery process for water purification. Meanwhile, Michael Long, OSU sociology professor, is surveying farmers to assess technology adoption.

“We must determine if growers see this as a worthwhile investment and whether they’ll repurpose the treated water for animals, crops, and food production,” Long said. “This will help pinpoint adoption hotspots and maximize benefits.”

This work is supported by the National Science Foundation EPSCoR Research Infrastructure Improvement program under award OIA-2521392, totaling $6 million.

OSU Ag Research serves as Oklahoma’s leading hub for advancing agriculture, natural resources, and life sciences through research and innovation.

MEDIA CONTACT: Alisa Boswell-Gore | Office of Communications & Marketing, OSU Agriculture | 405-744-7115 | alisa.gore@okstate.edu