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WAG

Ammonium Removal in Municipal Wastewater Treatment with Ion Exchange

Wageningen University and Research Department of Environmental Technology
✓ Fully Funded ⏰ Closing Soon 🎓 Chemical Engineering 🎓 Environmental Engineering wastewater treatment laboratory experiments ammonium removal ion exchange water reuse mechanistic modeling process engineering circular water systems

Explore ion exchange for ammonium removal in municipal wastewater treatment. Conduct lab experiments and develop models to reduce chemical use and enhance sustainability. Join a collaborative research program tackling global water challenges.

AI-generated overview

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Why This Research Matters

This research directly addresses environmental and societal challenges by improving wastewater treatment and enabling circular water systems. Effective ammonium removal and resource recovery help protect aquatic environments, support sustainable water reuse, and reduce chemical consumption in treatment plants.

Environmental biotechnology wastewater treatment membranes resource recovery N2O emissions

Project Description

Project Overview

This PhD project focuses on improving municipal wastewater treatment by studying ion exchange for ammonium removal. Embedded in the BlueVantage research program, the work aims to develop sustainable water reuse technologies that recover valuable resources and remove pollutants effectively.

What You Will Do

You will gain fundamental insights into ion exchange processes for ammonium removal and recovery through experiments and mechanistic modeling using Julia, Python, or Matlab. Collaboration with other PhD candidates, water authorities, and technology developers will be key, along with active participation in consortium activities and communicating results.

Expected Outcomes

Develop predictive models describing competitive ammonium and ion removal, reduce chemical use in ion exchange regeneration, and publish findings in peer-reviewed journals. Enhanced understanding will contribute to next-generation wastewater treatment solutions.

Why This Matters

Addressing growing water challenges requires innovative treatment methods. This research supports circular water systems by improving ammonium removal and resource recovery, contributing to cleaner water cycles for ecological, societal, and economic benefits.

Entry Requirements

Completed MSc in environmental sciences, water technology, (bio) process technology, chemical engineering, or related field. Experience with lab experiments in water technology, physical-chemical or process modeling, and programming. English proficiency at C1 level.

Eligibility

UK/Home
EU
International

Supervisor Profile

DP
Dr. Paula van den Brink and Dr. Jouke Dykstra
Wageningen University and Research, Department of Environmental Technology

Dr. Paula van den Brink and Dr. Jouke Dykstra are researchers at Wageningen University's Department of Environmental Technology. They focus on advanced wastewater treatment, specifically sustainable technologies for nutrient removal and resource recovery, contributing significantly to environmental engineering and water technology research.

Key Publications

2009 180 citations
Effect of free calcium concentration and ionic strength on alginate fouling in cross-flow membrane filtration
2011 146 citations
Effect of temperature shocks on membrane fouling in membrane bioreactors
2014 86 citations
Long-term performance and fouling analysis of full-scale direct nanofiltration (NF) installations treating anoxic groundwater
2019 73 citations
Isolation and characterization of Sphingomonadaceae from fouled membranes
2006 55 citations
NO removal in continuous BioDeNOx reactors: Fe(II)EDTA2− regeneration, biomass growth, and EDTA degradation

Research Contributions

Studied the factors influencing membrane fouling including the effect of free calcium concentration and ionic strength on alginate fouling in cross-flow membrane filtration.
Provides insights that help improve membrane filtration efficiency in water treatment processes.
Investigated membrane fouling dynamics under temperature shocks in membrane bioreactors.
Improves understanding for better operational strategies in membrane bioreactor wastewater treatment.
Characterized the microbial community involved in bioflocculation and membrane biofouling, including isolation of Sphingomonadaceae from fouled membranes.
Supports development of biofouling control and cleaning methods to enhance membrane lifespan and performance.
Explored NO removal in BioDeNOx reactors focusing on Fe(II)EDTA2− regeneration, biomass growth, and EDTA degradation.
Contributes to effective biological removal methods for nitrogen oxides in air pollution control.

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