Anaerobic Treatment of Municipal Wastewaters for Energy-Efficient Circular Water Systems

Project Overview

This PhD research focuses on advancing municipal wastewater treatment by developing next-generation anaerobic treatment technologies. Set within the interdisciplinary BlueVantage consortium, the project addresses challenges in water reuse, persistent organic micropollutants removal, and resource recovery. Collaboration with fellow PhD candidates, industrial partners, and water authorities aims to innovate energy-efficient and circular water treatment strategies.

What You Will Do

• Study fractionation of wastewater organic components using novel technologies and assess biodegradability.
• Evaluate optimal conditions for organic contaminant degradation to valuable end products such as bio-based industry building blocks or energy carriers like methane.
• Develop low-temperature microbial consortia for effective dissolved organic contaminant removal.
• Assess the feasibility of treatment processes regarding energy use and product recovery.
• Participate in consortium meetings, workshops, and stakeholder engagements.
• Communicate research findings within and outside the consortium.
• Publish results in peer-reviewed journals and present at conferences.

Expected Outcomes

The research is expected to generate novel approaches for anaerobic treatment of low concentration wastewater, contributing to innovative reactor designs and microbial solutions. It aims to lower effluent contaminant concentrations, optimize energy consumption, and enable circular water treatment with resource recovery.

Why This Matters

This work addresses critical global water challenges by enabling sustainable water reuse, reducing energy footprints of wastewater treatment, and recovering valuable resources. Advancements here contribute to environmental protection, economic value creation, and societal well-being in line with circular economy principles.