Project: Catalytic Enhancement of Anaerobic Ammonium Oxidation for Nitrogen and Pharmaceutical Removal in Wastewater (WP2)
Host institution: UT
Supervisor(s): Ivar Zekker (PhD promoter)
Objectives: To explore the impact of nanomaterials on the efficiency of anaerobic ammonium oxidation (Anammox) processes for the concurrent removal of nitrogen and CECs from wastewater.
DC11 will focus on innovating Anammox processes using biomass-derived nano-structured carbonaceous substances (n-CCSs), assessing their performance in both suspended and immobilized forms for enhanced degradation of pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs). DC11 will quantify reactor performance, elucidating PhACs fate, by-product transformation, and key biodegradation mechanisms. DC11 will investigate the influence of n-CCSs on microbial community dynamics and their correlation to PhAC degradation. Comprehensive analyses will measure the overall biodegradation efficiency, methane production, organic removal, and community shifts. The study includes sequencing Anammox bacterial cultures during PhAC treatment and testing bioelectrochemical systems (BES) to determine optimal potentials for maximizing PhAC removal.
Expected results: Enhanced removal efficiency of 90% and increased TRL level from start of project (4) to 6 at the end of project
Planned secondments:
- PURE (Sup.: N. De Rouck): M12-15 (4 months): Training in system scale-up: design principles and building industrial-scale ozonation systems; assessment of economic feasibility.
- USC (Sup.: M. Moreira ): M29-32 (4 months): Life cycle assessment of catalytic versus biological wastewater treatment: system boundaries and impact categories.
Enrolment in Doctoral degree: University of Tartu Doctoral School of Environmental Technology, Environmental Technology