Environmental Technology 2015

www.wageningenur.nl/ete

Introduction This brochure aims at informing you on the activities of the Environmental Technology (ETE) Group of Wageningen University over the year 2014. Education and research results are presented in terms of the ‘output numbers’ such as the number of MSc and PhD students, the courses and educational programmes ETE participated in, concise information on each of our running research projects, and our list of 2014 publications.

The Environmental Technology Group The ETE group is chaired by Huub Rijnaarts, Professor in Environment and Water Technology since September 2009. Prof. Cees Buisman holds since 2003 the chair in Biological Recovery and Reuse Technology. Cees and Huub form together the strategic leadership of the group. In addition to the two chairs, the ETE group currently consist of the personal professors Prof. Dr.ir. Grietje Zeeman (Novel Public Sanitation) and Prof.dr.ir. Tinka Murk (Ecotoxicology), the extra-ordinary professors Prof. Dr. Ir. Albert Janssen (Biological Gas Treatment) and Prof. Dr.Ir. Bert van der Wal (Electrochemical Water Treatment), 13 members of scientific staff, 7 Laboratory and technology supporting co-workers, 2 postdocs, 57 PhD students, and 54 MSc students.

On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the ETE group a 2-day international conference is organized on 29-30 April 2015, Environmental Technology for Impact 2015 (ETEI2015). A detailed programme and information for registration can be found at www.etei2015.org

Mission The mission of the ETE group is to create new and natural breakthrough technologies for establishing new systems for recovery and reuse. A strong biotechnological component is combined with physics, chemistry and also social sciences. Concepts such as bio-crystallization, bioavailability, bio-retention and bio-electrochemistry generate technologies for producing products such as recyclable matters, reusable waters and renewable energy. In our vision, we belief that new technologies come into society through entrepreneurial companies, and therefore we have strong cooperation with industrial technology companies and stimulate technology spin offs. Industrial and municipal waste streams are considered as resource streams, from which energy, water and minerals can be recovered, breaking the chain between the increased use of non-renewable sources and growing production and consumption. Thus these technologies and their integration in urban and industrial systems help to reduce Human Footprints and safeguard a sustained supply of water, energy and other resources for the worlds growing population.

Network position The ETE group is within Wageningen University part of the cluster Biobased Sciences and Technology of the department Agrotechnology and Food Sciences. Strong liaisons are built with various laboratories and research groups within this and other departments in WU. Since 1 September 2012 Huub Rijnaarts is director of the graduate research school WIMEK part of SENSE (http://www.wimek-new.wur.nl;http://www.sense.nl). The ETE group has a widely distributed national and international network, through business-research relations with industries, past and running European projects and co-operations, and entrepreneurial spin offs. Cees Buisman is the scientific director of Wetsus, the Technological Top Institute on Watertechnology in Leeuwarden. Huub Rijnaarts is member of the Scientific Advisory Board of Deltares and cooperates with that institute specialised in Delta technology.

The Lettinga Associates Foundation - LeAF This organisation, carrying the name of the world wide known icon on development and global application of anaerobic water technology, is an important partner for ETE and hosted in our lab. LeAF is recognized by many industrial partners as a powerful independent platform in bringing Anaerobic Treatment and Sanitation Technology to global application. In cooperation with LeAF, ETE continues to launch new initiatives towards developing and emerging economies in Europe, Africa, Asia and South America.

Awards/Grants The top research bonus of Wagningen University is awarded to our department already for several years. Also our scientific audit according to the SEP protocal resulted in an excellent result of 19 out of 20 points. Annemiek ter Heijne, assistant professor at ETE, was awarded the prestigious NWO VENI grant through the Technology Foundation (STW) for her project on recovering electricity from wastewater. Former ETE student Priska Prasetya and Jelmer van Veen won the prestigious International Climate Adaptation Business Challenge. Kirsten Steinbusch was awarded the Hoogewerff Stimulation Prize 2014. This prize is granted every three years by the Foundation Hoogewerff-Fund and aims to stimulate innovation in the field of process technology research. Current ETE student Christina Mallin won as team member of team ‘Espresso’ the first-place prize in the Future Technologies for Water Competition from the Water Institute at UNC. Team Espresso is developing a technology to monitor heavy metals in mine effluents. Roxani Chatzipanagiotou is nominated for the Shell Bachelor Master award. Rosanne Wielemaker has gained the 2nd price in the SENSE Honours programme 2014, earning 50% of financing for her PhD on urban agriculture. Together with the Landscape Architecture group we obtained the AMS initiation grant for the Urban Pulse project in Amsterdam Metropolitan Solutions (AMS) programmme (Marc Spiller and Ilse Voskamp).

Research As the external expert assessment of our research in 2014 showed an furthermore increased appreciation of our research, we consolidated our strategy and aimed at further improvement of the quality of our work. In 2014 we increased the success rate of our proposals and several new projects started or are about to begin within our research themes, that address the most important environmental issues for today’s and future generation:

Biorecovery: The availability of and our demand for raw materials, like certain metals and phosphorus, should be balanced in order to avoid the depletion of our resources within a couple of decades. The increased energy demand initiated the search for alternative energy sources. The biorecovery group focuses on optimal recovery of minerals and metals from wastewaters and gases and on recovery of renewable energy from waste and wastewater. Attention is being paid to the process bio-crystallisation and of bio-electrochemistry.

Reusable Water: The availability of safe and usable water is at stake. Our aim is to produce reusable water from wastewater in such a way that it meets its reuse purpose. Technology focus is on bio-removal of micro pollutants and pathogens and the preservation of carbon and nutrients as resource for re-use. Water needed in an agricultural area for instance should contain nutrients but no medicine residues, or pathogenic micro-organisms. Because ground- and surface water are important fresh water resources, groundwater and sediment biological remediation and emission-reduction technologies are being developed. Our novel electrochemical desalinization techniques focus on reduced energy utilisation, in order to sustainably remove salt from water cycles.

Urban System Engineering: Cities currently hold half of the world’s population and it is estimated that three out of every five people will live in an urban environment by 2030. The world’s future sustainable development must therefore be largely accomplished by new approaches in urban sanitation, resource management and eco-innovative design of urban and associated agro and industrial systems. In our research, integration of (above mentioned) innovative technologies into urban, agro and industrial systems is done through basic concepts on Resource Harvest and Re use, applied to Water, Energy, and Materials (including solid waste).

Education Our main courses are offered in the following academic programmes, Bachelor of Environmental Sciences, Master of Environmental Sciences, Master of Urban Environmental Management and Master of Water Technology, Bachelor and Master of Biotechnology. Courses at BSc as well as MSc level are shown elsewhere in this brochure. As in 2008 the possibility remained to major in Environmental Technology via

the MSc programme Molecular Life Sciences. The Joined Degree Master of Science Water Technology is a new accredited MSc provided by the Universities of Twente, Groningen and Wageningen, as cooperative educational program at Wetsus Leeuwarden. We hope you will find this brochure worth reading. Please feel free to contact us in case you want to know more about our education or research or check our website www.wageningenur.nl/ete

Prof.dr.ir. Cees J.N. Buisman and Prof.dr.ir. Huub H.M. Rijnaarts

(Chairman ETE group)

Environmental Technology Wageningen University Bornse Weilanden 9 6708 WG .Wageningen The Netherlands

tel. +31 317 483339 email: Liesbeth.Kesaulya@wur.nl www.wageningenur.nl/ete

Output ETE 2014 In 2014 52 MSc student started a thesis. In the coming years we expect an increase, based on the expected increase on the total number of students, both in the master water technology in Leeuwarden, as well as at Wageningen University

In 2014 we had 11 PhD defences. By the end of 2014 57 PhD students were working on their PhD research and did not yet graduate. PhD Theses Environmental Technology 2014 Name Promotor(s) Title Ralph Lindeboom Van Lier Autogenerative high pressure digestion

Christina Kappel Nijmeijer (Twente)

An integrated membrane bioreactor – Nanofiltration concept with concentrate recirculation for wastewater treatment and nutrient recovery

Magdalena Rakowska Rijnaarts Ex situ treatment of sediments with granular activated carbon. A novel remediation technology

Christel Kampman Buisman & Zeeman

Denitrification with dissolved methane from anaerobic digestion

Nora Sutton Rijnaarts Microbial and geochemical dynamics of the subsurface: chemical oxidation and bioremediation of organic contaminants

Mieke van Eerten-Jansen

Buisman Bioelectrochemical methane production from CO2

Johannes Kuipers Rijnaarts Distributed light sources for photocatalytic water treatment

Alexandra Deeke Buisman Capacative bioanodes for electricty storage in Microbial Fuel Cells

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2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Amount of started MSc thesesEnvironmental Technology/year

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Taina Tervahauta

Buisman & Zeeman

Phosphate and organic fertilizer recovery from black water

Doga Arslan Buisman Selective short chain carboxylates production by mixed culture fermentation

Lena Faust Rijnaarts Bioflocculation of wastewater organic matter at short retention times

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2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Amount of PhD thesis Environmental Technology/year

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The complete Publication List of the Sub-department of Environmental Technology 2012 can be found at the end of this brochure.

Education The Sub-department Environmental Technology offers an education and research programme that is focused on sustainable technological solutions for the worldwide environmental problems. Our approach is to combine several disciplines in order to achieve innovations for environmental solutions. Relevant research disciplines are biotechnology, microbiology, surface chemistry, organic chemistry, chemical technology, physical technology, etc. We also consider the social impact of our work to be very relevant and therefore we co-operate with other University groups, such as Environmental Policy, Environmental Economy and Management Studies. The Sub-department of Environmental Technology participates with courses and other educational subjects in a number of programmes of study of Wageningen University, both on BSc and MSc level:

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2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

Amount of publications in scientific journals of the Sub-department of Environmental

Technology

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1st author

1. Bachelor of Science (BSc) programme: - Environmental Sciences (BMW)

Environmental Technology is one of the three specialisations within this programme. 2. Master of Science (MSc) programmes:

- Environmental Sciences (MES) - Urban Environmental Management (MUE) - Biotechnology (MBT)

- Agricultural and Bioresource Engineering (MAB) - Molecular Life Sciences (MML)

In all these Master programmes, students can major in Environmental Technology. In 2008 we started with the master Water Technology, a joint degree of Wageningen University, Twente Universtiy and Groningen University. The courses are offered in Leeuwarden at the Wetsus academy (www.wetsusacademy.nl). In 2009 the Urban Environmental Technology & Management group joined our Sub-department, and from September 2009 the Sub-department Environmental Technology accepted the responsibility for the education given by this group. Bachelor of Science Courses ETE 10806 Introduction Environmental Technology

Lectures: The course gives a general introduction to Environmental Technology and its role in sustainable development, taking into account the nature and background of environmental and sustainability issues. Lectures deal with the various fields of application of environmental technology: gaseous emissions and off-gas treatment, water pollution and wastewater treatment, soil- and groundwater contamination and remediation technology, and the collection, management, conversion and re-use of wastes. Lectures also deal with strategies to solve environmental problems from the past (soil- and sediment remediation technology), and in current production processes (off-gas and domestic-industrial wastewater treatment). Sludge- and waste treatment technology is considered in the framework of life-cycle approaches. The sustainability of specific environmental technologies is discussed in terms of energy use and their role in the local and global carbon, nitrogen and sulphur cycles. Special attention is given to mass balances and re-use of waste components. Working group sessions: Environmental technologies are positioned in visions of sustainable industrial, urban and rural environments. By combining the technological concepts learned, student groups will explore possibilities of contributing to a sustainable future. Practical training: The practical exercises illustrate the theory of several environmental technological processes. By doing laboratory experiments on aerobic and anaerobic wastewater treatment and soil remediation, students get acquainted with practical aspects of environmental technology. They acquire knowledge and skills regarding several environmental technological applications and relevant analytical techniques.

ETE 21306 Water Treatment

This course deals with the most important processes that can be applied for the treatment of wastewater. These processes can be based on three principles: biological conversion of pollutants, physical removal of pollutants and chemical destruction of pollutants or combinations of these processes. The aim of wastewater treatment is to obtain a water quality suitable for discharge in surface waters or for the recovery and reuse of valuable products. The course focuses on biological processes for removal of organics based on aerobic or anaerobic processes and on removal of nutrients (N and P) by biological (or chemical) processes. Attention is paid to kinetic models used to describe the biological processes in a reactor as a tool for design, prediction of the performance and for parameter estimation. The physical/chemical processes settling, membrane filtration, ion exchange and adsorption are also dealt with.

ETE 23803 Environmental Process Engineering

This course first deals with reaction kinetics, including zero-order, first-order and Monod kinetics. It is shown how experimental data can be used to assess and estimate kinetic parameters. Kinetics and stoichiometry are combined in mass balances for several reactor types that are commonly used by environmental engineers (e.g. completely stirred tanks and plug flow reactors). This results in simple mathematical models to calculate reactor volumes and predict reactor performance. The

second part of the course deals with equilibrium and mass transfer processes. Mass transfer equations combined with mass balances are used to model several processes, including multi-stage counter current gas washers, oxygen transfer in bio-reactors and solid waste treatment. The models are used to identify mass transfer limitations and to make designs of process equipment.

ETE 24304 Treatment of (Micro)Pollutants in Soil and Water Systems

This course deals with the methods and technologies that can be applied for the treatment of contaminated water, sediment and soil. The main purpose of these technologies is to neutralize harmfulness to the environment; further they aim at closing the water cycle and re-use of soil. The treatment of water, sediment and soil is directed at the destruction of the (micro) pollutant. With soil/sediment this step may be preceded by concentrating the (micro) pollutant in a limited amount of soil material which can be treated further. Both in-situ and ex-situ technologies are discussed. The main technologies considered are based on biological, chemical and physical processes.

ETE 25812 Environmental Project Studies

The main part of this course is a group-wise study of an environmental issue emanating from professional practice. Training in the methodology of research and in project management supports development of the research plan and execution of the research. Research skills are developed through practical training in information literacy and interviewing technique and subsequently applied in a research project that consists of literature research and/or empirical studies (measurements and interviews). Part of the course is devoted to the theory and ethics of science, particularly environmental science. Students are introduced to philosophical questions connected to current scientific practice. The research is reported according to the rules of scientific report writing. The course pays due attention to the societal aspects of the researched topics, the role of science, and the development of the students' own view on the approach of environmental problems.

ETE 80903 BSc Thesis Environmental Technology Part 1: Design Tools

The topic of this course deals with design tools that can be applied for simulation of processes in the area of environmental technology and for the development of technological solutions for environmental problems. The course focuses on the basic aspects of these tools and the way to use these tools in simulation models of processes and process chains and in flow sheeting. Also practical and theoretical calculations with these tools and assessment of the results of these calculations are part of this course.

ETE 80909 BSc Thesis Environmental Technology Part 2 The student makes a design study in the field of Environmental Technology. The design tools, learned in ETE-80903 will help the student to integrate previously acquired knowledge and skills in the design study. The design is made on an individual basis and the topic is chosen from a number of cases on offer. The design must satisfy both technological and societal needs and thus the evaluation will contain both elements. The resulting design must be presented for an audience.

Master of Science Courses ETE 22806 Principles of Urban Environmental Management

As the first in the MSc Programme Urban Environmental Management, this course introduces the four core perspectives in the Programme, i.e. Urban Environmental Quality and Health, Urban Environmental Technology, Urban Governance, and Urban Planning. The key concept in the course is that of a circular urban metabolism, which forms a basis for sustainable management of urban resources. Within a circular urban metabolism, resources necessary to support urban living are provided from renewable sources. For example, primary resources such as rainwater and renewable energy are captured locally, and secondary resources such as wastewater and solid waste materials are recovered and reused. Concepts such as Biomimicry, Cradle- to- Cradle, Industrial Ecology and Urban Harvest, with which the urban metabolism can be described, analysed and evaluated, are introduced. This is further extended by approaches (Urban Harvest Approach and The Natural Step), and tools such as Ecological Footprint, Mass Flow Analysis, Life Cycle Analysis and DPSIR. In addition to the consideration of urban resources, the course provides a basic understanding of environmental quality of (urban) water, soil, air, energy, waste, agriculture and services, its history and natural cycles and relevant indicators used to monitor it. The course includes three excursions. Furthermore, students apply knowledge gained during the course in an individual assignment. In this assignment, students focus on an environmental issue within the field of Urban Environmental Management, propose options to tackle the challenges involved and discuss implications of these proposed options.

ETE 24804 Fundamentals of Environmental Technology General basic knowledge of environmental technology is refreshed and extended as a preparation to the more specific courses ETE-30306 Biological Processes for Resource Recovery and ETE-30806 Advanced Water Treatment and Re-use. Attention is paid to phase-separation processes and chemical and biological conversion processes for the treatment of water, gases, soil and solid wastes. These processes are analysed by mass balances, which are a powerful tool to design, model and optimize treatment processes. Physical, chemical and biological aspects, including equilibrium states and conversion rates, that are relevant for the development and application of separation and conversion processes, as well as the mathematics for the analysis of mass balances are discussed. The theory is critically evaluated in a technical laboratory practical.

ETE 25306 Basic Technologies for Urban Environmental Management

This course introduces the qualitative and quantitative aspects of resource (energy, water, materials) flows in an urban system, emphasising their origin, transport, use and return to the environment The student learns to use tools like energy and mass balances for the analysis and (re-) design of urban resources flows. The course discusses various technologies that have been developed to cover urban resource demand and supply and related processes like treatment or recovery the environmental problems of urban systems. The focus is on state-of-the-art technologies for drinking water supply, wastewater treatment, energy supply and solid waste management. Furthermore, latest technological developments are presented, which can lead to more sustainable resources cycles. The course combines lectures with tutorials, individual assignments and field visits. Tutorial material is provided for students to understand, exercise and apply basic knowledge on physical, chemical and biological processes relevant for the understanding of urban environmental technologies. In the lectures, the basic principles and sustainability features of different environmental technologies are introduced. In the individual assignments, the student will perform a technology assessment for the solution of a specific urban environmental problem by performing basic calculations on urban flows. During the field visits students will experience various environmental technologies working in practice (e.g. drinking water purification plant, wastewater treatment, solid waste management facilities, power plants, etc.).

ETE 30306 Biological Processes for Resource Recovery

All organic materials are in one way or another involved in biological cycles. Biodegradation of this material will lead to compounds that can be recovered as resources, which will enter the biological cycle again. The subject of this course is the use of biological processes to recover resources within Environmental Technology. An overview is given of both technological, microbiological, and thermo dynamical aspects of the processes of interest. Based on general kinetics of biological processes, the design principles for wastewater treatment, sustainable energy production from waste and wastewater, off gas cleaning and soil remediation will be derived. Biological processes for the degradation and conversion of organic contaminants, organic matter, nitrogen, phosphorous, sulphur under aerobic and anaerobic conditions will be reviewed.

ETE 30806 Physical and chemical processes for water treatment and reuse

Global water scarcity necessitates the reuse of domestic, agricultural and industrial wastewaters. To achieve this objective, in many cases advanced treatment concepts are required, in which biological treatment processes for removal and recovery of bulk contaminants are supported by physical-chemical treatment methods for removal of trace and/or non-biodegradable contaminants. In this course the emphasis is on these physical-chemical treatment technologies. Membrane treatment, advanced oxidation processes and electrochemical technologies are only some examples of the technologies that are explained. This course also deals with the background knowledge required for reactor design, optimization of reactor performance and scaling up. This includes physical transport phenomena, chemical and physical equilibria, chemical reaction kinetics, phase separation, electrochemistry and colloid chemistry. A number of realistic cases are described, which illustrate how, based on wastewater characteristics and effluent requirements, the appropriate unit processes can be selected and designed.

ETE 32306 Renewable Energy: Sources, Technology & Applications

Access to sufficient energy is a key prerequisite for any industrial society. Fossil fuels are the dominant energy source nowadays, but their use involves a number of problems: enhanced greenhouse effect, air pollution, and resource depletion. Energy savings and the use of renewable energy are directions for achieving an environmentally sustainable industrial society. This course will focus on harvesting sustainable energy sources as a key factor in solving environmental problems. Thermodynamics will be used to analyze the necessary energy conversion processes.

ETE 32806 Managing Urban Environmental Infrastructure This course introduces urban environmental infrastructure in the context of rapid urbanization on the one hand, and technological innovation on the other. Its main focus is on urban environmental infrastructure, i.e. the systems to provide urban households and offices with energy, drinking water, sanitation and waste (water) services. The course begins with an introduction of the different physical and organizational elements describing the existing systems to handle urban energy and water services. The development of these systems is given a historical perspective, highlighting the processes and key drivers of their development for different urban typologies (developing, transition and developed countries). A major challenge for managing urban environmental infrastructures that is addressed is the asset management of the ageing existing urban infrastructures in the context of the crowded subsurface in which many stakeholders claim room for their cables and pipes. The transition towards multi-asset management is placed in the perspective of building new infrastructures in developing areas. A second challenge that is addressed is the development of new ways of recovering energy and nutrients from waste water streams together with the impact of decentralised energy generation on the total cycle of water services. Guest lecturers are invited to share their experiences in relation to this aspect. Exercises In this course students will carry out a group work in which the development of the infrastructure of the city of the future is explored and presented. The assignment concentrates on the development of one infrastructure (clean water, waste water or energy) in two possible surroundings (newly built city or transition from present to future situation). The 6 variations are analysed on a number of parameters in groups of 4 tot 5 students and presented in a short report and presentation at the end of the course. Excursions The course includes an excursion to an infrastructure company that manages multiple assets, like drinking water production and distribution in combination with a sewer network. The company Waternet or a combination of companies will be visited, depending on available time and locations. Within the excursion some practical projects on network rehabilitation will be visited as well as a workshop with materials used in practice.

ETE 33806 Planning and Design of Urban Space

This course introduces concepts, principles and methods for the planning and design of sustainable urban environments. The mix of concepts, case studies and simulation exercises offered in this module provides students with theoretical and practical understanding of the key issues which urban planners and infrastructure managers are facing when developing sustainable urban communities. The course is built around real world planning challenges and brings together urban planning and urban design. In the group assignment students work on a case study, where they plan and design an urban district, conduct stakeholder interviews and stakeholder analysis. In the individual assignment different urban development paradigms are contrasted and implications for development of self-sufficient urban areas are discussed. In both assignment students apply methods and concepts facilitated in the lectures such as passive housing design, multi criteria assessment, water sensitive design, material flow analysis, quantitative scenarios building and urban form indicators. Finally, students are introduced to spatial planning software tools like touch tables and Google Sketch up. The course is facilitated through lectures, but interactive hands-on of workshops are a key element of this course. The analysis of real cases during the lectures, the group assignment and the individual assignment is another specific feature of the course.

ETE 34306 Energy, Water, and Waste Cycles in the Built Environment Our continuously growing cities and (urban) populations are highly and increasingly dependent on external supply of, often overexploited and limited, resources like water and energy. Our modern cities can be characterized by their linear way of consuming high-quality resources and leaving behind waste streams and thus cannot be considered sustainable. The bio-capacities or ecological footprints of these cities and their hinterlands are largely exceeded as resources are used inefficiently as local supply, reuse and recovery potential is neglected. This course focuses on the positive impact, concepts and methodologies of a circular approach: closing resource (energy, water and nutrient) cycles in accordance with sustainability principles by applying various and suitable technologies and sustainability concepts to achieve this in practice. Based on the concept of Urban Metabolism, students are given the opportunity to critically examine and apply several conceptual frameworks that aim at closing resource cycles, such as e.g. Urban Harvest and New Stepped Strategy. Used streams are not considered as waste but as a source of secondary resources that are returned to either naturally occurring or technological cycles, at the required level of quality. Furthermore, options to locally supply and recover/reuse resource streams are evaluated in regard of possible self-sufficiency. Here, various technologies and their feasibility for closing resources

cycles are added above those already discussed in ETE 25306 (Basics Technologies for Urban Environmental Management) or during similar education elsewhere. In addition, assessments and case studies are provided of situations by practitioners from the field and scientists from related academic fields, where the application of individual technologies and their appropriate combinations ensure sustainability under given local conditions regarding scale, climate and rural-urban typology. The course consists of 2 main parts: a) lectures, in which i) methodological concepts to analyse and evaluate resource flows and technological concepts are introduced, ii) possible technical concepts for closing resource cycles are discussed and iii) example cases for closed resource cycles are highlighted and b) a group assignment that challenges students to i) analyse and assess resources flows in an urban setting and ii) propose, evaluate and compare feasible measures to improve sustainability of the current practices related to energy, water and nutrient management. Furthermore, field visits to cases with (partially-)closed cycles are planned to show the lecture and assignment content in practice.

ETE 50401 / ETE 50406 Capita Selecta Environmental Technology To explore a specific development or state-of-the-art in the field of Environmental Technology.

ETE 50803/50806 Capita Selecta Urban Environmental Technology and Management Select topics in Urban Environmental Technology and Management.

ETE 70424 / ETE 70439 Internship Environmental Technology ETE 70824 / ETE 70839 Internship Urban Environmental Technology and Management

The Internship is a learning period during which the relationship with professional practise is emphasised. The internship and supervision are usually provided by a third party outside the sub-department of Environmental Technology.

ETE 80418 / ETE 80439 Thesis Environmental Technology ETE 81824 / ETE 81839 Thesis Urban Environmental Technology and Management

The MSc thesis is the culmination of the Master study programme. The student independently addresses a topic, usually by doing research within an ongoing research project. It is possible to make your own research proposal or conduct research that involves other chair groups.

XWT 20805 Global Water Cycle (Leeuwarden) This module introduces students to the demand for water process innovation in an international contest. It makes a broad distinction between water technology demand in three types of country environment: low-income countries, emerging markets and high-income countries. Each of these country categories grapples with a different set of issues. Low-income countries prioritise meeting basic human needs for water and combating waterborne infections, Emerging markets face the challenge of solving the water quantity and quality problems caused by rapid industrial growth and urbanisation. High-income countries seek ways of closing urban and industrial water cycles in order to protect their ecological integrity. Each of these three water markets is associated with specific sets of institutional context variables, contaminant profiles. These drive and constrain demand for water process technologies. The course will also show examples of these technological solutions. Students are familiarised with this framework and proceed to apply it to select country cases.

XWT 30305 Biological Water Treatment and Recovery Technology (Leeuwarden) In the past the main objective of industrial as well as municipal wastewater treatment was to produce an effluent that could comply with the discharge standards to surface waters. Today this objective more and more is combined with reuse of the treated water and the recovery of valuable resources from wastewater. Typical examples of such resources are organic matter to be recovered as energy, phosphorus, sulphur and nitrogen. Both objectives can be accomplished by smart combinations of microbiological conversion processes and/or microbiologically induced crystallisation processes. During this course an overview will be presented of the microbiological, thermo dynamical, and kinetic aspects of relevant biological processes. In several case studies the students will learn how this knowledge, combined with characteristics substrate properties of (multiple-component) wastewaters and environmental conditions, (1) can be used to make a technological design of a biological wastewater treatment plant, and (2) how appropriate mixed-cultures of microorganisms can be selected, which can do their job at a sufficiently high rate.

Ph-D courses

Our most recent Sense PhD course “Masterclass Biobased Innovation” was held 1-5 July 2013. This Masterclass consisted of two parts: (i) background on technological and non-technological aspects given via lectures by experts from R&D and industry and (ii) validation of the knowledge by proposing a possible application or solution as a business case.

Planned fieldtrips in 2014 ETE10806 Introduction Environmental Technology • 2-day excursion to DOW chemicals Terneuzen/Pharmafilter, Delft • RWZI Bennekom by bicycle

ETE21306 Water treatment • Water treatment plant of Industriewater Eerbeek ETE 22806 Principles of Urban Environmental Management • NIOO building (for decentralised wastewater) • Agrodome ( for sustainable building (materials)) • A visit to a ACV (Ede or Veenendaal) for solid waste collection and recycling ETE 25306 Basics of Urban Environmental Technology • Wastewater treatment plant operated by one of the waterboards in the neighbourhood • Solid Waste Management company (e.g. Attero, VAR) • Energy facility: Related elements are visited on two previous mentioned plant (e.g. anaerobic

digestion of wastewater sludge for energy generation and utilisation). ETE 32806 Managing Urban Environmental Infrastructure • A visit to a few infrastructural sites in the surroundings (maintenance, construction)

ETE 33806 Planning and Design of Urban Space • Culembourg – EVA Lanxmeer: This is a sustainable community in Culembourg (NL). Students

will attend a presentation about how this community was planned and on which principles it is based. Thereafter, students will visit the area, with focus on the following aspects: o Design o Historical and underground aspects o Permaculture o Ground source heat pump and heating system o Community management o Public and private space

• Amsterdam de Ceuvel This is an area of Amsterdam that is currently being redeveloped into a sustainable community. The approach for development is innovation as it is bottom up and community based, relying on detailed technological knowledge.

ETE 34306 Energy, Water and Waste Cycles in the Built Environment • The 1st part of the excursion is to Delft Pharmafilter - integral concept for the healthcare,

treatment of waste and purification of wastewater for hospitals. The concept is cleaner, more efficient and easier for the patient and its nursing staff; there is more efficiency and hygiene in handling the hospital waste; less contact moments with contaminated waste. Locally the solid waste and wastewater are processed, purified and stripped of all harmful substances for people, animals and the environment.Sneek (new sanitation in a residential area)

• The 2nd part of the excursion goes to Metabolic, de Ceuvel. This spot was, over the past year, together withpartners space&matter and DELVA Landscape Architects, transformed from a polluted land into a creative office park that is largely self-sufficient for energy, sanitation, water, and nutrient recovery. The de Ceuvel site in North Amsterdam is a one of a kind living laboratory and office park that showcases clean technology in the built environment. It is the first of two urban developments as part as Metabolic’s Cleantech Playground concept.Heerhugowaard (Sustainable residential area)

Facilities Modutech: a unique laboratory facility Modutech is a fully equipped, state of the art modular technology laboratory for bio-based and environmental sciences research. It offers a wide variety of support and services. Research institutes, other departments of Wageningen UR and companies have the opportunity to rent individual units to carry out their own research. Within this partnership, we can offer scientific and technical expertise as well as next door laboratory facilities for standard analyses. Customized to specific research needs Modutech covers a total of 300 m2 including 24 laboratory units of 2 m2 and 4 units of 12 m2. The units can be fully customized and adapted to specific research needs. Each unit has basic supplies, such as electricity (standard 220 V as well as power current 380 V), water and water disposal, nitrogen and compressed air and ventilation. Some units we can control the temperature between 15-35 0C . Extra connections are available for CO2 and O2. Additional special safety storage for dangerous gasses is also available for each unit. A Draeger safety system, equipped with gas sensors, can detect different toxic and explosive gasses, for example CH4, H2, H2S and NO2. In the near future Modutech will have the unique possibility to work under fully anoxic conditions in select units, offering a spacious area to conduct experiments. Scientific and technical expertise Modutech not only offers fully customizable, state of the art laboratory units, but also offers full technical and scientific support. There is substantial in-house expertise on bio-based science, experimental design and laboratory support. Students can be commissioned to carry out either long-term or short-term experiments.

Combination of research facilities For wastewater treatment and sanitation research, Modutech offers special facilities that go well beyond standard research accommodations. A pipeline from the town of Bennekom directs wastewater (1 m3/hour) to Modutech for research, which can be stored in one of the two cooled 3.5 m3 tanks. Sanitation studies are also possible with 2 Roediger vacuum toilets, 2 Gustavsberg no-mix toilets, 2 Urimat water free urinals and a separate grey water collection facility. September 2013 we installed eight 4x3 m2 constructed wetlands (helophyte filtering) for additional wastewater cleaning steps. These offer the possibility to conduct even salt-water experiments. The diversity and quantity of equipment support almost any experimental setup and allow clients to run several experiments simultaneously.

Laboratory facilities @ ETE MODUTECH is supported by a well-equipped analytical research environment with an analytical staff of 5 persons (3.9 fte). They have broad practical knowledge in research and take care of the lab organisation, equipment and support in teaching and guiding the students and researchers in their practical period. Furthermore they take care of the practical input during the practical periods in the ETE educational program. The lab provides the researchers with basic laboratory equipment and a set of route analysis methods (e.g. biogas analysis, VFA & MCFA analysis, PAH analysis, TPH analysis, ICP metal analysis). In addition to the routine setups we can offer some flexibility to switch and set up analytical methods on a number of different GC and LC systems according to the specific analytical research question in a project.

Environmental Technology makes use of concepts and mechanisms from different scientific disciplines also making microbiological facilities important. An anaerobic hood, laminar flow cabinet and microscopes offer us the possibility to make use of these topics in our studies. Of course we also have collaborations with colleague university group which gives us access to more specialised research techniques.

Overview of available measuring techniques in the ETE analytical labs. Principle Equipment Detections

method Components analyzed Used by

Chromatography

GC

FID

VFA & MCFA Biorecovery, Reusable water

SC Alcohols Biorecovery TPH Reusable water BTEX Reusable water

ECD Chlorinated compounds Reusable water HWD O2, N2, CH4, CO2, CO, H2 Biorecovery Ionstrap-MS general Reusable water

LC

RI sugars Biorecovery UV-Fluorescence PAHs Reusable water Ionstrap-DAD-MS

u-pollutants (medicines, pesticides, hormones)

Reusable water

IC

Conductivity F-, CI-, Br-, NO2-, NO3-, SO42-, PO43-, NH4+

Biorecovery, Reusable water

UV AsO43-/AsO33- Biorecovery Spectroscopy

Plate reader

UV-VIS Reusable water Fluorescence Reusable water Luminescence Reusable water

Cuvette double beam

UV-VIS NH4+, NO3-, PO43-, Fe2+/Fe3+, Starch, COD, TOC

Reusable water

ICP Optical emission Metal ions, phosphor & sulphur

Reusable water

Crystallography XRD Angle diffraction Minerals Biorecovery

Biorecovery

Minerals &

Chemicals Energy

Dr.ir. Jan Weijma

Biorecovery

Dr.ir. Annemiek ter Heijne

Prof.dr.ir. AlbertJ.H. Janssen

Dr. Renata D. van der Weijden

Dr.ir. David Strik

Environmental problems Societies are highly dependent on access to mineral and energy resources. At this moment the world depends on fossil reserves of both minerals and energy. For the transition to a more sustainable world it is necessary to change from fossil sources to renewable sources. For minerals, recovery from many residual streams of industry and cities can be a new source. Energy can be recovered from residual streams from cities and agriculture. Finally, new energy conversion technologies based on the sun (biomass, direct sun conversion, fresh water flows) can be developed. By developing new technologies to recover energy and minerals from waste, also new methods can be found to clean up the waste streams from existing processes for energy and mineral extraction from fossil sources. These new technologies enable removal of sulphur, metals and nitrogen, or preventing their emissions from water and gas streams. These technologies will have a positive influence on many environmental problems, like acid rain, climate change, and cadmium pollution of soils. Our solutions The biorecovery group seeks to solve these environmental problems by using biobased technologies to recover energy and inorganic compounds from residual streams. Innovative research is on-going in the following areas: 1) Production of electrical energy, fuels and sustainable heat from residual biomass. This type of biomass is left over after extraction of valuable (food) ingredients from agricultural products. The use of residual biomass enhances the economic and

social potential of our processes. We use natural biotechnology i.e. we employ the processes as they occur in nature. 2) Application of the biological sulphur-cycle in water and gas treatment.

3) Recovery and removal of heavy metals from industrial wastewater and/or groundwater. 4) Biological modification of (waste) materials to reduce the environmental impact or improve the efficiency of industrial processing.

Our approach

• Central in our approach is the development and operation of bioreactors that enable the selection of the right organism for the desired conversion. The research is based on lab-scale systems where the selection of natural micro-organisms takes place and can be studied and steered. Next to this practical research models are needed to describe and further develop these processes

• The research has a multidisciplinary character, including microbiology, analytical and colloid chemistry, geology, biophysics, process technology, electrochemistry, and automation.

• Development of innovative processes for the recovery of inorganic minerals, organic fules/chemicals and the production of renewable energy.

• Development of more sustainable industrial production processes, in co-operation with end-users and technology providers.

Anaerobic Methane Oxidation for Biological Sulphate & Sulphur Reduction

Researcher D.A. Suarez Zuluaga

Supervisors Dr. ir. Jan Weijma

Promotor Prof. dr. ir. Cees Buisman

2010 - 2014

Waste or process water containing SO42-

Air S°

Purified Effluent

CH4

CO2

Biomass

Motivation The main goal of this project is the development of a process with a high rate of biological sulphate and sulphur reduction using methane as electron donating compound. This is a process technology that consumes less chemicals and produces a cleaner effluent than the conventional chemical methods.

Additionally, it produces a valuable reusable product instead of chemical waste streams. Nevertheless, bioreactor technologies based on this conversion have not been developed yet, as there still is a lack of understanding of the mechanism of the conversion and of the involved microbial population.

Technological challenge The research aims to develop a high-rate process for biological sulphate and sulphur reduction with methane. However, this a low-rate process from the techno-economical point of view. The research aims to increase the conversion rate in order to come to a technologically relevant and economically feasible process.

In addition, considering the expected high conversion rates and that the process is still poorly

understood, bioreactor research will help to get a better fundamental understanding of the process, both in terms of the metabolic pathway and the involved microorganisms.

Researcher:

Graduated:

E-mail:

Diego Andres Suarez Zuluaga

Process Engineer, EAFIT University, Colombia (2008)

Professional Doctorate in Engineering (Designer in Bioprocess Engineering), TU Delft, The Netherlands (2010)

DiegoA.SuarezZuluaga@wur.nl

Biological H2S and thiols removal from sour gas streams

Researcher Pawel Roman

Supervisor Dr. ir. M. F. M. Bijmans

Promotor Prof. dr. ir. A. J. H. Janssen

Nov 2011 - 2015

Motivation Protecting the environment by reducing emissions of sulphur compounds into the atmosphere, as well as improving the quality of gas streams are the main reasons to apply methods for gas desulphurisation. Since the early 90's research has been carried out in the area of biotechnological H2S removal from sour gas. This resulted in a family of biological hydrogen sulphide removal processes. The objective of this project is to expand the operating window of this processes to not only remove H2S but also organic sulphur compounds such as methanethiol (CH3SH) as this is often present in natural gas. Biotechnological processes offer many advantages over physico-chemical technologies: • Deep H2S removal; • Operation at ambient conditions (P, T); • Lower operational costs; • No use of chemical chelating agents; • No hazardous bleed streams; • Beneficial use of produced elemental sulphur.

Technological challenge Previous research focused on developing a biological treatment processes for H2S removal from gaseous and liquid stream. The aim of this work is to develop a process in which will be possible remove not only H2S but also methanethiol and higher thiols from gas streams and then the transformation of these compounds to biosulphur. Technological challenge here is to develop a process in which you can easily remove methanethiol from the gas streams which at this moment is the biggest problem. This requires a system where scrubber is integrated with a bioreactor and liquid can be continuously recycled.

Scheme of biotechnological hydrogen sulfide and thiols removal from sour gas streams

Scrubber (left) and bioreactor (right) which will be used for biotechnological gas desulfurization.

CV Researcher;

Graduated;

Hobbies;

e-mail;

tel;

website;

Paweł Roman Gdansk University of Technology Department of Chemistry, Applied Chemistry. Gliding, chemistry, mountain hiking and computers. Pawel.Roman@wur.nl +48 505 995 604

Microbial Electrosynthesis: Bioelectrochemical coversion of CO2 to Ethanol

Researcher Suman Bajracharya

Supervisor Dr. ir. Annemiek ter Heijne (WUR) Dr. Deepak Pant (VITO)

Promotor Prof. dr. ir. Cees Buisman

2012 - 2016

Motivation Using biomass (carbohydrates) as the renewable feedstock for chemicals and fuel creates unacceptable competition between food and fuel. Meanwhile, the land, water and fertilizers required to cultivate biomass are scarce. CO2 and low grade waste biomass would be appropriate source of renewable feedstock for chemicals and fuel in the context of fossils resources depletion and threats of global warming & climate change. Bioelectrochemical systems (BESs) offers unique possibilities for clean and efficient production of high-value fuels and chemicals from low-value waste(waters) or even CO2, which is referred to as Microbial Electrosynthesis. Ethanol, produced from acetate, is an attractive renewable fuel as it can be easily integrated into the current energy infrastructure. In addition, it is used as a feedstock for production of other chemicals.

Technological challenge Bio-electrochemical reduction of CO2 and/or acetate at the cathode of a Microbial Electrolysis Cell (MEC) can produce ethanol in a continuous fashion using a pure or mixed bacterial culture as biocatalysts (Fig. 1). An oxidation reaction at the anode of MEC will produce the required protons and electrons for the cathodic reduction. Some additional electrical energy is required to drive the electrons from anode to cathode.

At Cathode: CO2 based:

2 HCO3- + 14 H+ + 12 e- → C2H6O + 5 H2O Acetate based:

C2H3O2- + 5 H+ + 4 e- → C2H6O + 2 H2O

Figure 1. Microbial electrosynthesis of ethanol from CO2

The study focuses primarily on the microbial cathodic reduction. Any oxidation reaction, such as oxidation of organics, can be incorporated. The technology can synthesize ethanol from CO2 and/or acetate with small electrical energy input. The project is aimed to prove the new innovative principle and to prove the concept of continuous and energy efficient production using a biocathode in a BES. The challenge is to develop this technology in combination with product recovery, thereby focusing on biofilm development and optimization of cell components like electrodes and membranes (Fig. 2) to increase the volumetric reactor productivity and decrease the energy consumption.

(a) (b)

Figure 2 (a) Graphite foam for bioelectrode (b) Bacterial attachment on Activated carbon cathode

CV Researcher;

Graduated;

Hobbies;

e-mail;

tel;

website;

Suman Bajracharya Wageningen University, Environmental Technology (2012) Travelling, sightseeing and sports baj_suman@hotmail.com

www.microbialfuelcell.org

Biorefining organic waste into biochemicals and biofuels

Researcher Wei-Shan Chen

Supervisor Dr. ir. David Strik Prof. dr. ir. Cees Buisman

Promotor Prof. dr. ir. Cees Buisman Prof. dr. Carolien Kroeze

Oct 2012 - 2016

Motivation

The depletion of fossil resources is emerging and becoming a potential issue for the fossil-based chemical and fuel supply. Together with the pollution induced by combusting fossil fuels, the depletion issue has triggered the development of renewable alternatives for chemicals and fuels production. Organic waste is a potential carbon resource that is non-fossil base, abundantly available, and not competing with food production. Utilising organic waste to produce biochemicals and biofuels can offer a win-win solution: the organic waste is recovered while the demand to renewable chemicals and fuels can be met.

Technological Principle Mix-cultured Biological Chain Elongation (MBCE) is an innovative environmental technology that can achieve this win-win situation. MBCE employs microorganisms to convert organic waste into Medium Chain Fatty Acid (MCFA, C5~C8 or even higher), a precursor for chemical and fuel production; it consists of two main steps: acidification and chain elongation. In the first step, compositions in the organic waste such as carbohydrate, fat, and protein are hydrolysed and acidified into Volatile Fatty Acids (VFA, C2~C4), H2, and CO2; in the second step, these acidification products together with (diluted) ethanol are converted into MCFA. Further downstream processes such as separation, purification, or conversion into biochemicals as well as biofuels are required to deliver end-products.

This research aims at promoting MBCE into a conceptual biorefinery and evaluating its performance from both technical and sustainable perspectives.

Research challenges To search and characterise the available organic

waste sources that can be feedstocks for MBCE.

To steer the bioreactor towards desired product yield and selectivity.

To promote MBCE into conceptual biorefinery by integrating other processes including pre-treatment and downstream processes.

To evaluate the sustainability of the conceptual biorefinery by applying environmental system analysis tools such as LCA and MFA (Interdisciplinary research for ESA & ETE).

CV Researcher;

Graduated;

e-mail;

tel;

website;

Wei-Shan Chen Wageningen University, Environmental Technology (2012) Wei-shan.chen@wur.nl 0626540093 www.ete.wur.nl

Overcoming the cathodic limitations of the Plant Microbial Fuel Cell for a sustainable source of electricity

Researcher Koen Wetser

Supervisor David Strik

Promotor Cees Buisman

June 2012 - 2016

Motivation

The current climate change, the depletion of fossil fuels and the growing energy demand increase the urgency for renewable, sustainable and reliable energy sources. One new source is the plant microbial fuel cell (PMFC), which produces bioelectricity using photosynthesis from solar radiation without harvesting the plants. PMFC requires the anaerobic conditions in for example wetlands (+/-800,000,000 ha worldwide). Wetlands are often unsuitable for crop growth and thus is PMFC not competing for arable land. Even though PMFC is based on photosynthesis, it can deliver electricity 24 hours per day and year-round. This is especially interesting in remote areas without electricity or where electricity is delivered by irregular and unreliable variations in solar energy.

Technological challenge In a PMFC, plants grow in the anode compartment of the MFC. These plants produce root exudates and provide dead roots to the anode via photosynthesis. Electrochemically active bacteria break down these organic materials and produce protons, electrons and CO2. The electrons are collected by the anode

and transferred to the cathode via an external circuit where the electricity is gained. At the cathode the electrons are collected via the reduction of oxygen. The theoretical maximum electricity output of a PMFC is 3 W/m2, currently a long term performance of 0.22 W/m2 is reached. To reach the theoretical electricity production the internal resistance of the PMFC has to be reduced. Currently the cathode is the main internal resistance. The resistance of the cathode and thus the reduction of oxygen can be improved by the addition of a buffer or catalyzing microorganisms and by changing the design of the cell (i.e. air diffusion biocathode or 3D electrode). The first step in reducing the resistance is to clarify in what way and to what extent each improvement affects the resistances. This is analyzed with several electrochemical measurements. With the results from these analysis a 3D air diffusion biocathode will be developed. The first objective is to develop a biocathode that is able to generated a current density of 5 A/m2 at 0.1 Ωm2. Afterwards, the second objective is to integrate the air diffusion biocathode in the PMFC and reach a power output of 3 W/m2, making PMFC an affordable and sustainable source of electricity.

Integrate Apply

C a t h o d e

An o d e

Oxygen

Water

Improve

CV Researcher;

Graduated;

Hobbies;

e-mail;

website;

Koen Wetser Wageningen University, Urban environmental management (2011) Sport (athletics, football, cycling), traveling koen.wetser@wur.nl www.plantpower.eu

Bioelectrochemical metal recovery for metal production recycling and remediation

Researcher

Pau Rodenas Motos

Supervisor

Dr. ir. Annemiek ter Heijne Dr. ir. Tom Sleutels

Promotor

Prof. dr. ir. Cees Buisman

Oct 2012 - 2016

Motivation Nowadays global metal primary resources are rapidly dwindling, increasing the costs of these metals. Also, the mining industries in Europe produce approximately 14 million of tons per year of hazardous mineral waste. For that reason, innovative and clean environmental metal extraction techniques are required to raise mining sustainability. Bioelectrochemical metal recovery is the new method for production of pure metals, to recycle them from wastes and to remediate contaminated areas.

Technological challenge

The bioelectrochemical process to recover metals involves two redox reactions. The anode reactions oxidize organic matter or sulphur compounds from waste streams using bacteria as catalysts. The cathode reaction uses the electrons from the anode to reduce dissolved metals to their metallic form. The charge in the solution is balanced by a membrane between the electrodes. Both reactions combined can produce electricity. Biological catalysts have several advantages over chemical catalysts (e.g. platinum): they are cheap, active at ambient temperatures and are renewable.

Therefore, we investigate the use of microorganisms to catalyze metastable sulphur rich compounds oxidation on the anode. The main focus of this project is the cathodic reduction of the metal ions into their metallic form.

The principle of these bioelectrochemical devices were recently proven for copper recovery in a Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC). Besides copper other metals (zinc, nickel, cobalt, iron and lead) will be considered.

The technological challenge is to further investigate and develop different types of biological anodes, different substrates for the cathode and studying the limiting factors of the cell by electrochemical techniques such as Cyclic Voltammetry or Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy, aiming to build a device for metal recovery at different mining sites and metal industries

CV Researcher;

Graduated;

Hobbies;

e-mail;

tel;

website;

Pau Rodenas Motos Universitat Jaume I, Chemistry (2008) Cycling, swimming and play music Pau.RodenasMotos@wetsus.nl 0639547525

Combining Chemo- and Bio-Electro - Catalytic Synthesis of Chemicals

Researcher

Konstantina Roxani Chatzipanagiotou

Supervisor

Dr. ir. David Strik

Promotor

Prof. dr. ir. Cees Buisman Prof. dr. Harry Bitter, BCT

Mar 2015 - 2019

Motivation CO2 is the primary contributor to global warming. The conversion of waste CO2 into valuable products has been proposed by many researchers. A novel mechanism is microbial electro-synthesis (MES), in which electrochemically active microbes use renewable electricity to convert CO2 in organic molecules. MES is considered more efficient and sustainable than photosynthetic bio-fuel production.

Technological challenge The MES cell consists of an anode and cathode, separated by a membrane. A schematic is given here. At the anode, water is oxidized and releases

protons and electrons (e-). The latter are transferred through an external circuit to the cathode, where microbes use e- they directly accept from the electrode to convert CO2 into products (e.g. volatile fatty acids, methane and short alcohols). Although promising (80% reported coulombic efficiency for acetate), MES still faces challenges that limit its application. Three main challenges will be addressed as part of this research project: a. MES is limited by the e- transfer from the electrode to the microbes (i.e. low current density); b. the product spectrum of MES is limited; c. product separation is

inefficient due to high solubility, product inhibition, biodegradation and/or toxicity.

Methodology In order to address these limitations, we will evaluate the incorporation of metal catalysts on the bio-cathode of an MES cell, thus combining electro-catalysis and MES. Cu, Ni, and Fe catalysts are selected based on their ability to convert CO2 with high efficiency at ambient conditions. Carbonaceous materials, such as carbon nanotubes, have been used both as support for metal catalysts and as electrode materials for MES, and will therefore be employed. The set-up that will be constructed to evaluate the concept is shown below (depicted to operate with a bio-anode and chemical cathode).

The challenge is to investigate and develop different electro-catalytic bio-cathodes, resulting in improved operation of the MES process. The project will be performed in collaboration with the Biobased Chemistry and Technology (BCT) group of WUR.

CV Researcher;

Graduated;

Hobbies;

e-mail;

tel;

website;

Konstantina Roxani Chatzipanagiotou Wageningen University, MSc. Environmental Technology (2014) Dancing, reading, swimming roxani.chatzipanagiotou@wur.nl +31 (0) 622 161 990 www.wageningenur.nl/ete ; www.wageningenur.nl/bct

Bio-electrochemically assisted recovery of nutrients from urine

Researcher Mariana Rodríguez Arredondo

Supervisor Dr. Annemiek ter Heijne Dr. Philipp Kuntke

Promotor Prof. dr. ir. Cees Buisman

Nov 2012 - 2016

Motivation There is a need for fertilizers in agriculture to ensure sufficient food production. These fertilizers are mainly made from phosphorous (P) and ammonia (NH3). P is limited and scarce and NH3 comes from energy-intensive processes, such as the Haber-Bosch process. Urine is a potential source of the nutrients. It contributes to 80% of the nitrogen (N) and 50% of the P load in conventional domestic wastewater. Its high N and P concentration compared to normal sewer water enables a more effective and energy efficient recovery. Additionally, the nutrient load to the wastewater treatment plants is lowered and the water consumption reduced by the use of separation toilets or Fig.1 Pilot water free urinals.

Technological challenge The aim is to develop, demonstrate and evaluate an innovative and energy-efficient bio-electrochemical system (BES) that allows for the recovery of valuable nutrients (P and NH3) from urine while producing chemicals (NaOH, KOH) and, electricity or hydrogen (H2) (Fig. 2 and 3).

Fig.2 General process scheme. P is recovered via struvite precipitation. The process must be optimized and the material costs lowered in order to make it more economically attractive. For that reason, the research involves: • Optimization of coulombic efficiency and current

density of the anode; NH3 and alkaline recovery of the cathode

• Testing different configurations of cell stacks to decrease start-up and operation problems and increase current density

Fig.3 Working principle of two different BES: microbial fuel cell (MFC) and microbial electrolysis cell (MEC). Biological oxidation of organics drives transport of cations through the membrane.

Project funded by the EU FP7 (Grant No. 308535)

CV Researcher;

Graduated;

Hobbies;

e-mail;

tel;

website;

Mariana Rodríguez Arredondo Twente University/Wetsus Academy, Chemical Engineering (2012) Dancing, reading mariana.rodriguez@wetsus.nl 058-2843103 www.wetsus.nl

Medium chain carboxylic acid production from non-food feedstock for biomaterials

Researcher Mark Roghair MSc

Supervisors Dr. ir. David Strik Dr. ir. Marieke Bruins* Dr. ir. Ruud Weusthuis*

Promotor Prof. dr. ir. Cees Buisman

Jan 2013 - 2017

Purified product

Product separation

Motivation

Medium-chain-length carboxylic acids are important building blocks for polymers and resins. Conventional production processes of these chemicals have the disadvantage that petrochemical or food compounds are used as substrate. The use of agricultural residues or municipal solid waste as feedstock for the production of these (bio-based) chemicals is a promising alternative. However, the utilization of these waste streams into bio-based chemicals can only be feasible when an energy efficient process is used.

Technological challenge In this project, a novel, economic and eco-friendly bioprocess concept for the production of medium-chain-length carboxylic acids will be developed. The technological challenge is to find process conditions for the fermentation and downstream processing (DSP) steps that result in an efficient medium chain carboxylic acid production from agro-food residues. Ideally, the process involves high production rates and high conversion efficiencies while a minimal input of energy and additives is required. Other design criteria include high purification efficiencies and a minimal formation of waste or co-products. The first step in this process involves the anaerobic digestion of low-grade biomass into mainly volatile fatty acids (VFAs). Subsequently, the VFAs are separated and fermented to medium chain carboxylic acids such as caproic acid, enanthic acid, caprylic acid and pelargonic acid in a second anaerobic mixed culture fermentation step. Finally, the fermented products are purified in several DSP steps.

Website: http://www.wageningenur.nl/ete

Hydrolysis reactors

Chain elongation reactor

Agro-food residues

* Members of Biobased Commodity Chemistry (BCH)

CV Researcher;

Graduated;

Hobbies;

e-mail;

tel;

Mark Roghair Wageningen University, Biotechnology (2012) Reading, Techno music & festivals, Work mark.roghair@wur.nl 06-45892353

Conversion of CO2 into methane with bioelectrochemical system

Researcher Dandan Liu

Supervisor Dr. ir. Annemiek ter Heijne

Promotor Prof. dr. ir. Cees Buisman

Oct 2013 - 2017

Motivation Recently, there has been a burst of interest in methane formation from carbon dioxide by bioelectrochemical systems (BES), which has been innovatively utilized for energy generation in a clean and sustainable way. This technology holds a great promise as 4th generation biofuel, a carbon negative source of fuel upgrading feedstock by capture and sequestration of CO2. The 4th generation biofuel does not rely on biomass, therefore, eliminating ever-lasting competition with food production, as land, water and fertilizer are scarce. Here, we design a new bioelectrhochemical system to produce methane from sunlight, waste CO2 and microorganisms. The efficiency of converting sunlight into methane by BES (estimated 70%) combined with a PV cell (15%) will be >10%, which is much higher than that of directly into biomass (only 0.5-3%).

Technological challenge So far, the rate of methane production is low for practical application and sustainable electron donor is still under investigation. We will develop the system to improve versatility and practicality.

The main technological challenges are:

Elucidating mechanisms of methane-producing biocathode

Coupling bioelectrochemical methane production with photo-electrochemical water splitting

Optimization of bioelectrochemical methane production

CV Researcher;

Graduated;

Hobbies;

e-mail;

tel;

website;

Dandan Liu Wageningen University, Environmental Technology (2013) Cycling, Yoga, Music, Piano dandan.liu@wur.nl 06-17802583 www.wageningenur.nl/nl/Personen/D-Dandan-Liu.htm

Capacitive bio-anodes for electricity production in Microbial Fuel Cells

Researcher ir. C. Borsje

Supervisor Dr. ir. A. ter Heijne Dr. ir. T.H.J.A. Sleutels

Promotor Prof. dr. ir. C.J.N. Buisman

Sep 2015 - 2019

Motivation

Adaptation and adoption to green technologies is necessary to create a sustainable future. The Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC) is such a new technology which gained large momentum the last decade for renewable energy production. The technology is based on active microorganism which converts organic waste streams into electricity. At the same time, clean water is produced. State of the art technology is the fluidized bed MFC (figure 1). It consists of an anodic charging column and discharging cell, which uses a membrane. The bacteria grow on the fluidized activated carbon granules while converting organic compounds of the wastewater into electrons, protons and carbon dioxide. The electrons are stored as charge inside the granule. Electro-neutrality is obtained by a electric double layer of cations on the pore surface of the granule. Electrons and cations are released in the discharging cell by bouncing against the current collector. Electricity can be generated via an external circuit to the cathode while the cations pass the membrane to react with an electron acceptor and the electrons to produce clean water.

Technological challenge Several questions remain to be answered before a capacitive bioanode MFC can be brought to application. Therefore the efficiency of the Microbial Fuel Cell could be improved by:

- Optimizing operational parameters Low substrate concentrations through high conversion rates are favorable for direct current production. Parameters that need to be investigated to achieve this goal are: particle and organic loading rate, discharge potential and charge / discharge time (see figure 2).

- Optimizing architectural design

The efficiency of a MFC can be improved by optimization of architectural design. Main considerations for reactor design are sufficient contact between influent and bacteria (granule), optimization of granule transport and optimization of electrical contact between granules and anode in the discharge cell with operationalization of discharge time.

Figure 2. Schematic overview of fluidized MFC

Figure 3. Typical potential and current density behavior for two-cycles of a charge-discharge experiment in fluidized bed MFC

CV Researcher;

Graduated;

Hobbies;

e-mail;

tel;

website;

Casper Borsje Sub-Department of Environmental Technology (expected 2015), Wageningen University Photography, reading and nature Casper.borsje@wetsus.nl

ECOFuel

Bioconversion of syngas into caproate

Researcher

David Triana Mecerreyes

Supervisor

Dr. ir. David Strik

Promotor

Prof. dr. ir. Cees Buisman

Aug 2014 - 2018

Motivation

Biomass waste streams and lignocellulose offer a high potential for a successful transition towards a bio-based economy. However, it is still a challenge to convert those streams economically into valuable products. Mixed-culture chain elongation (MCE) is a process recently developed at ETE. However, the use of ethanol as substrate may be an obstacle for its implementation. Lignocellulosic syngas represents an alternative feedstock for the MCE process

Technological challenge The ECOFuel project aims at the development of a new cost-effective syngas-fermentation technology for conversion of low-grade organic waste materials and gasified lignocellulose into high value Medium Chain Fatty Acids (MCFAs). MCFA (fatty acids with 5 to 8 C) can be used for the production of biofuels and specialty chemicals (e.g. lubricants, plasticizers).

Research challenges • To find the best

fermentation conditions for the production of caproate by syngas based MCE.

• To develop a high rate bioreactor process with high selectivity, conversion rate and product concentration.

• To perform a techno-economic-environmental analysis in order to evaluate the potential of the process.

Fermentation bioreactor

CV Researcher;

Graduated;

Hobbies;

e-mail;

tel;

David Triana Mecerreyes Wageningen University, Biotechnology (2014) Music (drums) , sports , nature david.trianamecerreyes@wur.nl 0317-855098

Characterization of Capacitive Materials for their Application in Bio-Anodes

Researcher Leire Caizán Juanarena

Supervisor Dr. ir. Annemiek ter Heijne

Promotor Prof. dr. ir. Cees Buisman

Nov 2014 - 2018

Motivation The depletion of fossil fuels, the increased environmental concerns and the rising of world energy consumption has led to the need of alternative energy sources that are clean and renewable. Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC) is a CO2 neutral, sustainable and efficient technology to recover electricity from organics in wastewater. Classical MFCs have limitations like energy losses in the anode/cathode or high material costs that can be overcome with capacitive MFCs, which use capacitive materials like activated carbon granules where the biofilm can attach.

Principle of Capacitive MFC Activated carbon (AC) granules have a conductive surface with many pores that provides large surface area for the growth of biofilms(see figure below). These electrochemically active microorganisms will extract electrons from wastewater and store them within the capacitive granules. At the same time, protons and other cations present in the wastewater will be attracted towards the granule and form an electrical double layer to maintain electroneutrality.

Fig.1: Conversion of acetate by micoorganisms in AC granules and storage of released electrons. On top, set-up of a single-granule test cell.

Technological challenge The present study aims to develop and study a MFC by combining an electro-active biofilm with capacitive, activated carbon granules. The two key objectives are:

To develop a single-granule test cell and a measurement strategy in order to study charge-discharge behavior and quantify charge storage by electro-active biofilms on a single capacitive granule under well controlled conditions. Factors such as pH, buffer concentration, flow rates or acetate concentration will be studied for their effect in charge storage of granules.

To conceptually understand the biological charging and discharging through the development of a mathematical model that integrates bioelectrochemical and capacitive charging models. This model, together with the experimental data, will help in the understanding of the basic processes that determine charge storage.

Fig. 2: Left: Charge over time of a AC granule at 0.1V, 0.5V and 0.9V in 0.1M salt solution. Right: Charge at different potentials leads to the calculation of charge storage/ capacitance.

CV Researcher;

Graduated;

Hobbies;

e-mail;

Tel;

Website

Leire Caizán Juanarena Wageningen University, Biosystems Engineering (2014) Travelling, Music (listening/playing) leire.caizan@wur.nl 0617-584653 www.ete.wur.nl (Research placed at Wageningen)

Optimization of the BioScorodite process for safe Arsenic disposal

Researcher Silvia Vega Hernández

Supervisor Dr. ir. Jan Weijma

Promotor Prof. dr. ir. Cees Buisman

Oct 2014 - 2018

Motivation

Arsenic is a major contaminant in the non-ferrous metallurgical industry and treatment of arsenic-rich wastewaters is one of the most important environmental issues for the mining and metallurgical industries. Arsenic in metallurgical waste streams originate in particular from complex ores that are mined for copper, lead, zinc, cobalt, gold and silver. The demand for these metals has grown dramatically in the past years, creating a surplus of arsenic. The immobilization of Arsenic as the very stable mineral Scorodite (FeAsO4 2H2O) is the preferred route to safe long-term storage. Technological Principle: In the BIOSCORODITE PROCESS a new biological process concept, the principle of biocrystallisation is introduced. In this process scorodite is crystallized with the aid of arsenite and ferrous (Fe2+) oxidizing bacteria. Previous investigations showed that scorodite crystallization can be controlled by iron-oxidizing bacteria growing at pH 1.3 and a temperature of 75-80ºC in the presence of arsenate (AsO43-). However, in many relevant waste streams arsenic is present as arsenite (AsO33), which remains in solution at the pH of less than 1.3 required for scorodite formation from arsenate and ferric. Biological arsenite oxidation is still a challenge, as is the conditions for crystallizing the most stable BioScorodite Research challenges Find a suitable thermoacidophile culture for

arsenic oxidation and study the kinetic of biological Arsenite oxidation at pH 1.5.

Effect of conditions pH/Temperature on the cristallynity and stability of scorodite formed

from biologically oxidized arsenite and iron ferrous.

Optimize the operational window of an airlift reactor to generate bioscorodite from As(III) and Fe(II) including the treatment of high concentrated arsenic streams.

Fig 2. SEM picture BioScorodite

Fig1. Theoretical concept of BioScorodite crystallization

CV Researcher;

Graduated;

e-mail;

tel;

website;

Silvia Patricia Vega Hernández Universidad de Antofagasta (Chile), Biotechnology (2013) Silvia.vegahernandez@wur.nl 0631643327 www.ete.wur.nl

Bioelectrochemical systems: application and scale-up

Researcher Sam Molenaar

Supervisor Dr. ir. Annemiek ter Heijne Dr. ir. Tom Sleutels

Promotor Prof. dr. ir. Cees Buisman

Apr 2012 - 2016

Motivation

With increasing worldwide energy demands and raised concerns about the environmental impacts of burning fossil fuels, renewable energy sources are slowly but steadily winning terrain. Apart from the intrinsic demand this puts on the development of new forms of renewable energy, this also requires additional energy storage facilities to cope with the often intermittent character of renewable energy generation. Moreover, along with the growth in energy demand is the need for efficient recycling of nutrients, valuable metals and potential energy in waste streams. For all these challenges, bioelectro-chemical systems (BESs) offer new perspectives.

Technological challenge BESs are bioreactors in which the reduction and oxidation reactions are spatially separated. The electrons pass through an electrical circuit in order to complete the full reaction, comparable to fuel cells and batteries (Fig. 1). However, the reduction and/or oxidation in BES are catalyzed by micro-organisms (MO). These MO are able to either accept or donate electrons from/to an electrode. The principles of BES are currently under study for clean and energy efficient conversions, e.g. for energy recovery from a broad range of waste waters, metal recovery from acid mine drainages and formation of organic components from CO2. Commercial application of BESs is currently hindered by several bottlenecks. For example, part

of the substrate is converted into other than the desired products, decreasing the coulombic efficiency. Also, the reaction at the electrode suffers from energy losses. More knowledge of the biological dynamics in these systems as well as advancements in material sciences are required to overcome these difficulties. The aim of this project is to target these bottlenecks, so that BES application becomes commercially attractive.

Research objectives • increase electricity production by investigating the effect of anode potential and substrate concentrations, and determine how these affect the coulombic efficiency • testing different cathode materials and designs for suitability in a microbial fuel cell configuration • operating the Microbial Fuel Cell on wastewaters that contain a mixture of organic components

CV Researcher;

Graduated;

Hobbies;

e-mail;

tel;

website;

Sam Molenaar

Universiteit van Amsterdam, FNWI (2011)

Sports, music, outdoor, DIY

Sam.Molenaar@wur.nl

058-2843086

www.microbialfuelcell.org

Biocrystallization of Magnetite from Groundwater

Researcher Yvonne Mos

Supervisor Dr. ir. Jan Weijma

Promotor Prof. dr. ir. Cees Buisman

July 2014 - 2018

Motivation

Groundwater is an important source of drinking water. However, groundwater worldwide contains up to 50 mg/L of iron, while WHO recommends a concentration < 0.3 mg/L for drinking water. Currently, chemical removal of iron is the most utilized method. This however, results in a voluminous sludge waste stream of low value. We propose a new biological concept, in which the dissolved iron will be precipitated to form the more compact and more valuable magnetite.

Magnetite is the most magnetic mineral naturally occurring on earth. It is an iron oxide with the formula Fe2+Fe3+2O4. The crystal has an octahedral shape.

Because of the magnetic properties of magnetite, it has several valuable applications. Among these are magnetic storage on a credit card and contrast fluids used for MRI scans.

Technological challenge Chemically, magnetite can be formed by partially oxidizing Fe2+ at a pH > 8 at low oxygen conditions. Since the mineral contains both Fe2+ and Fe 3+ and the oxidation is very rapid, it is difficult to gain control over the properties of the product. Properties like particle size and morphology are important factors that influence the quality and applicability of the product. By using microorganisms to oxidize Fe2+, we hope to gain more control over the crystallization process and be able to tune the size distribution of the formed crystals. Figure 1. Magnetite (Bolivia). Photocredit: Rob Lavinksy &

iRocks.com (mindat.org)

CV Researcher;

Graduated;

Hobbies;

e-mail;

tel;

Yvonne Mos Utrecht University, Geochemistry (2007) Volleyball, running, reading, travelling Yvonne.Mos@wur.nl 0317-483 339

Microbial electrosynthesis for volatile fatty acid production and conversion

Researcher Sanne Raes

Supervisor Dr. ir. David Strik

Promotor Prof. dr. ir. Cees Buisman

Oct 2013 - 2017

Motivation

The need for a biobased economy is driven by the depletion of fossil fuels, environmental pollution and energy shortages. In the future waste needs to be used as a sustainable feedstock. The challenge lays in the conversion of biomass waste streams into valuable products in an economical way. Microbial electrosynthesis might prove to be a new cost-effective process for this purpose. It produces clean and in an efficient manner high-value fuels and chemicals from CO2 or low-value waste. This project aims at the development of a microbial electrosynthesis system for the production and/or conversion of volatile fatty acids. Technological challenge Microbial electrosynthetic production of volatile fatty acids will take place in an bioelectochemical system, as . Such cell consists of an anode and a cathode, separated by an

ion-selective membrane. At the anode electrons and protons are liberated via an oxidation reaction. The electrons will flow through the external electrical circuit to the cathode. The protons will flow through the membrane to the cathode as well. On the electrode material of the cathode microorganisms grow, designating it as biocathode. These microorganisms consume the electons and protons in a reduction reaction. In order to produce volatile fatty acids from acetate or CO2, additional external electrical power is required. The technological challenge of this project is to develop biocathodes which have:

i) high chemical efficiency, ii) effectively developed biofilm which can run

at high current densities, iii) stable long term performance, iv) minimal energy losses (i.e. overpotentials), v) having the ability to stir the system towards

desirable product(s).

Figure 1: Schematic overview of microbial electrosynthesis system to produce VFAs from CO2

CV Researcher;

Graduated;

Hobbies;

E-mail;

Tel;

Website;

Sanne Raes Wageningen University, Biotechnology (2013) Hiking, cycling, horses and reading Sanne.raes@wur.nl 0317-485098 http://stw.nl/nl/content/mes-meets-des-volatile-fatty-acid-vfa-production-and-conversion-microbial-

Dr.ir. Jan Weijma

Biorecovery

Dr.ir. Annemiek ter Heijne

Prof.dr.ir. AlbertJ.H. Janssen

Dr. Renata D. van der Weijden

Dr.ir. David Strik

Environmental problems Societies are highly dependent on access to mineral and energy resources. At this moment the world depends on fossil reserves of both minerals and energy. For the transition to a more sustainable world it is necessary to change from fossil sources to renewable sources. For minerals, recovery from many residual streams of industry and cities can be a new source. Energy can be recovered from residual streams from cities and agriculture. Finally, new energy conversion technologies based on the sun (biomass, direct sun conversion, fresh water flows) can be developed. By developing new technologies to recover energy and minerals from waste, also new methods can be found to clean up the waste streams from existing processes for energy and mineral extraction from fossil sources. These new technologies enable removal of sulphur, metals and nitrogen, or preventing their emissions from water and gas streams. These technologies will have a positive influence on many environmental problems, like acid rain, climate change, and cadmium pollution of soils. Our solutions The biorecovery group seeks to solve these environmental problems by using biobased technologies to recover energy and inorganic compounds from residual streams. Innovative research is on-going in the following areas: 1) Production of electrical energy, fuels and sustainable heat from residual biomass. This type of biomass is left over after extraction of valuable (food) ingredients from agricultural products. The use of residual biomass enhances the economic and

social potential of our processes. We use natural biotechnology i.e. we employ the processes as they occur in nature. 2) Application of the biological sulphur-cycle in water and gas treatment.

3) Recovery and removal of heavy metals from industrial wastewater and/or groundwater. 4) Biological modification of (waste) materials to reduce the environmental impact or improve the efficiency of industrial processing.

Our approach

• Central in our approach is the development and operation of bioreactors that enable the selection of the right organism for the desired conversion. The research is based on lab-scale systems where the selection of natural micro-organisms takes place and can be studied and steered. Next to this practical research models are needed to describe and further develop these processes

• The research has a multidisciplinary character, including microbiology, analytical and colloid chemistry, geology, biophysics, process technology, electrochemistry, and automation.

• Development of innovative processes for the recovery of inorganic minerals, organic fules/chemicals and the production of renewable energy.

• Development of more sustainable industrial production processes, in co-operation with end-users and technology providers.

Anaerobic Methane Oxidation for Biological Sulphate & Sulphur Reduction

Researcher D.A. Suarez Zuluaga

Supervisors Dr. ir. Jan Weijma

Promotor Prof. dr. ir. Cees Buisman

2010 - 2014

Waste or process water containing SO42-

Air S°

Purified Effluent

CH4

CO2

Biomass

Motivation The main goal of this project is the development of a process with a high rate of biological sulphate and sulphur reduction using methane as electron donating compound. This is a process technology that consumes less chemicals and produces a cleaner effluent than the conventional chemical methods.

Additionally, it produces a valuable reusable product instead of chemical waste streams. Nevertheless, bioreactor technologies based on this conversion have not been developed yet, as there still is a lack of understanding of the mechanism of the conversion and of the involved microbial population.

Technological challenge The research aims to develop a high-rate process for biological sulphate and sulphur reduction with methane. However, this a low-rate process from the techno-economical point of view. The research aims to increase the conversion rate in order to come to a technologically relevant and economically feasible process.

In addition, considering the expected high conversion rates and that the process is still poorly

understood, bioreactor research will help to get a better fundamental understanding of the process, both in terms of the metabolic pathway and the involved microorganisms.

Researcher:

Graduated:

E-mail:

Diego Andres Suarez Zuluaga

Process Engineer, EAFIT University, Colombia (2008)

Professional Doctorate in Engineering (Designer in Bioprocess Engineering), TU Delft, The Netherlands (2010)

DiegoA.SuarezZuluaga@wur.nl

Biological H2S and thiols removal from sour gas streams

Researcher Pawel Roman

Supervisor Dr. ir. M. F. M. Bijmans

Promotor Prof. dr. ir. A. J. H. Janssen

Nov 2011 - 2015

Motivation Protecting the environment by reducing emissions of sulphur compounds into the atmosphere, as well as improving the quality of gas streams are the main reasons to apply methods for gas desulphurisation. Since the early 90's research has been carried out in the area of biotechnological H2S removal from sour gas. This resulted in a family of biological hydrogen sulphide removal processes. The objective of this project is to expand the operating window of this processes to not only remove H2S but also organic sulphur compounds such as methanethiol (CH3SH) as this is often present in natural gas. Biotechnological processes offer many advantages over physico-chemical technologies: • Deep H2S removal; • Operation at ambient conditions (P, T); • Lower operational costs; • No use of chemical chelating agents; • No hazardous bleed streams; • Beneficial use of produced elemental sulphur.

Technological challenge Previous research focused on developing a biological treatment processes for H2S removal from gaseous and liquid stream. The aim of this work is to develop a process in which will be possible remove not only H2S but also methanethiol and higher thiols from gas streams and then the transformation of these compounds to biosulphur. Technological challenge here is to develop a process in which you can easily remove methanethiol from the gas streams which at this moment is the biggest problem. This requires a system where scrubber is integrated with a bioreactor and liquid can be continuously recycled.

Scheme of biotechnological hydrogen sulfide and thiols removal from sour gas streams

Scrubber (left) and bioreactor (right) which will be used for biotechnological gas desulfurization.

CV Researcher;

Graduated;

Hobbies;

e-mail;

tel;

website;

Paweł Roman Gdansk University of Technology Department of Chemistry, Applied Chemistry. Gliding, chemistry, mountain hiking and computers. Pawel.Roman@wur.nl +48 505 995 604

Microbial Electrosynthesis: Bioelectrochemical coversion of CO2 to Ethanol

Researcher Suman Bajracharya

Supervisor Dr. ir. Annemiek ter Heijne (WUR) Dr. Deepak Pant (VITO)

Promotor Prof. dr. ir. Cees Buisman

2012 - 2016

Motivation Using biomass (carbohydrates) as the renewable feedstock for chemicals and fuel creates unacceptable competition between food and fuel. Meanwhile, the land, water and fertilizers required to cultivate biomass are scarce. CO2 and low grade waste biomass would be appropriate source of renewable feedstock for chemicals and fuel in the context of fossils resources depletion and threats of global warming & climate change. Bioelectrochemical systems (BESs) offers unique possibilities for clean and efficient production of high-value fuels and chemicals from low-value waste(waters) or even CO2, which is referred to as Microbial Electrosynthesis. Ethanol, produced from acetate, is an attractive renewable fuel as it can be easily integrated into the current energy infrastructure. In addition, it is used as a feedstock for production of other chemicals.

Technological challenge Bio-electrochemical reduction of CO2 and/or acetate at the cathode of a Microbial Electrolysis Cell (MEC) can produce ethanol in a continuous fashion using a pure or mixed bacterial culture as biocatalysts (Fig. 1). An oxidation reaction at the anode of MEC will produce the required protons and electrons for the cathodic reduction. Some additional electrical energy is required to drive the electrons from anode to cathode. At Cathode: CO2 based:

2 HCO3- + 14 H+ + 12 e- → C2H6O + 5 H2O Acetate based:

C2H3O2- + 5 H+ + 4 e- → C2H6O + 2 H2O

Figure 1. Microbial electrosynthesis of ethanol from CO2 The study focuses primarily on the microbial cathodic reduction. Any oxidation reaction, such as oxidation of organics, can be incorporated. The technology can synthesize ethanol from CO2 and/or acetate with small electrical energy input. The project is aimed to prove the new innovative principle and to prove the concept of continuous and energy efficient production using a biocathode in a BES. The challenge is to develop this technology in combination with product recovery, thereby focusing on biofilm development and optimization of cell components like electrodes and membranes (Fig. 2) to increase the volumetric reactor productivity and decrease the energy consumption. (a) (b)

(a)

Figure 2 (a) Graphite foam for bioelectrode (b) Bacterial attachment on Activated carbon cathode

CV Researcher;

Graduated;

Hobbies;

e-mail;

tel;

website;

Suman Bajracharya Wageningen University, Environmental Technology (2012) Travelling, sightseeing and sports baj_suman@hotmail.com www.microbialfuelcell.org

Biorefining organic waste into biochemicals and biofuels

Researcher Wei-Shan Chen

Supervisor Dr. ir. David Strik Prof. dr. ir. Cees Buisman

Promotor Prof. dr. ir. Cees Buisman Prof. dr. Carolien Kroeze

Oct 2012 - 2016

Motivation

The depletion of fossil resources is emerging and becoming a potential issue for the fossil-based chemical and fuel supply. Together with the pollution induced by combusting fossil fuels, the depletion issue has triggered the development of renewable alternatives for chemicals and fuels production. Organic waste is a potential carbon resource that is non-fossil base, abundantly available, and not competing with food production. Utilising organic waste to produce biochemicals and biofuels can offer a win-win solution: the organic waste is recovered while the demand to renewable chemicals and fuels can be met.

Technological Principle Mix-cultured Biological Chain Elongation (MBCE) is an innovative environmental technology that can achieve this win-win situation. MBCE employs microorganisms to convert organic waste into Medium Chain Fatty Acid (MCFA, C5~C8 or even higher), a precursor for chemical and fuel production; it consists of two main steps: acidification and chain elongation. In the first step, compositions in the organic waste such as carbohydrate, fat, and protein are hydrolysed and acidified into Volatile Fatty Acids (VFA, C2~C4), H2, and CO2; in the second step, these acidification products together with (diluted) ethanol are converted into MCFA. Further downstream processes such as separation, purification, or conversion into biochemicals as well as biofuels are required to deliver end-products.

This research aims at promoting MBCE into a conceptual biorefinery and evaluating its performance from both technical and sustainable perspectives.

Research challenges To search and characterise the available organic

waste sources that can be feedstocks for MBCE.

To steer the bioreactor towards desired product yield and selectivity.

To promote MBCE into conceptual biorefinery by integrating other processes including pre-treatment and downstream processes.

To evaluate the sustainability of the conceptual biorefinery by applying environmental system analysis tools such as LCA and MFA (Interdisciplinary research for ESA & ETE).

CV Researcher;

Graduated;

e-mail;

tel;

website;

Wei-Shan Chen Wageningen University, Environmental Technology (2012) Wei-shan.chen@wur.nl 0626540093 www.ete.wur.nl

Overcoming the cathodic limitations of the Plant Microbial Fuel Cell for a sustainable source of electricity

Researcher Koen Wetser

Supervisor David Strik

Promotor Cees Buisman

June 2012 - 2016

Motivation

The current climate change, the depletion of fossil fuels and the growing energy demand increase the urgency for renewable, sustainable and reliable energy sources. One new source is the plant microbial fuel cell (PMFC), which produces bioelectricity using photosynthesis from solar radiation without harvesting the plants. PMFC requires the anaerobic conditions in for example wetlands (+/-800,000,000 ha worldwide). Wetlands are often unsuitable for crop growth and thus is PMFC not competing for arable land. Even though PMFC is based on photosynthesis, it can deliver electricity 24 hours per day and year-round. This is especially interesting in remote areas without electricity or where electricity is delivered by irregular and unreliable variations in solar energy.

Technological challenge In a PMFC, plants grow in the anode compartment of the MFC. These plants produce root exudates and provide dead roots to the anode via photosynthesis. Electrochemically active bacteria break down these organic materials and produce protons, electrons and CO2. The electrons are collected by the anode

and transferred to the cathode via an external circuit where the electricity is gained. At the cathode the electrons are collected via the reduction of oxygen. The theoretical maximum electricity output of a PMFC is 3 W/m2, currently a long term performance of 0.22 W/m2 is reached. To reach the theoretical electricity production the internal resistance of the PMFC has to be reduced. Currently the cathode is the main internal resistance. The resistance of the cathode and thus the reduction of oxygen can be improved by the addition of a buffer or catalyzing microorganisms and by changing the design of the cell (i.e. air diffusion biocathode or 3D electrode). The first step in reducing the resistance is to clarify in what way and to what extent each improvement affects the resistances. This is analyzed with several electrochemical measurements. With the results from these analysis a 3D air diffusion biocathode will be developed. The first objective is to develop a biocathode that is able to generated a current density of 5 A/m2 at 0.1 Ωm2. Afterwards, the second objective is to integrate the air diffusion biocathode in the PMFC and reach a power output of 3 W/m2, making PMFC an affordable and sustainable source of electricity.

Integrate Apply

C a t h o d e

An o d e

Oxygen

Water

Improve

CV Researcher;

Graduated;

Hobbies;

e-mail;

website;

Koen Wetser Wageningen University, Urban environmental management (2011) Sport (athletics, football, cycling), traveling koen.wetser@wur.nl www.plantpower.eu

Bioelectrochemical metal recovery for metal production recycling and remediation

Researcher

Pau Rodenas Motos

Supervisor

Dr. ir. Annemiek ter Heijne Dr. ir. Tom Sleutels

Promotor

Prof. dr. ir. Cees Buisman

Oct 2012 - 2016

Motivation Nowadays global metal primary resources are rapidly dwindling, increasing the costs of these metals. Also, the mining industries in Europe produce approximately 14 million of tons per year of hazardous mineral waste. For that reason, innovative and clean environmental metal extraction techniques are required to raise mining sustainability. Bioelectrochemical metal recovery is the new method for production of pure metals, to recycle them from wastes and to remediate contaminated areas.

Technological challenge

The bioelectrochemical process to recover metals involves two redox reactions. The anode reactions oxidize organic matter or sulphur compounds from waste streams using bacteria as catalysts. The cathode reaction uses the electrons from the anode to reduce dissolved metals to their metallic form. The charge in the solution is balanced by a membrane between the electrodes. Both reactions combined can produce electricity. Biological catalysts have several advantages over chemical catalysts (e.g. platinum): they are cheap, active at ambient temperatures and are renewable.

Therefore, we investigate the use of microorganisms to catalyze metastable sulphur rich compounds oxidation on the anode. The main focus of this project is the cathodic reduction of the metal ions into their metallic form.

The principle of these bioelectrochemical devices were recently proven for copper recovery in a Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC). Besides copper other metals (zinc, nickel, cobalt, iron and lead) will be considered.

The technological challenge is to further investigate and develop different types of biological anodes, different substrates for the cathode and studying the limiting factors of the cell by electrochemical techniques such as Cyclic Voltammetry or Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy, aiming to build a device for metal recovery at different mining sites and metal industries

CV Researcher;

Graduated;

Hobbies;

e-mail;

tel;

website;

Pau Rodenas Motos Universitat Jaume I, Chemistry (2008) Cycling, swimming and play music Pau.RodenasMotos@wetsus.nl 0639547525

Combining Chemo- and Bio-Electro - Catalytic Synthesis of Chemicals

Researcher

Konstantina Roxani Chatzipanagiotou

Supervisor

Dr. ir. David Strik

Promotor

Prof. dr. ir. Cees Buisman Prof. dr. Harry Bitter, BCT

Mar 2015 - 2019

Motivation CO2 is the primary contributor to global warming. The conversion of waste CO2 into valuable products has been proposed by many researchers. A novel mechanism is microbial electro-synthesis (MES), in which electrochemically active microbes use renewable electricity to convert CO2 in organic molecules. MES is considered more efficient and sustainable than photosynthetic bio-fuel production.

Technological challenge The MES cell consists of an anode and cathode, separated by a membrane. A schematic is given here. At the anode, water is oxidized and releases

protons and electrons (e-). The latter are transferred through an external circuit to the cathode, where microbes use e- they directly accept from the electrode to convert CO2 into products (e.g. volatile fatty acids, methane and short alcohols). Although promising (80% reported coulombic efficiency for acetate), MES still faces challenges that limit its application. Three main challenges will be addressed as part of this research project: a. MES is limited by the e- transfer from the electrode to the microbes (i.e. low current density); b. the product spectrum of MES is limited; c. product separation is

inefficient due to high solubility, product inhibition, biodegradation and/or toxicity.

Methodology In order to address these limitations, we will evaluate the incorporation of metal catalysts on the bio-cathode of an MES cell, thus combining electro-catalysis and MES. Cu, Ni, and Fe catalysts are selected based on their ability to convert CO2 with high efficiency at ambient conditions. Carbonaceous materials, such as carbon nanotubes, have been used both as support for metal catalysts and as electrode materials for MES, and will therefore be employed. The set-up that will be constructed to evaluate the concept is shown below (depicted to operate with a bio-anode and chemical cathode).

The challenge is to investigate and develop different electro-catalytic bio-cathodes, resulting in improved operation of the MES process. The project will be performed in collaboration with the Biobased Chemistry and Technology (BCT) group of WUR.

CV Researcher;

Graduated;

Hobbies;

e-mail;

tel;

website;

Konstantina Roxani Chatzipanagiotou Wageningen University, MSc. Environmental Technology (2014) Dancing, reading, swimming roxani.chatzipanagiotou@wur.nl +31 (0) 622 161 990 www.wageningenur.nl/ete ; www.wageningenur.nl/bct

Bio-electrochemically assisted recovery of nutrients from urine

Researcher Mariana Rodríguez Arredondo

Supervisor Dr. Annemiek ter Heijne Dr. Philipp Kuntke

Promotor Prof. dr. ir. Cees Buisman

Nov 2012 - 2016

Motivation There is a need for fertilizers in agriculture to ensure sufficient food production. These fertilizers are mainly made from phosphorous (P) and ammonia (NH3). P is limited and scarce and NH3 comes from energy-intensive processes, such as the Haber-Bosch process. Urine is a potential source of the nutrients. It contributes to 80% of the nitrogen (N) and 50% of the P load in conventional domestic wastewater. Its high N and P concentration compared to normal sewer water enables a more effective and energy efficient recovery. Additionally, the nutrient load to the wastewater treatment plants is lowered and the water consumption reduced by the use of separation toilets or Fig.1 Pilot water free urinals.

Technological challenge The aim is to develop, demonstrate and evaluate an innovative and energy-efficient bio-electrochemical system (BES) that allows for the recovery of valuable nutrients (P and NH3) from urine while producing chemicals (NaOH, KOH) and, electricity or hydrogen (H2) (Fig. 2 and 3).

Fig.2 General process scheme. P is recovered via struvite precipitation. The process must be optimized and the material costs lowered in order to make it more economically attractive. For that reason, the research involves: • Optimization of coulombic efficiency and current

density of the anode; NH3 and alkaline recovery of the cathode

• Testing different configurations of cell stacks to decrease start-up and operation problems and increase current density

Fig.3 Working principle of two different BES: microbial fuel cell (MFC) and microbial electrolysis cell (MEC). Biological oxidation of organics drives transport of cations through the membrane.

Project funded by the EU FP7 (Grant No. 308535)

CV Researcher;

Graduated;

Hobbies;

e-mail;

tel;

website;

Mariana Rodríguez Arredondo Twente University/Wetsus Academy, Chemical Engineering (2012) Dancing, reading mariana.rodriguez@wetsus.nl 058-2843103 www.wetsus.nl

Medium chain carboxylic acid production from non-food feedstock for biomaterials

Researcher Mark Roghair MSc

Supervisors Dr. ir. David Strik Dr. ir. Marieke Bruins* Dr. ir. Ruud Weusthuis*

Promotor Prof. dr. ir. Cees Buisman

Jan 2013 - 2017

Purified product

Product separation

Motivation

Medium-chain-length carboxylic acids are important building blocks for polymers and resins. Conventional production processes of these chemicals have the disadvantage that petrochemical or food compounds are used as substrate. The use of agricultural residues or municipal solid waste as feedstock for the production of these (bio-based) chemicals is a promising alternative. However, the utilization of these waste streams into bio-based chemicals can only be feasible when an energy efficient process is used.

Technological challenge In this project, a novel, economic and eco-friendly bioprocess concept for the production of medium-chain-length carboxylic acids will be developed. The technological challenge is to find process conditions for the fermentation and downstream processing (DSP) steps that result in an efficient medium chain carboxylic acid production from agro-food residues. Ideally, the process involves high production rates and high conversion efficiencies while a minimal input of energy and additives is required. Other design criteria include high purification efficiencies and a minimal formation of waste or co-products. The first step in this process involves the anaerobic digestion of low-grade biomass into mainly volatile fatty acids (VFAs). Subsequently, the VFAs are separated and fermented to medium chain carboxylic acids such as caproic acid, enanthic acid, caprylic acid and pelargonic acid in a second anaerobic mixed culture fermentation step. Finally, the fermented products are purified in several DSP steps.

Website: http://www.wageningenur.nl/ete

Hydrolysis reactors

Chain elongation reactor

Agro-food residues

* Members of Biobased Commodity Chemistry (BCH)

CV Researcher;

Graduated;

Hobbies;

e-mail;

tel;

Mark Roghair Wageningen University, Biotechnology (2012) Reading, Techno music & festivals, Work mark.roghair@wur.nl 06-45892353

Conversion of CO2 into methane with bioelectrochemical system

Researcher Dandan Liu

Supervisor Dr. ir. Annemiek ter Heijne

Promotor Prof. dr. ir. Cees Buisman

Oct 2013 - 2017

Motivation Recently, there has been a burst of interest in methane formation from carbon dioxide by bioelectrochemical systems (BES), which has been innovatively utilized for energy generation in a clean and sustainable way. This technology holds a great promise as 4th generation biofuel, a carbon negative source of fuel upgrading feedstock by capture and sequestration of CO2. The 4th generation biofuel does not rely on biomass, therefore, eliminating ever-lasting competition with food production, as land, water and fertilizer are scarce. Here, we design a new bioelectrhochemical system to produce methane from sunlight, waste CO2 and microorganisms. The efficiency of converting sunlight into methane by BES (estimated 70%) combined with a PV cell (15%) will be >10%, which is much higher than that of directly into biomass (only 0.5-3%).

Technological challenge So far, the rate of methane production is low for practical application and sustainable electron donor is still under investigation. We will develop the system to improve versatility and practicality.

The main technological challenges are:

Elucidating mechanisms of methane-producing biocathode

Coupling bioelectrochemical methane production with photo-electrochemical water splitting

Optimization of bioelectrochemical methane production

CV Researcher;

Graduated;

Hobbies;

e-mail;

tel;

website;

Dandan Liu Wageningen University, Environmental Technology (2013) Cycling, Yoga, Music, Piano dandan.liu@wur.nl 06-17802583 www.wageningenur.nl/nl/Personen/D-Dandan-Liu.htm

Capacitive bio-anodes for electricity production in Microbial Fuel Cells

Researcher ir. C. Borsje

Supervisor Dr. ir. A. ter Heijne Dr. ir. T.H.J.A. Sleutels

Promotor Prof. dr. ir. C.J.N. Buisman

Sep 2015 - 2019

Motivation

Adaptation and adoption to green technologies is necessary to create a sustainable future. The Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC) is such a new technology which gained large momentum the last decade for renewable energy production. The technology is based on active microorganism which converts organic waste streams into electricity. At the same time, clean water is produced. State of the art technology is the fluidized bed MFC (figure 1). It consists of an anodic charging column and discharging cell, which uses a membrane. The bacteria grow on the fluidized activated carbon granules while converting organic compounds of the wastewater into electrons, protons and carbon dioxide. The electrons are stored as charge inside the granule. Electro-neutrality is obtained by a electric double layer of cations on the pore surface of the granule. Electrons and cations are released in the discharging cell by bouncing against the current collector. Electricity can be generated via an external circuit to the cathode while the cations pass the membrane to react with an electron acceptor and the electrons to produce clean water.

Technological challenge Several questions remain to be answered before a capacitive bioanode MFC can be brought to application. Therefore the efficiency of the Microbial Fuel Cell could be improved by:

- Optimizing operational parameters Low substrate concentrations through high conversion rates are favorable for direct current production. Parameters that need to be investigated to achieve this goal are: particle and organic loading rate, discharge potential and charge / discharge time (see figure 2).

- Optimizing architectural design

The efficiency of a MFC can be improved by optimization of architectural design. Main considerations for reactor design are sufficient contact between influent and bacteria (granule), optimization of granule transport and optimization of electrical contact between granules and anode in the discharge cell with operationalization of discharge time.

Figure 2. Schematic overview of fluidized MFC

Figure 3. Typical potential and current density behavior for two-cycles of a charge-discharge experiment in fluidized bed MFC

CV Researcher;

Graduated;

Hobbies;

e-mail;

tel;

website;

Casper Borsje Sub-Department of Environmental Technology (expected 2015), Wageningen University Photography, reading and nature Casper.borsje@wetsus.nl

ECOFuel

Bioconversion of syngas into caproate

Researcher

David Triana Mecerreyes

Supervisor

Dr. ir. David Strik

Promotor

Prof. dr. ir. Cees Buisman

Aug 2014 - 2018

Motivation

Biomass waste streams and lignocellulose offer a high potential for a successful transition towards a bio-based economy. However, it is still a challenge to convert those streams economically into valuable products. Mixed-culture chain elongation (MCE) is a process recently developed at ETE. However, the use of ethanol as substrate may be an obstacle for its implementation. Lignocellulosic syngas represents an alternative feedstock for the MCE process

Technological challenge The ECOFuel project aims at the development of a new cost-effective syngas-fermentation technology for conversion of low-grade organic waste materials and gasified lignocellulose into high value Medium Chain Fatty Acids (MCFAs). MCFA (fatty acids with 5 to 8 C) can be used for the production of biofuels and specialty chemicals (e.g. lubricants, plasticizers).

Research challenges • To find the best

fermentation conditions for the production of caproate by syngas based MCE.

• To develop a high rate bioreactor process with high selectivity, conversion rate and product concentration.

• To perform a techno-economic-environmental analysis in order to evaluate the potential of the process.

Fermentation bioreactor

CV Researcher;

Graduated;

Hobbies;

e-mail;

tel;

David Triana Mecerreyes Wageningen University, Biotechnology (2014) Music (drums) , sports , nature david.trianamecerreyes@wur.nl 0317-855098

Characterization of Capacitive Materials for their Application in Bio-Anodes

Researcher Leire Caizán Juanarena

Supervisor Dr. ir. Annemiek ter Heijne

Promotor Prof. dr. ir. Cees Buisman

Nov 2014 - 2018

Motivation The depletion of fossil fuels, the increased environmental concerns and the rising of world energy consumption has led to the need of alternative energy sources that are clean and renewable. Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC) is a CO2 neutral, sustainable and efficient technology to recover electricity from organics in wastewater. Classical MFCs have limitations like energy losses in the anode/cathode or high material costs that can be overcome with capacitive MFCs, which use capacitive materials like activated carbon granules where the biofilm can attach.

Principle of Capacitive MFC Activated carbon (AC) granules have a conductive surface with many pores that provides large surface area for the growth of biofilms(see figure below). These electrochemically active microorganisms will extract electrons from wastewater and store them within the capacitive granules. At the same time, protons and other cations present in the wastewater will be attracted towards the granule and form an electrical double layer to maintain electroneutrality.

Fig.1: Conversion of acetate by micoorganisms in AC granules and storage of released electrons. On top, set-up of a single-granule test cell.

Technological challenge The present study aims to develop and study a MFC by combining an electro-active biofilm with capacitive, activated carbon granules. The two key objectives are:

To develop a single-granule test cell and a measurement strategy in order to study charge-discharge behavior and quantify charge storage by electro-active biofilms on a single capacitive granule under well controlled conditions. Factors such as pH, buffer concentration, flow rates or acetate concentration will be studied for their effect in charge storage of granules.

To conceptually understand the biological charging and discharging through the development of a mathematical model that integrates bioelectrochemical and capacitive charging models. This model, together with the experimental data, will help in the understanding of the basic processes that determine charge storage.

Fig. 2: Left: Charge over time of a AC granule at 0.1V, 0.5V and 0.9V in 0.1M salt solution. Right: Charge at different potentials leads to the calculation of charge storage/ capacitance.

CV Researcher;

Graduated;

Hobbies;

e-mail;

Tel;

Website

Leire Caizán Juanarena Wageningen University, Biosystems Engineering (2014) Travelling, Music (listening/playing) leire.caizan@wur.nl 0617-584653 www.ete.wur.nl (Research placed at Wageningen)

Optimization of the BioScorodite process for safe Arsenic disposal

Researcher Silvia Vega Hernández

Supervisor Dr. ir. Jan Weijma

Promotor Prof. dr. ir. Cees Buisman

Oct 2014 - 2018

Motivation

Arsenic is a major contaminant in the non-ferrous metallurgical industry and treatment of arsenic-rich wastewaters is one of the most important environmental issues for the mining and metallurgical industries. Arsenic in metallurgical waste streams originate in particular from complex ores that are mined for copper, lead, zinc, cobalt, gold and silver. The demand for these metals has grown dramatically in the past years, creating a surplus of arsenic. The immobilization of Arsenic as the very stable mineral Scorodite (FeAsO4 2H2O) is the preferred route to safe long-term storage. Technological Principle: In the BIOSCORODITE PROCESS a new biological process concept, the principle of biocrystallisation is introduced. In this process scorodite is crystallized with the aid of arsenite and ferrous (Fe2+) oxidizing bacteria. Previous investigations showed that scorodite crystallization can be controlled by iron-oxidizing bacteria growing at pH 1.3 and a temperature of 75-80ºC in the presence of arsenate (AsO43-). However, in many relevant waste streams arsenic is present as arsenite (AsO33), which remains in solution at the pH of less than 1.3 required for scorodite formation from arsenate and ferric. Biological arsenite oxidation is still a challenge, as is the conditions for crystallizing the most stable BioScorodite Research challenges Find a suitable thermoacidophile culture for

arsenic oxidation and study the kinetic of biological Arsenite oxidation at pH 1.5.

Effect of conditions pH/Temperature on the cristallynity and stability of scorodite formed

from biologically oxidized arsenite and iron ferrous.

Optimize the operational window of an airlift reactor to generate bioscorodite from As(III) and Fe(II) including the treatment of high concentrated arsenic streams.

Fig 2. SEM picture BioScorodite

Fig1. Theoretical concept of BioScorodite crystallization

CV Researcher;

Graduated;

e-mail;

tel;

website;

Silvia Patricia Vega Hernández Universidad de Antofagasta (Chile), Biotechnology (2013) Silvia.vegahernandez@wur.nl 0631643327 www.ete.wur.nl

Bioelectrochemical systems: application and scale-up

Researcher Sam Molenaar

Supervisor Dr. ir. Annemiek ter Heijne Dr. ir. Tom Sleutels

Promotor Prof. dr. ir. Cees Buisman

Apr 2012 - 2016

Motivation

With increasing worldwide energy demands and raised concerns about the environmental impacts of burning fossil fuels, renewable energy sources are slowly but steadily winning terrain. Apart from the intrinsic demand this puts on the development of new forms of renewable energy, this also requires additional energy storage facilities to cope with the often intermittent character of renewable energy generation. Moreover, along with the growth in energy demand is the need for efficient recycling of nutrients, valuable metals and potential energy in waste streams. For all these challenges, bioelectro-chemical systems (BESs) offer new perspectives.

Technological challenge BESs are bioreactors in which the reduction and oxidation reactions are spatially separated. The electrons pass through an electrical circuit in order to complete the full reaction, comparable to fuel cells and batteries (Fig. 1). However, the reduction and/or oxidation in BES are catalyzed by micro-organisms (MO). These MO are able to either accept or donate electrons from/to an electrode. The principles of BES are currently under study for clean and energy efficient conversions, e.g. for energy recovery from a broad range of waste waters, metal recovery from acid mine drainages and formation of organic components from CO2. Commercial application of BESs is currently hindered by several bottlenecks. For example, part

of the substrate is converted into other than the desired products, decreasing the coulombic efficiency. Also, the reaction at the electrode suffers from energy losses. More knowledge of the biological dynamics in these systems as well as advancements in material sciences are required to overcome these difficulties. The aim of this project is to target these bottlenecks, so that BES application becomes commercially attractive.

Research objectives • increase electricity production by investigating the effect of anode potential and substrate concentrations, and determine how these affect the coulombic efficiency • testing different cathode materials and designs for suitability in a microbial fuel cell configuration • operating the Microbial Fuel Cell on wastewaters that contain a mixture of organic components

CV Researcher;

Graduated;

Hobbies;

e-mail;

tel;

website;

Sam Molenaar

Universiteit van Amsterdam, FNWI (2011)

Sports, music, outdoor, DIY

Sam.Molenaar@wur.nl

058-2843086

www.microbialfuelcell.org

Biocrystallization of Magnetite from Groundwater

Researcher Yvonne Mos

Supervisor Dr. ir. Jan Weijma

Promotor Prof. dr. ir. Cees Buisman

July 2014 - 2018

Motivation

Groundwater is an important source of drinking water. However, groundwater worldwide contains up to 50 mg/L of iron, while WHO recommends a concentration < 0.3 mg/L for drinking water. Currently, chemical removal of iron is the most utilized method. This however, results in a voluminous sludge waste stream of low value. We propose a new biological concept, in which the dissolved iron will be precipitated to form the more compact and more valuable magnetite.

Magnetite is the most magnetic mineral naturally occurring on earth. It is an iron oxide with the formula Fe2+Fe3+2O4. The crystal has an octahedral shape.

Because of the magnetic properties of magnetite, it has several valuable applications. Among these are magnetic storage on a credit card and contrast fluids used for MRI scans.

Technological challenge Chemically, magnetite can be formed by partially oxidizing Fe2+ at a pH > 8 at low oxygen conditions. Since the mineral contains both Fe2+ and Fe 3+ and the oxidation is very rapid, it is difficult to gain control over the properties of the product. Properties like particle size and morphology are important factors that influence the quality and applicability of the product. By using microorganisms to oxidize Fe2+, we hope to gain more control over the crystallization process and be able to tune the size distribution of the formed crystals. Figure 1. Magnetite (Bolivia). Photocredit: Rob Lavinksy &

iRocks.com (mindat.org)

CV Researcher;

Graduated;

Hobbies;

e-mail;

tel;

Yvonne Mos Utrecht University, Geochemistry (2007) Volleyball, running, reading, travelling Yvonne.Mos@wur.nl 0317-483 339

Microbial electrosynthesis for volatile fatty acid production and conversion

Researcher Sanne Raes

Supervisor Dr. ir. David Strik

Promotor Prof. dr. ir. Cees Buisman

Oct 2013 - 2017

Motivation

The need for a biobased economy is driven by the depletion of fossil fuels, environmental pollution and energy shortages. In the future waste needs to be used as a sustainable feedstock. The challenge lays in the conversion of biomass waste streams into valuable products in an economical way. Microbial electrosynthesis might prove to be a new cost-effective process for this purpose. It produces clean and in an efficient manner high-value fuels and chemicals from CO2 or low-value waste. This project aims at the development of a microbial electrosynthesis system for the production and/or conversion of volatile fatty acids. Technological challenge Microbial electrosynthetic production of volatile fatty acids will take place in an bioelectochemical system, as . Such cell consists of an anode and a cathode, separated by an

ion-selective membrane. At the anode electrons and protons are liberated via an oxidation reaction. The electrons will flow through the external electrical circuit to the cathode. The protons will flow through the membrane to the cathode as well. On the electrode material of the cathode microorganisms grow, designating it as biocathode. These microorganisms consume the electons and protons in a reduction reaction. In order to produce volatile fatty acids from acetate or CO2, additional external electrical power is required. The technological challenge of this project is to develop biocathodes which have:

i) high chemical efficiency, ii) effectively developed biofilm which can run

at high current densities, iii) stable long term performance, iv) minimal energy losses (i.e. overpotentials), v) having the ability to stir the system towards

desirable product(s).

Figure 1: Schematic overview of microbial electrosynthesis system to produce VFAs from CO2

CV Researcher;

Graduated;

Hobbies;

E-mail;

Tel;

Website;

Sanne Raes Wageningen University, Biotechnology (2013) Hiking, cycling, horses and reading Sanne.raes@wur.nl 0317-485098 http://stw.nl/nl/content/mes-meets-des-volatile-fatty-acid-vfa-production-and-conversion-microbial-

Reusable Water

Organic matter

& Nutrients

Micro-pollutants

& Pathogens

Salts &

Minerals

Reusable Water

Prof.dr.ir. Grietje Zeeman

Dr.ir. Hardy Temmink

Dr.ir. Tim Grotenhuis

Dr.ir. Harry Bruning

Prof.dr.ir Bert van der Wal

Dr.ir. Alette Langenhoff

Prof. dr. Tinka Murk

Water treatment technologies have the objective to safely discharge municipal and industrial wastewaters to surface waters, and to reduce the risks associated with polluted groundwaters.

Directly related challenges are fresh water scarcity, a lack of nutrients (e.g. the phosphorus crisis), climate change, degradation and erosion of soils and the necessity for a more bio-based economy to reduce our dependency on fossil fuels.

This also explains why wastewaters more and more are considered as a valuable resource for reusable water, energy, chemicals, nutrients and complex organic matter. To make this possible, domestic and industrial water loops will be further closed, become interconnected, and new treatment technologies and concepts (together with the USE group) need to be developed that combine treatment and recovery of these resources.

Micropollutants and pathogens In closed water loops health related risks by the accumulation of recalcitrant, toxic organic micropollutants (e.g. pesticides, POPs,medicines, hormones and consumer products) and of pathogens should be avoided.

Groundwater and surface water are a valuable fresh water resource and groundwater aquifers are also used for heat/cold storage. These applications are increasingly threatened by micropollutants (industrial and anthropogenic origin).

Physical-chemical and biological technologies are studied to remove micropollutants and pathogens from wastewater and groundwater to make water fit for applications such as irrigation water, industrial process water, (secondary) household water and even as a source for drinking water production.

Organic matter and nutrients Wastewaters, industrial as well as domestic, are a rich source of organic matter and nutrients (phosphorus and nitrogen). These compounds are often destroyed during conventional wastewater treatment.

We apply technologies such as anaerobic treatment for energy production, cultivation of algae for recovery of nutrients and CO2 fixation into valuable organics, and upgrading of waste products to counteract soil degradation and erosion.

Salts and minerals Saline water provides an immense source for fresh process water and drinking water. Innovative electrochemical techniques including capacitative deionisation and combinations of membrane separation and electrochemical technology are studied to reduce costs and energy demand. Technologies will be developed for selective removal and recovery of salts and organic pollutants from wastewater and natural waters.

Valorization of aquatic waste streams: From waste to worm

Researcher Bob Laarhoven

Supervisor Dr. Hellen Elissen Dr. ir. Hardy Temmink

Promotor Prof. dr. ir. Cees Buisman

Sept 2010 - 2014

Motivation

Animal feed often relies on the addition of natural resources which are overexploited. E.g., the production of fishmeal and fish oil for fish feed is getting very controversial and unsustainable in this way. Nutrient recovery is therefore becoming more and more important. As a consequence, clean and sustainable alternatives for natural resources should be found. A promising option is the cultivation of freshwater worms of the species Lumbriculus variegatus. Due to their high content of protein and other functional ingredients, like poly-unsaturated (ω-3 and ω-6) fatty acids, they have a high potential to replace natural resources of protein and lipid, in fish feed.

Technological challenge L. variegatus can be applied for sludge reduction and compaction in municipal wastewater treatment. A reactor concept, with worms immobilized in a carrier material, was developed for this purpose.

Reactor concept for sludge processing using the aquatic worm Lumbriculus variegates

However, worm biomass grown on municipal sludge contains low pollutant concentrations which limits it’s controlled re-use. Worm biomass grown on “clean” organic (waste) streams has a much broader application potential. In this way these organic streams are upgraded in value.

Schematic overview of the process for producing clean worm biomass The project will focus on the biosynthesis, production and recovery of functional ingredients from suitable waste streams. To do so a reactor system in which the worms can be easily separated from the liquids will be used and further developed. Research will focus on:

• Exploring different waste streams for their potential use in worm production

• Waste stream and worm composition • Methods to harvest the worm biomass and

recovery of energy and nutrients from the worm faeces

• Reactor design scale-up

CV Researcher;

Graduated;

Hobbies;

e-mail;

tel;

website;

Bob Laarhoven University of Groningen, Marine Biology (2007) Survivalruns, Scuba diving, NGvA committee member Bob.laarhoven@wetsus.nl 058-2843189 www.wetsus.nl

Removal of micropollutants & pathogens within Separation at Source concepts

Researcher Andrii Butkovskyi

Supervisor Dr. ir. G. Zeeman Dr. ir. L. Hernandez Leal

Promotor Prof. dr. ir. H.H.M. Rijnaarts

Oct. 2010 - 2014

Motivation A fast development in “New sanitation” (or Separation at Source) concepts has been shown since the late 1990’s. These concepts are based on separate collection, transport, treatment and reuse of black water and grey water streams, which significantly differ in composition and volumes.

Within Separation at Source concepts wastewater is considered to be a renewable water source, as well as a valuable source of energy (i.e. biogas) and nutrients (i.e. N, P, K). However, black water contains pharmaceuticals, human hormones and pathogens, while grey water contains personal care and household products as well as pathogens. The challenge is to ensure the production of high quality products, viz. water, sludge and nutrients with respect to micropollutants and pathogens.

Technological challenge The aim of the PhD project is to establish the removal of micropollutants (pharmaceuticals, hormones, personal care and household products) and pathogens in the biological black and grey water treatment systems. Special focus is set on the partitioning of micropollutants and pathogens between solid and liquid phases. The development of additional post-treatment steps for micropollutants removal is the major technological challenge.

Sludge

Di h Reuse

SHARON

UASB Bioflocculation

Aerobic treatment

Pharmaceuticals (P) Personal Care Estrogens (E) Products (PCP) Pathogens (Pt) Pathogens (Pt)

(PCP, Pt?) Sludge (PPCP, E, Pt?)

(PPCP, E, Pt?) (PCP, Pt?)

(PPCP ,E, Pt?) (PCP, Pt?)

CV Researcher;

Graduated;

Hobbies;

e-mail;

tel;

website;

Andrii Butkovskyi Lund University, Biotechnology (2009) History, Reading, Languages Andrii.Butkovskyi@wur.nl 0626-742446

The role of sustainable energy technology (ATES) in stimulation of bioremediation in the subsoil

Researcher Zhuobiao Ni

Supervisor Dr. ir. Tim Grotenhuis

Promotor Prof. dr. ir. Huub Rijnaarts

2010 - 2014

Motivation Bioremediation of chlorinated solvents at contaminated sites in The Netherlands occurs most often by Natural Attenuation (NA) nowadays. More than 6000 sites contaminated with chlorinated solvents are mainly located in urban area. As the Natural Attenuation process is rather slow in general, these chlorinated solvent locations have a negative effect on the spatial planning developments at these sites. Furthermore the total number of probably contaminated sites in NL has increased up to 400.000 to 600.000. Therefore a site by site approach will not be effective and an area based approached is proposed for such urban areas. Since about 1990 the sustainable energy technology known as Aquifer Thermal Energy Storage (ATES) has been developed. Until now about 1000 systems are installed. In the governmental policy on sustainability it is aimed at to have 10.000 to 20.000 ATES systems in 2020. As individual systems may interfere with each other also here an area based approach is aimed at. Also in spatial planning a development is going on, in which spatial planning is expanded into the vertical and Masterplans are made for 3D-spatial planning. Here we aim at the beneficial combination of ATES and bioremediation of the subsurface.

Technological challenge During Aquifer Thermal Energy Storage (ATES), heat is collected in buildings to cool the buildings and to store energy in the groundwater in the subsurface. In winter time the stored heat is pumped from the groundwater to the building resulting in a net neutral energy balance in the groundwater.

As groundwater in NL has a temperature of about 10oC, the microbial degradation in general can be speeded up by increasing the temperature. Here we aim at the combination of heat storage and stimulation of the in situ bioremediation of chlorinated solvents in the subsurface.

Method In laboratory studies the key parameters involved in the optimization of the combination of ATES and chlorinated solvent biodegradation will be studied. Except effects of temperature also mixing, formation of chemical precipitations, nutrient additions etc., will be studied. Also studies at field scale will be performed within an applied research project (Meer Met Bodemenergie (MMB) see website: www.meermetbodemenergie.nl). Further implementation and area based approaches will be modeled related to integration in urban environments.

Need for cooling

Need for heating

CV Researcher;

Graduated;

Hobbies;

e-mail;

tel;

website;

Zhuobiao Ni Wageningen University, Environmental Technology (2009) Basketball, Baseball, Movies zhuobiao.ni@wur.nl 0647-465817 www.meermetbodemenergie.nl

Systems & Control Group

Computer - aided design and monitoring of WWTP’s towards energy and nutrient recovery

Researcher

Rungnapha Khiewwijit

Supervisor

Dr. ir. K.J. Keesman Dr. ir. H. Temmink

Promotor

Prof. dr. ir. H.H.M. Rijnaarts

Sept 2011 - 2015

Motivation Conventional municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are designed to remove organic matter, nutrients such as nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), and to produce effluents at a quality that meets stringent discharge guidelines. Today (aerobic) activated sludge plants are generally employed. However, these plants:

1) consume large amounts of energy (mainly for aeration),

2) destroy the potential energy contained in the wastewater organic matter,

3) produce large amounts of CO2 emissions, 4) waste the valuable nutrients N and P, 5) discharge relatively clean water that is produced

rather than being re-used for industrial process water, irrigation, infiltration, etc.

The main objective is to transform these activated sludge plants into a novel WWTP of the future using the following indicators: energy, nutrients and re-usable water producing factories, together with reduction of CO2 emissions (Fig. 1).

Technological challenge Several sustainable technologies are available which could contribute to mentioned objective. Examples are: bioflocculation, algae treatment, the Anammox process, anaerobic digestion, etc. The technological challenges are to design new municipal wastewater treatment and recovery plants based on such technologies, and to evaluate their performance with respect to energy consumption / production, effluent quality with respect to water re-use options, CO2 emissions, recovery of nutrients, and the quality of these products. Bottlenecks will be identified in these technologies and combinations of these, which will be further investigated.

Fig. 1: Novel process design of municipal wastewater treatment plants

Approach

Theoretical modeling experiments will help to investigate the potentials of several scenarios for the novel WWTP of the future. Experimental data from innovative and potentially sustainable technologies will support this task. The most promising scenarios will be investigated in more detail and, if necessary, more data will be collected in co-operation with other researchers working on the individual technologies in these scenarios.

WWTP of the future

Municipal wastewater

N N

N

P P

P Energy positive

N-P recovery Reduction of CO2 emissions

Re-usable water

CV Researcher;

Graduated;

Hobbies;

E-mail;

Tel;

Website;

Rungnapha Khiewwijit Wageningen University, MSc. Biotechnology (2011) Travelling and Reading Rungnapha.Khiewwijit@wur.nl 058-2843187 www.ete.wur.nl

Development of a robust membrane bioreactor for petrochemical

wastewater

Researcher Judita Laurinonytė

Supervisor Dr. ir. H. Temmink Dr. A. Zwijnenburg

Promotor Prof. dr. ir. H.H.M. Rijnaarts

Oct 2011 - 2015

Motivation Petrochemical wastewaters are originating from refineries, petrochemical, gas to liquid (GTL) and liquefied natural gas (LNG) plants. The wastewater discharged from petrochemical industry is large in volume and complex in composition.

Figure 1. Shell’s Pernis refinery and petrochemical plants in Rotterdam With tightening effluent regulations and diminishing freshwater supplies as well as advances in membrane technology, the reuse possibilities of treated water become very interesting. Effluent reuse would significantly reduce water consumption and lead to a more sustainable technology. Technological challenge Petrochemical wastewater contains compounds (e.g. oil & grease, phenols, PAH, BTEX, etc.) that could negatively impact the biological treatment process. Nowadays these wastewaters are treated in conventional activated sludge (CAS) systems. After

polishing (for reuse purposes) the effluent is fed to reverse osmosis (RO) system. For a better effluent quality, membrane bioreactors (MBRs) (Fig. 2) can be used. MBR technology has been shown to be suitable in treating petrochemical wastewater, but is not completely understood. Certain wastewater components are known to inhibit biodegradation and decrease effluent quality. The bioflocculation process is highly sensitive to shock-loads of toxic compounds and salts. This may result in increased membrane fouling and subsequently cause fouling problems in the final RO installation. Research objectives

• Demonstrate stable MBR performance for petrochemical wastewater while meeting requirements for reuse applications.

• Study the effect of shock-loads on MBR performance of toxic substances and salts.

• Compare MBR and CAS-UF configurations in terms of operational robustness, effluent quality and performance integrity.

• Study the RO fouling potential of MBR permeate.

Figure 2. Membrane bioreactor (submerged)

Waste sludge

Aeration Aeration

Waste water Effluent

Activated sludge

CV Researcher;

Graduated;

Hobbies;

E-mail;

Tel;

Website;

Judita Laurinonytė Wageningen University, MSc. Biotechnology (2011) Dancing, Acting and Travelling Judita.Laurinonyte@wur.nl 058-2843118 www.ete.wur.nl

Microalgae cultivation for the production of biomass-based sustainable cement and energy

Researcher Yuzhu Wei

Supervisor Dr. ir. Tim Grotenhuis Dr. ir. Packo Lamers

Supervisor Prof. dr. ir. Huub Rijnaarts Prof. dr. ir. René Wijffels

Jan 2012-2016

Motivation Worldwide a lot of cement is produced. It is part of concrete, today the most chosen material for construction. This cement production is responsible for about 7% of human CO2-emissions. These emissions could be significantly reduced if minerals from biomass could be used as a resource for cement production. This could be combined with combustion of the biomass yielding green energy. Micro-algae are very efficient in biomass production and do not compete with food production because they demand no fertile soil for cultivation. If in the future micro-algae will be produced on a bigger scale in the bio-based economy, it might be interesting to use their mineral building capacity for cement production. It will be investigated if the algae can be cultured with different waste water streams as a source of nutrients and minerals. Two groups of algae are of interest: Diatoms and Coccolithophores, as they have skeletons composed of silica and calcium carbonate respectively, the minerals used for cement.

Diatoms1 Coccolithophorid2

Technological challenge The first step is to select promising algae species based on their oil content and silica/calcium carbonate content. Also their growth rate and demands for cultivation are important selection criteria. The mineral rich ashes derived from the algae will be characterized and quantified. It will be attempted to change the composition if it is required for optimal cement production. For example the chlorine content and the heavy metal concentration of the biomass might be of importance. Optimal conditions for cultivation of these algae in a photo-bioreactor will be investigated and modeled. First it will be assessed which process parameters have the biggest influence. The aim is to get a better understanding of compound and energy flows in the algae towards the production of biomass, oil and cell wall mineral. Experiments will be performed to manipulate the oil and mineral composition of the algal biomass by changing for example the medium composition. The results will be translated into recommendations for a pilot scale production. Also an assessment of the environmental benefits will be made by making mass and energy balances and looking at the carbon footprint. 1www.isdr.org 2www.vims.edu

CV Researcher;

Graduated;

Hobbies;

e-mail;

tel;

website;

Yuzhu Wei Wageningen University (Master) Hyking and Yoga

Yuzhu.Wei@wur.nl

06-36552328

The application of UASB-digester treating domestic waste waters in moderate zone

Researcher Lei Zhang

Supervisor Dr. ir. Tim L.G. Hendrickx Dr. ir. Grietje Zeeman

Promotor Prof. dr. ir. Cees Buisman

2009 - 2013

Motivation Anaerobic treatment of domestic waste waters is an attractive technology because of many advantages:

low energy consumption low excess sludge production energy recovery in the form of CH4

So far, application has been limited to tropical climates (> 20°C). Further developments are required to enable efficient anaerobic treatment at waste water lower temperatures. The UASB-digester system offers an opportunity for energy neutral domestic waste water treatment.

Technological challenge Slow hydrolysis of suspended material is the main limitation for direct anaerobic treatment of domestic waste water. To overcome this problem, a UASB-digester system can be applied. The dissolved organic material in bulk of the waste water is treated in the Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (UASB) reactor. Suspended material is concentrated in the sludge bed and converted to methane in the digester under optimal conditions.

digester 30-35°C

UASB 10-20°C

waste water

10-20°C

biogas

biogas

dissolved COD

suspended COD

CH4

CH4

suspended COD

effluent

Only a small fraction (1-5%) of the influent needs to be heated up and treated in the digester. A large UASB reactor (140 L) and digester (50 L) will be operated in the lab with fresh waste water from the nearby waste water treatment plant. This allows optimization of the sludge recycle flow under changing temperature and composition of the waste water.

CV Researcher;

Graduated;

Hobbies;

e-mail;

tel;

website;

Lei Zhang Harbin Institute of technoloy , Municipal Engineering(2007)

Running

Lei_zhang25@yahoo.com

Revealing the Microbiology of Anaerobic Hydrolysis Step to Obtain Enhanced Methanogenesis

Researcher Samet Azman

Supervisor Dr. Caroline M. Plugge Prof. dr. ir. Grietje Zeeman

Promotor Prof. dr. ir. Alfons J.M. Stams

Sep 2011 - 2015

Motivation

Intensive agricultural activities and dramatic population growth with the improving life standards have caused rapid changes in volume and in characteristics of organic wastes during the last decades. Besides the environmental impacts of dramatic changes, anaerobic bioconversion of the organic wastes may contribute to the reduction of the energy needs of the nations.

Technological challenge Anaerobic bioconversion processes are cost effective technologies to recover energy from complex organic compounds. However lignin encrustation and presence of other recalcitrant molecules within complex organic wastes prolong or delay the bioconversion processes. Because of the negative effects of persistent molecules, only about 30% of complex organics can be converted to methane. Thus feasibility of the anaerobic conversion of complex biomass becomes less attractive. Main problem in the anaerobic degradation of complex biomass, such as agro waste and animal manure, is the hydrolysis step which is often considered to be the rate limiting step of the overall process. Despite of the importance of hydrolysis of biopolymers (cellulose, hemicellulose, proteins and fats), for the other steps of bioconversion, little information is available in the literature about the microbiology of the process within bioreactors. It is believed that in many cases enzyme addition will stimulate the hydrolytic microorganisms and so the rate of biopolymer hydrolysis. The technological challenge is to explain the microbial interactions during anaerobic hydrolysis and fermentation and reveal the effects of enzyme addition to microbial community in order to

enhance methane production from digestion of agricultural waste. The project aims 1) to explain the microbial interactions during bioconversion of complex organic wastes 2) to determine the microbial diversity present and actively involved in degradation of complex waste 3) to reveal the effects of enzyme addition to the microbial community and 4) to obtain knowledge about possibilities of enhanced methane formation. This study is embedded in the STW Perspective Programme Waste to Resource and part of the project ‘Enhanced Enzymatic Anaerobic Fermentation of Organic Residues (EnzyFOR)’. The project is financed by STW.

Hemicellulose Lignin

Cellulose

Anaerobic Bioreactor

Revealing the Responsible Microorganisms for fiber Biodegradation

CV Researcher;

Graduated;

Hobbies;

e-mail;

tel;

website;

Samet Azman Istanbul Technical University, Environmental Engineering (2011) Music, literature, hiking, camping Samet.azman@wur.nl 06-57184 764 http://www.wageningenur.nl/mib

Biodegradation of oil and chemical dispersants in marine environment

Researcher Shokouh Rahsepar

Supervisor Dr. ir. Alette Langenhoff Dr. ir. Martijn Smit

Promotor Prof. dr. ir. Huub Rijnaarts

2012 - 2016

Motivation

Oil spills occur due to exploitation, transportation and storage of oil. These spills might have serious impact on the marine environment, both on marine ecosystems and economic resources such as fisheries, aquaculture, and tourism. To minimize damages adequate response to an oil spill is of great importance. Every oil spill is unique as parameters such as oil spill volume, type of oil, and marine environmental parameters vary in different locations. To optimize the effect of the response, we need to understand the processes after an oil spill and try to understand how these processes can be influenced to reduce and minimize the harmful effect of an oil spill. This project is part of the C-IMAGE (http://cimage.rc.usf.edu/) and the IPOP program TripleP@sea dealing with the consequences of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010.

Technological challenge The aim of this research is to investigate how oil biodegradation is affected by dispersant (addition) and the presence of suspended solids. Mass transfer of contaminants (oil) and other essential compounds for biodegradation such as electron acceptors and nutrients will be studied. Especially the consequences of dispersant addition, the presence of suspended solids, and the sedimentation process on the formation of heavy residue layer (HRL) will be of interest. Environmental conditions (pH, Eh, electron donor/acceptor, salinity, etc.) will be varied to mimic the oil degradation and sedimentation on different locations. The results of this project will be used to improve the decision support system to select the most effective response

option. An overview of the processes is presented in the figure below.

Dispensing dispersant above and under water

Heavy residual layer

Sedimentation

CV Researcher;

Graduated;

Hobbies;

e-mail;

tel;

website;

Shokouh Rahsepar Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (2012) Photography, playing piano, traveling, cooking Shokouh.rahsepar@wur.nl 0317-482020 www.ete.wur.nl

Optimization of Domestic Biogas Plant for Developing Countries

Researcher Abiodun Jegede

Supervisor (s) Dr. Ir. Tim Hendrickx Dr. John F. Akinbami- Nigeria

Promotor Prof. dr. ir. G. Zeeman

April 2013 - 2017

Motivation The main source of energy in most developing nations is traditional biomass, which is in form of firewood, cattle manure and straw etc. The use of firewood as cooking fuel has several negative effects, both environmental and social. One way to solve this problem is the use of biogas. More than forty million household low-cost anaerobic digesters have been built across Asia and the total world technical potential has been put at 155 million. Household anaerobic digesters could contribute largely to the mitigation of greenhouse gases and provide a sustainable energy source for cooking and electricity production especially in rural areas in developing countries. Moreover resources like, N, P, and K are preserved for reuse in agriculture. The potential of domestic household digesters is however still far from being achieved.

Almost all domestic biogas plants (DBPs) are “unstirred” i.e, not provided with mechanical mixing device. The Chinese dome digester, the most popular is mixed by gas pressure build up when the biogas is not used resulting to liquid displacement in the effluent chamber. During gas use the pressure drops and liquid content in the effluent chamber flows back in to the reactor. Mixing is however an important parameter in the anaerobic digestion process. Because of the poor mixing in domestic anaerobic digesters, excessive substrate dilution is usually done leading to long hydraulic retention time (HRT) and ultimately big reactor size and high cost. Till date, little is known on the extent of mixing in the Chinese dome digester in relation to input concentration, HRT and gas use and how it affects digestion efficiency. There is need to study mixing for optimization and subsequent reduction of HRT.

Technological challenge The technological challenge is to decrease the reactor size by increasing the mixing conditions at an increased input condition and reduced HRT.

Hydraulic Retention Time: 35-70 days

Figure 1. Pressure build up before gas use

Hydraulic Retention Time: 35-70 days

Figure 2. Pressure decrease after gas use

CV Researcher;

Graduated;

Hobbies;

e-mail;

tel;

Abiodun Jegede M.Sc., Heriot-watt University, Edinburgh. Renewable Energy Engineering (2010) Playing Basketball, Playing Violin, Poetry. abidoun.jegede@wur.nl 031645994548

Lift up of lowlands

Researcher Bruna Oliveira

Supervisor Dr. ir. Tim Grotenhuis Dr. ir. Martijn Smit

Promotor Prof. dr. ir. Huub Rijnaarts

May 2012 - 2016

Objective Make the connection between a more sustainable use of dredged material and the need to reverse the process of land subsidence.

Motivation In the Netherlands, large amounts of non-contaminated sediments must be dredged every year to assure the safe discharge of water and for nautical reasons. Using dredged material as a resource can contribute more to a global sustainability, with more environmental and financial benefits, than disposal at sea or at upland disposal facilities. In addition, the clay and peat lands on the western part of the Netherlands suffer from land subsidence which is mainly induced by the lowering of the (ground)water table to support agriculture. This can result in the upward seepage of brackish water and may enhance greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The project “Lift up of lowlands” focus on adding value to dredged materials, providing the final users with the knowledge on how to apply the technology and the upgraded materials in different areas. Technological Challenge Understand the key parameters affecting ripening of dredged materials and develop technologies to manipulate the process of ripening. This will allow the development of upgraded materials fit for different applications. The three main scenarios considered for the application of the upgraded material are:

• Reverse the process of (agricultural) land subsidence;

• Wetlands; • Civil engineering.

Research goals

• Identify the key parameters affecting the ripening process;

• Determine the rate of oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide formation;

• Determine the priming effect induced by the addition of digested cattle manure and stabilized compost;

• Identify the sulphur compounds behavior; • Manipulate the hydraulic properties and the

bearing capacity of the upgraded material; • Minimize the rate of organic matter

degradation and leachability of nutrients; • Identify parameters affecting the up-scaling; • Develop a model for future application of

the obtained results. Figure 1: Application of dredged material for the lift up of lowla

CV Researcher;

Graduated;

E-mail;

T; M.

Website

Bruna Oliveira University of Aveiro, Environmental Engineering (2009) Bruna.Oliveira@wur.nl 0317-482020; 06-28811969 www.wageningenur.nl/ete

Microbial Natural Attenuation of Micropollutants in the Water Cycle

Researcher Nora Sutton

Collaborators Dr. ir. Alette Langenhoff Prof. dr. ir. Huub Rijnaarts

Collaborators Prof. dr. Hauke Smidt (microbiology)

Dec 2013 - 2015

Motivation The increasing presence of organic micropollutants in different segments of the water cycle threatens future water resources. These micropollutants are currently being detected at low concentrations in groundwater and surface water used for drinking water intake. While current monitoring (chemical analyses) gives an indication of the presence of these micropollutants, little is known about the natural attenuation of micropollutants under in situ conditions. This information is required to assess and mitigate the risks of contamination of drinking water resources. The aim of this research is to develop tools to assess microbial biodegradation capacity and activity.

Technological challenge This research project aims to improve the understanding of biodegradation of micropollutants by developing tools to determine biodegradation capacity of a number of key compounds. Micropollutants have very diverse chemical structures and are present at low concentrations. These factors make it is very difficult to determine degradation pathways and develop tools to assess natural attenuation. Also, there is a lack of information on biodegradation rates under environmental conditions. This information is required to improve models used to assess and predict the long term risks of contamination of drinking water intakes.

Method The project will focus on a number of micropollutants that specifically threaten Dutch drinking water quality. Collaboration with drinking water companies will lead to a list of priority compounds for further research. For these compounds, biomolecular tools based on DNA analysis will be setup to assess the natural attenuation capacity in field samples. Additionally, ex situ degradation experiments using field samples as inoculum will be used to estimate degradation rates. Results will be integrated to form guidelines for the prediction of natural attenuation using molecular tools. Sources, transport, and fate of micropollutants in the environment (EPA).

CV Researcher;

Graduated;

Hobbies;

e-mail;

tel;

website;

Nora Sutton Utrecht University (MSc Geochemistry 2008) WUR (PhD Environmental Technology 2014) rock climbing, cooking, yoga, backpacking Nora.Sutton@wur.nl 0317-483339 www.ete.wur.nl

Membrane Capacitive Deionization

Researcher Jouke E. Dykstra

Supervisor Dr. ir. Maarten Biesheuvel

Promotor Prof. dr. ir. Bert van der Wal

Sep 2013 - 2017

Motivation One out of seven people does not have access to clean drinking water. Since the world population is still increasing, it is a major challenge to meet the drinking water demand of today and tomorrow.

Because there are large resources with brackish water, that is, water with a moderate salt concentration, it is attractive to use these for drinking water production. Therefore, energy efficient and cost effective desalination technologies are of utmost importance.

Membrane Capacitive Deionization is a robust, energy-efficient and cost-effective technology for the desalination of brackish water.

Process

During the adsorption phase, a potential difference is applied over two porous carbon electrodes. The cations move to the negatively polarized electrode, while the anions move to the positively polarized electrode.

After the electrodes are saturated, the electrodes are regenerated and therefore short-circuited. Consequently, the ions are released to the spacer channel, resulting in a concentrated salt effluent stream (brine).

Technological challenge Reducing resistances To make Membrane Capacitive Deionization more cost-effective, it is important to reduce the energy costs. Therefore, we should determine which parts of the cell contribute to the electrical and ionic resistance of the process, so we can improve the cell design to lower the energy losses.

Understanding electrochemical reactions Adsorption and desorption of ions are not the only processes happening during a desalination cycle. Electrochemical reactions occur as well, resulting in pH fluctuations of the effluent or other undesired effects. Our challenge is to understand these reactions. Removing specific ions Another goal is to develop Membrane Capacitive Deionization to specifically adsorb certain ions (e.g. Ca2+) from the water, while keeping other ions (e.g. Na+) in solution.

CV Researcher;

Graduated;

Hobbies;

e-mail;

tel;

website;

Jouke E. Dykstra Wageningen University, Environmental Technology (2013) Cycling, reading, camping, sailing Jouke.Dykstra@wur.nl 058 - 2843138 www.wetsus.nl

Removal of pharmaceuticals in constructed wetlands

Researcher Yujie He

Supervisor Dr. ir. Alette Langenhoff

Promotor Prof. dr. ir. Huub Rijnaarts

Oct 2013 - 2017

Motivation

Pollution by pharmaceuticals presents a challenge which is not satisfactorily solved by conventional wastewater treatment technologies. Some effective, advanced treatment technologies take high construction and maintenance costs, high energy consumption, and require qualified permanent staff for their operation. Constructed wetlands (CWs) can be managed as water quality improving systems representing an alternative or additional low-cost wastewater treatment. We aim to investigate the removal mechanism in CWs, to understand the pathways that are responsible for the removal, and to further optimize the removal efficiency.

Technological challenge CWs have been often viewed as a “black box”. Complex physical, chemical, and biological processes may occur simultaneously in CWs, including volatilization, photo degradation, microbial biodegradation, phytoremediation, as well as adsorption. To date, studies on pharmaceutical removal in CWs mainly focus on removal performance, and optimization by selecting plant communities, the sediment or the operational parameters. Only a few studies reported removal mechanism, and often not in a comprehensive way that contains all involved factors including light, microbes, plants, and sediments. Under field conditions, the performance of CWs is far from its potential to remove pharmaceuticals.

Various wastewater compositions, and environmental conditions will influence pharmaceutical removal performance. Therefore, laboratory experiments are useful as the first step in identifying various aspects that influence the removal efficiency in a CW, and designing CW setups to improve removal efficiency in a fast and cost effective manner. The overall objective of this work is to determine the contribution of individual pathways (through photodegradation, biodegradation, phytoremediation, and adsorption) in removing pharmaceuticals in CWs, and to enhance the two most significant pathways including photodegradation and biodegradation in CW application. In summary, the “black box” of the CW will be unfolded and processes in this box will be utilized in a better way, leading to a better understanding and performance of a CW.

PhAC removal mechanisms in CWs

CV Researcher;

Graduated;

Hobbies;

e-mail;

tel;

website;

Yujie He Hohai University, Municipal Engineering (2013) Reading, music, cooking, photography, hiking Yujie.he@wur.nl 0317-485098 www.ete.wur.nl

Bio-accumulation of geosmin in

farmed fish

Researcher Edward Schram

Supervisor Dr. ir. Johan Schrama

Promotor Prof. dr. Johan Verreth Prof. dr. Tinka Murk

Motivation

Off flavour is the presence of undesired sensory properties in food items. Most common in aquaculture products are earthy-musty off-flavours caused by the presence of geosmin (GSM) and 2-methylisoborneol (MIB) in fish tissues. Geosmin and MIB are secondary metabolites produced by a wide range of microbiota common to land-based aquaculture systems. Once released to the water, these lipophilic chemicals are rapidly bio-accumulated in the lipid tissues of fish. Off-flavour in farmed fish is one of the most significant economic problems for land-based aquaculture and prevention and removal still are hardly possible.

Technological challenge Off-flavour in farmed fish is an extensively studied and well-documented phenomenon. Yet a complete solution is still lacking today. The chain of events that ultimately leads to the bio-accumulation of geosmin or MIB in fish offers various starting points for the prevention of off-flavour. Prevention of microbial geosmin and MIB production is difficult as the physiological background of their production as well as the conditions inducing production are unknown. Removal of geosmin and MIB from the rearing water may prevent their bio-accumulation in fish tissues. However, it is very difficult to selectively target nanogram levels of chemicals within a complex matrix of organic compounds. Off-flavour chemicals can also be removed from the fish. Bio-accumulation of geosmin and MIB is assumed to be dynamic and reversible; the chemicals can freely diffuse in and out of the fish via the gills depending on the fugacity gradient between water and fish. As

a result, an equilibrium re-establishes when the chemical concentrations in the water or fish change. Fish farmers utilize this mechanism to depurate off-flavours from their fish crops by placing them for a couple of days up to weeks without feeding in water free of geosmin and MIB before harvest. This process is costly and not always reliable. This project focusses on optimization of the depuration process by better understanding and subsequently manipulating the geosmin and MIB adsorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion processes in fish. We also study the effects of environmental conditions and depuration system management on geosmin excretion. At short notice, optimization of the depuration process offers the best opportunities for off-flavour mitigation.

CV Researcher;

Graduated;

Hobbies;

e-mail;

tel;

Edward Schram Wageningen University, Animal Science (1996) Windsurfing, Stand-up paddle boarding Edward.schram@wur.nl 0317-487038

Dispersion of spilled oil at sea Modelling effects of dispersants on the fate of oil in realistic conditions

Researcher Marieke Zeinstra- Helfrich

Supervisor Dr. Wierd Koops

Promotor Prof. dr. Tinka Murk

Jan 2012 - 2015

Motivation

Under certain conditions, surface (spilled) oil will be dispersed into the water column by wave action (natural dispersion). This process can be enhanced by the addition of chemical dispersants, a currently popular response technique (chemical dispersion) or by adding mixing energy (mechanical dispersion). Actively enhancing dispersion has a strong effect on the fate of the oil and poses a complex trade-off between adverse effects of floating oil and of oil in the water column. In order to make an informed decision, the transport of oil in these 3 situations should be understood and modelled. Current oil fate models, however, do not yet include the vertical fate of oil.

Aims & Objectives The aim of this PhD project, is to provide a set of validated algorithms for the natural, chemical or mechanical dispersion of spilled oil at sea. These algorithms will be based on a fundamental understanding of the mechanisms involved in the dispersion process.

Method The vertical fate of oil (by dispersion), is the result of a number of consecutive and parallel processes. These processes include:

• Horizontal transport of slick and suspended droplets

• Oil entrainment (surface oil being pushed down, primarily by breaking waves)

• Break-up and coalescence of oil droplets in underwater turbulence

• Vertical oil droplet transport (mixing down & buoyant rise)

• Interaction of oil droplets with suspended particles and subsequent sinking

• Dissolution of soluble components

A thorough literature review was performed to identify knowledge gaps for completing all necessary steps of a conceptual model for the mechanisms occurring during the dispersion process. Next, experiments are being performed to fill in those gaps and complete the model for vertical oil transport.

Entrainment of a low (left) and medium viscosity oil (right) , observed in a plunging jet apparatus.

This project is part of the US C-IMAGE

research consortium funded by the GoMRI (#SA 12-10/GoMRI-007), and by the TripleP@Sea innovation program of Wageningen UR (KB-14-007). The work is being performed in collaboration with three other PhD projects studying biodegradation (S. Rahsepar), ecotoxicological effects of dispersed oil (J. van Eenennaam) and developing a location specific decision support tool based on a net environmental and economic benefit analysis (NEEBA) (S. Vonk).

CV Researcher;

Graduated;

Hobbies;

e-mail;

tel;

website;

Marieke Zeinstra-Helfrich

NHL hogeschool, Chemische Technologie (2006)

Reading

m.zeinstra@nhl.nl

058 - 251 1496

http://www.marine.usf.edu/c-image/

Ecotoxicological effects of chemically dispersed crude oil in the marine environment

Researcher Justine van Eenennaam

Supervisors Prof. dr. Tinka Murk Dr. Edwin Foekema

Promotor Prof. dr. Tinka Murk

April 2012 - 2016

Motivation In April 2010, the drilling rig Deepwater Horizon (DWH) in the Gulf of Mexico exploded and sank. Over the course of three months, 780 million L crude oil leaked from the wellhead at 1500 m depth

. In an effort to limit the negative spill effects, 7 million L dispersants were injected in the well head and applied at the surface. Chemical dispersants break up the oil slick into tiny droplets which disperse into the water column (Figure 1, top), thereby reducing the risk of oil slicks landing on coasts and oiling of birds and marine mammals. Although this will result in a temporary increase in toxicity in the water column, it is assumed that the period of exposure will be short by dilution and enhanced degradation of the dissolved contaminants.

With the DWH spill, however, it was revealed that complexes of dispersed oil with sea snow, particulate matter and plankton had settled at the ocean floor (Figure 1, bottom). A thick toxic oily layer still is impairing the recovery of the benthic ecosystem years after the spill. The greatly enhanced formation of sea snow and resulting persistence was unexpected and suggested to be related to the extensive dispersant application.

Research challenge

This project focuses on the mechanisms behind the sea snow formation and the ecotoxicological consequences for the marine benthic ecosystem. Most experiments studying the fate and effects of oil with dispersants are performed in clean seawater. The hypothesis tested is that application of dispersants in the presence of phytoplankton will induce sea snow formation. This hypothesis now is proven true and the composition

of the sea snow (extracellular polymeric substances, EPS) will be characterised to further elucidate the eco(toxico)logical consequences of this EPS formation. To be able to quantify the toxic potencies of different oil spill response options, in vitro bioassays are being developed for application on water and sediment samples. In vivo experiments with representative marine species will be performed to elucidate the benthic toxic effects, including repopulation and recovery.

This project is part of the US C-IMAGE research consortium funded by GoMRI (#SA 12010/GoMRI0007), and is being performed in collaboration with three other PhD projects studying biodegradation (S. Rahsepar), vertical oil fate modelling (M. Zeinstra) and developing a location specific decision support tool based on a net environmental and economic benefit analysis (NEEBA) (S. Vonk). Additional funding is obtained from the TripleP@Sea innovation program of Wageningen UR (KB-14-007).

Figure 2: Theoretical effect of dispersants (top); situation during DWH oil spill (bottom)

CV Researcher;

Graduated;

Hobbies;

e-mail; tel; website;

Justine van Eenennaam Wageningen University, Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management (2010), Marine Resources and Ecology (2012) Cycling, volunteer fire brigade, music concerts and festivals Justine.vanEenennaam@wur.nl 0317-482020 http://www.marine.usf.edu/c-image/

Minimizing the impact of a potential oil spill on the ecosystem services of St Eustatius

Researcher

Sophie Vonk

Supervisor

Prof. dr. Tinka Murk Dr. Wierd Koops Dr. Stijn Reinhard

Promotor

Prof. dr. Tinka Murk

Sept 2012 - 2016

Motivation

When an oil spill occurs responsible authorities can choose from a number of response options to reduce the adverse impact on ecosystems and related economic interests. The awareness that healthy ecosystems are important for human well-being and prosperity has given rise to the interdisciplinary science of ecosystem services. The ecosystem services approach allows translation of adverse effects of (anthropogenic) pressure on ecosystems into impaired provisioning of these services. When a spill occurs, a response option to protect one service may negatively influence other ecosystem services. An example is the application of oil spill dispersants to prevent an oil slick from smothering birds, mangroves or marshes yet this decision will increase exposure of organisms in the water column. In addition, there are indications that under particular conditions dispersants can enhance the sedimentation of oil, resulting in the smothering of benthic ecosystems (as may have been the case in the Deepwater Horizon blow-out). Having knowledge of the ecosystem services present, understanding of how ecosystems provide these services by linking them to quantifiable key ecological parameters, and revealing how emergency responses will affect these services under specific spill conditions is the basis of a Net Environmental and Economic Benefit Analysis (NEEBA)-based decision support tool (DST). This project aims to apply the ecosystem services approach and to develop a NEEBA-based DST to optimize the response in case of an oil spill around the Dutch Caribbean island St Eustatius.

Research challenge The application of the ecosystem services approach for deciding on a proper oil spill response has not yet been done before for a specific marine area. The most challenging aspects are 1) linking services to quantifiable ecological functions or processes, 2) quantification of the impact in terms of reduced service provision and 3) provide an approach to weigh the consequences of different response options. The Dutch Caribbean island St Eustatius was chosen as a case study location as the marine ecosystem and associated biodiversity offer several ecosystem services and oil spill risks occur due to the presence of an oil terminal and related oil shipping. Ultimately, this approach could become a framework for location-specific Decision Support Tools to a allow fast and rational response in case of oil spills, taking into account different spill and response scenarios, with the purpose to minimize the net impact on ecosystem services. This project is performed in collaboration with the C-IMAGE funded PhD projects of S. Rahsepar, J v Eenennaam and M. Zeinstra, and is funded by the TripleP@Sea innovation program of Wageningen UR (KB-14-007)

St Eustatius

Example of a tanker spill incident

CV Researcher;

Graduated;

Hobbies;

e-mail;

tel;

Sophie Vonk University of Amsterdam, Biological Sciences (2011) Dance, yoga, water sports Sophie.Vonk@wur.nl 0317-482020

Exposure and effects of persistent organic pollutants from sediment dwelling eel on human consumers

Researcher Myrthe van den Dungen

Supervisor Dr. Wilma Steegenga

Promotor Prof. dr. Tinka Murk Prof. dr. Ellen Kampman

Jan 2012 - 2016

Motivation

Contaminated sediments give rise to serious concern. A relationship exists between persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in sediments and those in eel. Currently the consumption of eel from the Dutch Biesbosch area is prohibited because their high POP levels are expected to be a health risk. In general, however, fatty fish is considered to be beneficial for human health because of its high content in omega-3 fatty acids. High exposure to POPs, on the other hand, has been related to adverse health effects, like disrupted hormone levels, immune toxicity, attention deficit and cancer. POPs degrade only very slowly, with a half-life for e.g. dioxins of 10 years in humans. Some POPs were shown to exert health effects later in life or even in the next generation, but an explanation for these delayed adverse health effects have not yet been found. Recently, epigenetic mechanisms have been revealed for certain compounds, explaining disorders such as obesity and cancer later in life. Epigenetic effects change gene activity in the cells without changing the DNA itself. The effects can be life-long and might even be transferred to the next generation.

Research challenge This project aims to gain insight in the human exposure to POPs and both positive and negative health effects of consumption of eel from the Netherlands compared to that of less fatty white fish from the Dutch North Sea. The positive effects studied are related to higher intake of ‘good’ fatty acids, the studied toxic effects concern blood biomarkers and epigenetic mechanisms. So far, no studies have investigated consequences of eel

consumption from polluted areas for internal human POP levels and possible consequences for human health markers and especially not epigenetic effects. The first step in this research is to try to elucidate the molecular mechanism of action of these POPs with human adrenal cortex, breast cancer and adipose cells. The next step is to investigate internal POP levels, health effects and DNA methylation status in blood of fishermen that are relatively higher or lower exposed to these pollutants. The combination of the studies will reveal to which extend the consumption of polluted eel can induce toxic effects in humans, as is expected based on extrapolation from the effects in animal studies. Studying the epigenetic effects of the ubiquitous POPs in human cells and blood is new, but very relevant as it could change the long term gene programming.

CV Researcher;

Graduated;

Hobbies;

e-mail;

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Myrthe van den Dungen Radboud University Nijmegen, Biomedical Sciences (2011) Softball, travelling Myrthe.vandenDungen@wur.nl 0317-485264

Dissimilatory Fe(III) of Mn(IV) reduction for pharmaceutical removal from wastewater as a tertiary water treatment technology Researcher Wenbo Liu

Supervisor Dr. ir. Alette Langenhoff Dr. ir. Thomas ter Laak

Promotor Prof. Dr. ir. Huub Rijnaarts

Sept 2013 - 2017

Motivation

Concerns about pharmaceuticals in aquifers are growing due to their negative impacts on water quality and ecosystems, calling for measures to reduce emissions. However, conventional wastewater treatment processes cannot remove many of the pharmaceuticals, which leads to emissions in surface waters. Dissimilatory Fe(III) or Mn(IV) reduction have been used to remove recalcitrant organic contaminants (e.g. benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylenes, etc.) in aquifers. Therefore, we propose that pharmaceuticals can be removed by dissimilatory Fe(III) or Mn(IV) reduction. The aim of this research is to study whether dissimilatory Fe(III) or Mn(IV) reduction can be used to remove pharmaceuticals in wastewater effluents and to make a first step towards integrating this process into water treatment technologies.

Pharmaceutical degradation coupled to dissimilatory Fe(III) or Mn(IV) reduction

Technological challenge Pharmaceutically active compounds (pharmaceuticals) are frequently detected in the aquatic environment due to the improved analytical methods and enlarged emissions through wastewater effluents. However, the conventional

activated sludge treatment processes cannot remove many of the pharmaceuticals present at trace levels in wastewater effluents. Therefore, trace concentrations (usually ng/L to µg/L) of pharmaceuticals will enter natural surface waters that have an ecological function and are used for drinking water production.

Previous studies suggest that dissimilatory Fe(III) or Mn(IV) reduction might be able to remove aromatic compounds and some micropollutants (incl. pharmaceuticals).

The objective of this research is to:

Test whether pharmaceuticals can be removed by dissimilatory Fe(III) or Mn(IV) reduction;

Enhance and improve the removal efficiency by optimize the process;

Translate the removal process from lab to the field scale;

Develop an Fe(III) or Mn(IV) cycling system to regenerate and reuse iron and manganese coupled to the pharmaceutical removal process.

Proposed treatment process of pharmaceutical removal from wastewater

CV Researcher;

Graduated;

Hobbies;

E-mail;

Tel;

website;

Wenbo Liu Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering (2013) Reading books, cooking, computer game wenbo.liu@wur.nl 0317-485098 www.wageningenur.nl/ete

Biological removal of pharmaceuticals from wastewater

Researcher Arnoud de Wilt

Supervisor Dr. ir. Alette Langenhoff

Promotor Prof. dr. ir. Huub Rijnaarts

Sept’13 – Sept’17

Motivation

Pharmaceutical compounds are being used in increasing quantities worldwide. After consumption human pharmaceuticals end up in wastewaters and are transported to wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Wide ranges of pharmaceutical compounds are measured over the last decades in WWTPs, surface waters and even in Dutch drinking water sources. Due to the concerns and potential risks of pharmaceuticals in the environment their presence in surface waters is considered as undesired. WWTPs should be improved to prevent pharmaceuticals ending up in the environment.

Technological challenge Physical/chemical treatment techniques are capable of removing pharmaceuticals from wastewater. However, these techniques have major drawbacks like the formation of (toxic) by-products, high investment costs, and high consumption of energy and chemicals. Though WWTPs are currently not designed to remove pharmaceuticals, various studies report biological removal of pharmaceuticals in WWTPs. However, this removal of pharmaceuticals in the WWTPs shows high variation depending on the type of pharmaceutical and WWTP design. Suggested is that there is a lack of specific microorganisms in the WWTP to initiate the degradation process. Furthermore, some pharmaceuticals seem recalcitrant to biological degradation. Another suggestion is that WWTP parameters like retention time or redox conditions are unfavourable for pharmaceutical degrading microorganisms.

The aim of this research is to biodegrade pharmaceuticals through pathways by which similar chemical compounds can be biodegraded. We hypothesize that microorganisms which can degrade structural analogues of the pharmaceuticals are also able to break down the pharmaceuticals itself. We will use selected structural analogues to enrich pure and mixed microbial cultures to biodegrade these specific chemical structures and consequently remove the associated pharmaceuticals as well.

Research interest in this study are: 1) Understanding how selected pharmaceuticals are biologically degraded by using structural analogues to initiate the degradation. 2) Which parameters and conditions affect the removal rates and efficiencies. 3) How to transfer the pharmaceutical degrading potential into a practical application.

CV Researcher;

Graduated;

Hobbies;

e-mail;

tel;

Arnoud de Wilt Wageningen University, Environmental Technology (2013) Curling, Knitting, Philately, Crochet Arnoud.dewilt@wur.nl 0317-483997

Photo-catalysis in a fluidized

UV-LED bed

Researcher Yin Ye

Supervisor Dr. ir. Harry Bruning Dr. ir. Doekle Yntema

Promotor Prof. dr. ir. Huub Rijnaarts

Jan 2015 - 2019

Motivation

Technological challenge

The presence of micro-pollutants, such as pharmaceuticals and pesticides, in water threaten the safety of water supply. Conventional waste water treatment processes have a low efficacy on micro-pollutants removal. So there is a need for a cheap and effective removal process to treat micro-pollutants containing wastewater. The fluidized LED bed reactor is a new technology. with dispersed LEDs moving freely and wirelessly powered in the photo-reactor that might be a cost effective process to degrade micro-pollutants.

The energy consumption will be optimized and the operating costs will be lowered. This will be done by designing a smart control system for wirelessly powering the LEDs. Different photo-chemical routes will be studied. • The use of TiO2 suspension as a photo-catalyst

requires UV-LEDs and a costly post-treatment like ultrafiltration to separate the catalyst. This limitation will be overcome by fixing catalyst (TiO2) to LEDs, and by employing alternative photo-degradation processes.

• Photo-degradation processes at longer wave lengths such as dye-photo-sensitization with methylene blue involves cheaper red light LEDs.

• UV/H2O2 does not use a catalyst at all. The presence of organic species in real wastewater may compete with target pollutants for adsorption to catalyst surface and reaction with radicals. Dye-photosensitization and UV/H2O2 is expected to be an option to minimize the adverse impact of competing species.

This study is carried out at WETSUS

CV Researcher;

Graduated;

Hobbies;

E-mail;

Tel;

Website;

Yin Ye Wageningen University, Environmental Technology (2014) Travelling, flight simulation, cooking yin.ye@wur.nl; yin.ye@wetsus.nl +31(0)58-2843000 www.wetsus.nl

An integrated approach to micropollutants: Occurrence, fate and measures for removal

Researcher Andrea F. Brunsch

Supervisor Dr. ir. Thomas ter Laak

Promotor Prof. dr. ir. Huub Rijnaarts

2015 - 2018

Motivation

Organic micropollutants are currently in the focus of those engaged in water research and management. Small river systems in densely populated areas are particularly at risk. High wastewater loads and highly variable input patterns can exert considerable pressure on aquatic ecosystems. Additional treatment methods at input pathways are required to reduce micropollutant loads in watercourses. Given the aim of finding the right measures to reduce micropollutants in watercourses the establishment of an emission and immission balancing is a precondition. Retention soil filters (RSF) as a treatment technique is both low-cost and low in energy demand. Reduction capacities for individual organic micropollutants and especially the underlying physicochemical processes within the aerated soil filters have barely been studied up to now.

Technological challenge A special monitoring strategy is implemented at a small catchment area with a size of 289 km². Within this catchment area both point and non-point pollution sources are monitored. Focus of the investigations are hydrophilic and hydrophobic micropollutants. Monitoring is performed with different monitoring intervals (event specific, episode specific, frequently) and with different monitoring techniques (grab sampling, passive sampling, and automatic sampling). Fluctuation ranges in micropollutant emissions are to be

determined. Furthermore, an emission balancing will be generated. To reduce micropollutant emissions from wastewater treatment plants, an additional treatment step is tested. A pilot-scale retention soil filter is set up at a wastewater treatment plant in the research catchment. Three reactors filled with different filtration material are fed with effluent from the treatment plant. Elimination rates and processes within the filter are investigated. The fate of the micropollutants in the watercourse is to be simulated with the DWA water quality model. Future scenarios including the possible implementation of large scale RSF at wastewater treatment plant outlets will be simulated as well. The challenge is to establish a detailed assessment on micropollutants with the example of a small catchment area with high anthropogenic influence.

CV Researcher;

Graduated;

Hobbies;

e-mail;

tel;

website;

Andrea Franziska Brunsch Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Department of Civil Engineering, Geo and Environmental Sciences (2011) Swimming, Yoga, Music Andrea.brunsch@erftverband.de +49 2271 88 1558 www.erftverband.de

Recovery of nutrients from cow manure and black water

Researcher

Jorge Ricardo Cunha

Supervisor

dr.ir Lucía H. Leal dr. R. van der Weijden

Promoter

Prof. dr. ir. Cees Buisman Prof. dr.ir. Grietje Zeeman

April 2014 - 2018

Motivation The incentive for phosphorus (P) recovery is based on two arguments. Firstly, P is a finite resource and, secondly, the discharge of P-containing wastewater in densely populated areas causes severe environmental impact. Current technologies to recover P are not optimal, since the recovered P has debatable bioavailability and/or limited application. A novel approach to recover calcium phosphate (CaP) granules with low heavy metal content from black water (BW), using an Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (UASB) reactor, was published by Tervahauta et al. (2014). The similarity with phosphate rock enables the aforementioned CaP granules to be processed in the existing infrastructure from phosphate and fertilizer industry [1].

Fig 1: Concept scheme [1] Tervahauta, T., et al (2014) Calcium phosphate granulation in anaerobic treatment of black water: A new approach to phosphorus recovery. Water Research. [2] De Graaff, M. S., et al. (2010) Resource recovery from black water. Wageningen University.

Technological challenge De Graaff et al. (2010) showed efficient energy recovery treating BW with UASB technology. However, 60% of the total 220 mg of P per liter of BW remains in the effluent [2]. The challenge is to enhance the recovery of CaP, with minimum addition of chemicals, while the conversion of organics from black water is not reduced. The increased pH, established by the external biofilm of the granules, is hypothesized to enhance the precipitation of calcium phosphate. Therefore, research will reveal whether CaP formation is biologically induced and how it can be controlled. Fig 2: SEM images of a harvested granule (left) and its cross-section (right) Challenges

• To maximize the recovery of CaP • To minimize the addition of chemicals • To unravel the mechanisms for CaP

formation • To determine the optimal environmental

and process conditions in UASB reactors, that enable simultaneous CH4 production and CaP recovery

CV Researcher;

Graduated;

Hobbies;

e-mail;

tel;

Jorge Ricardo Cunha University of Minho, Department of Biological Engineering (2010) Football and Music (guitar) Jorgericardo.cunha@wur.nl Jorgericardo.cunha@wetsus.nl +31 (0)58-284 30 00

Urban System Engineering

Sustainable Resource Design

New Sanitation

Prof.dr.ir. Grietje Zeeman

Urban System Engineering

Dr.ir. Katarzyna Kujawa-Roeleveld

Dr. Marc Spiller

Dr.ir. Ingo Leusbrock

Dr.ir. Jan Vreeburg

Environmental Issues The intensity and scale of urbanization worldwide pose major challenges to cities’ authorities in providing basic urban services such as water and energy supply, sanitation, and management of solid waste. A growing demand mainly occurring in urban areas for renewable energy, clean water, materials and minerals results in an increasing worldwide recognition that new approaches and paradigm shifts - away from the current linear thinking to manage our resources - are needed. Here, depletion of resources such as fossil fuels and phosphorus demands a rethinking of our urban areas. A further motivation is that we are still unable to provide basic services to everyone. As an example, 780 million people do not have access to safe drinking water at this moment, and 2.5 billion people lack adequate sanitation services1. Our Research The vision of our research is to reduce environ-mental impact and mitigate resource depletion by closing resource cycles and achieving a circular (urban) metabolism. Our research focuses on development of concepts and integration of technologies for sustainable urban water, materials and energy cycles. We develop and evaluate new concepts for collection, transport, treatment, supply and use of energy, water and materials, which we consider as valuable resources and which qualities have to be preserved. Furthermore, we select appropriate technologies for these concepts in accordance with the local circumstances, needs and habits. Our research includes (peri-) urban

1 UNICEF & World Health Organisation (2012). Progress on Drinking water and Sanitation; 2012 update. UNICEF & World Health Organisation, Pg 1-59

areas and industrial sites, for which we aim at an optimal, sustainable and highly effective balance between supply and demand of water, energy and resources. Here, we include the effect of different urban typologies and urban agriculture on the resource cycles. We a) apply and further extend own concepts and approaches such as Urban Harvest, and b) provide frameworks and tools to evaluate and quantify technological concepts such as New Sanitation which is based on separation of wastewater and material streams at source, so as to facilitate recovery and reuse of water and other resources such as energy, nutrients and compost. Our Approach Cities and their challenges are addressed in accordance with the principle of cyclic, rather than linear, thinking and analysis. The applied models include among others Ecological Footprint and Urban Harvest, so as to ensure maximum resource recovery and local reuse, while generating minimum emissions to the environment. We investigate urban areas as changing, dynamic systems with changes and possible solutions on any scale. Furthermore, concepts are developed in cooperation with stakeholders on a practically relevant scale. In our research, the non-technological, socio-economic contexts, in which we want to integrate our concepts, receive due attention. Due to the broader transdisciplinary approach of our research, cooperation with other WUR departments takes place in various research projects.

Mapping urban metabolic functions – developing concepts and generating data

Researcher Marc Spiller

Marc Spiller e-mail: Marc.Spiller@wur.nl Tel:0317-483344 www.ete.wur.nl

Contact:

Motivation Urbanisations have a metabolism that converts inputs into outputs. Nowadays this metabolism is mainly linear, where resources are used mostly once and then discharged to the environment. Transitions towards more circular urban metabolism are thought to improve resource use efficiency and increase resilience of urban systems through functional substitution. In ecosystems diversity of metabolic functions is crucial for circulation of nutrients, for developing multiple pathways of resource flows and cascading of energy. As a result, functionally diverse eco-systems are more resilient to disturbance. The concept of urban metabolism has not widely been applied in planning and design. One reason for this lack of applicability could be that metabolic studies aggregated data to the city or even region scale. As a result they do not show the wide diversity of functions that exist within urbanisations, which are essential to work towards more circular metabolism. Furthermore, there is a lack of fundamental understanding of the interactions of different urban functions in space and time. Additionally, there we often approach the boundaries of data availability. For example, water and energy use data for industrial or commercial land uses are often poorly understood or mapped.

Aims and Objectives This research aims: • to develop a typology (theoretically and test

empirically) of urban metabolic functions at the smallest unit of investigation.

• To map different typologies in a 2D an 3D space and time

• To develop scenarios (and models) to link different metabolic typologies in order to maximize efficiency and resilience

• Determine patterns of resource conversion and energy use for urban functions which are presently unknown

Methods In these projects students may use the following methods and theories:

• Mass flow analysis • GIS • Conceptual understanding of resource flows • Data bases (e.g. CBS, BAC – building

inventory) • Remote sensing • Knowledge of environmental technologies • Expert interviewing and interview analysis

Figure 1: Spatial and temporal diversity of urban metabolism.

Planning and Managing Transitions to New Sanitation Systems

Researcher Marc Spiller

Supervisor Grietje Zeeman

Marc Spiller e-mail: Marc.Spiller@wur.nl Tel:0317-483344 Grietje Zeeman e-mail: Grietje.Zeeman@wur.nl Tel. 0317 484241 www.ete.wur.nl

Contact:

Motivation Traditionally sewerage service provision relies on large scale centralized treatment technologies. Recently new sanitation, or decentralized approaches, to sewerage services emerged as a solution to the problems inherited from the past (Figure 1). New sanitation has a many advantages related to: • Economics (reduced pumping costs and cost

reduction through resource recovery) • Sustainable resource use (recovery of N, P and

energy from wastewater) • System resilience (decentralized systems are

less vulnerable to disturbance and can grow incrementally)

Despite the benefits of new sanitation systems progress towards the adoption and implementation of these systems is slow. The ‘lock in’ of wastewater service providers into existing investment has been identified as one of the key barriers to adoption of innovative wastewater solution. Other key barriers include the uncertain and prohibitive regulatory frameworks for decentralized systems and the organizational challenges for utilities managing multiple dispersed assets. In addition to these barriers, it is also questionable whether a transition to new sanitation is indeed desirable and cost effective in all circumstances and what technologies are best suited in different circumstance.

Aims and Objectives As it appears unlikely that new sanitation approaches will become a major feature of the wastewater system in the short term, a strategy to manage and plan for a goal oriented transition is necessary.

This research aims to develop guiding framework for planning and managing transitions to new sanitation systems. Furthermore, the study has the ambition to make best use existing urban infrastructure and to identify windows of opportunity for transitions with minimal disruption. The research questions are: • How can existing infrastructure be used for New

Sanitation? • What are the variables (e.g. infrastructure, urban

form) that affect implementation of new sanitation? • Which combination of variables is necessary to

enable a transition? It is anticipated that MSc students will only investigate one of these question (or a part there of).

Methods In these projects students may use the following methods and theories: • Transition theory • Review of new sanitation options • Analysis of urban form in relation to new

sanitation options • Good skills in conceptual design of sanitation

and urban systems • Expert interviewing and interview analysis • Conceptual and quantitative models

Figure 1: Zonneterp concept

Contact

Ingo Leusbrock E-mail: Ingo.Leusbrock@wur.nl Tel: 0317-48 25 61

Researchers Dr.ir. Ingo Leusbrock

Sustainable Technology Integration: How to combine technologies and demand and supply?

Motivation The question how and when to supply resources such as water and energy in a sustainable way to the user is one of the challenges we are working on. Here, we have to deal with a transition towards more decentralized technologies and therefore more decentralized systems as well as an increased complexity. We therefore aim at smart combinations of technologies in order to develop concepts for these systems, which can help to improve the resource efficiency and eventually lead to the closing of resource cycles. Combined application of technologies, especially on small local and decentralized scale, and the evaluation of their potential based on temporal demand patterns (How much energy do I need in the morning and how much in the evening?) and local settings (How much rainwater can I harvest here?) offers the opportunity to develop custom-made and highly-efficient concepts for resource management, yet is not free of challenges due to its multi-disciplinary / multi-scalar nature. These concepts would be a milestone in the transition towards more sustainable urban systems.

Objective The demand and possible supply of a resource depends on the local conditions of a site and the available technologies. We investigate therefore the performance of technologies and the demand of the user in a dynamic way, as the systems have a highly dynamic character. Based on these results, we want to develop concepts that match demand and supply of a resource by smart usage of technologies and combinations thereof. Here, we combine technology know-how, system analysis, user experiences and scenario studies in order to produce guidelines and decision support for planners, engineers, resource suppliers and technologists.

Figure 1: Steps for evaluation of the local situation

and technology selection

Points of Interest In the following, a number of points are mentioned, on which we are working on right now and which represent starting points for possible MSc topics:

• Evaluation of technologies for the supply of electricity and heat (e.g. PV panels and solar collectors) and the storage/supply of heat and cold (e.g. Aquifer Thermal Energy Storage)

• Modeling and analysis of combined resource systems (e.g. parallel energy supply and water treatment)

• Investigation of demand and supply patterns based on user data and / or spatial, demographic or statistical parameters (e.g. How much electricity is used by building YYZ in 2012 and what is the actual usage?)

• Development of methods and tools for the evaluation of systems and technologies (e.g. indicators, which can be used to evaluate a technology and which can be used for comparison)

• Brownfield redevelopment

Managing Urban Infrastructure

Supervisors Dr. Marc Spiller MSc Dr.ir. Jan Vreeburg

Marc Spiller Email: marc.spiller@wur.nl Tel: 0317-48 3344 Jan Vreeburg Email: jan.vreeburg@wur.nl Tel: 0317-48 3339

Motivation Traditionally, water and sewerage as well as waste and energy services are provided through centralized networks that rely on large scale infrastructure. This approach to delivery of urban services is responsible for the major improvements in public health and quality of live in the developed world. However, in the developed world the infrastructure has now grown to a size that poses major challenges for maintaining and upgrading existing assets. In the developing world on the other hand, the centralized large scale approach to utility services has often failed to deliver desired outcomes, due to the large initial investment necessary and because the urban poor are not capable of paying for these services. To address these problems new combinations of public and private sector involvement are proposed to improve the existing infrastructure. In parallel to this trend, it is advocated to re-think the traditional approach to service delivery, taking into consideration small scale, decentralized solutions that combine the water/wastewater, energy and waste services.

Figure1: Centralized and decentralized network

Thesis projects MSc thesis projects related to Urban Infrastructure Management will investigate: • Evaluation of transition to new forms of public/

private management in the water sector in Mongolia (potentially other countries).

• Assessing the potential for decentralized supply of sewerage, waste and electricity services in developing countries.

• Benchmarking of the traditional, centralized approach to urban service provision with new approaches to urban services.

Methods In these projects, students may use the following methods and theories: • Geographical Information Systems • Design tools • Interviewing, interview analysis and

stakeholder analysis • Organizational theories • Theories of utility governance and regulation • Performance and cost indicators of

technologies

Figure 2: Decentralized water, sewerage and energy provision in Nairobi. Source: www.sanitationupdatescom

CV Researcher;

Graduated;

Hobbies;

e-mail;

tel;

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Elvira Bozileva University of Twente, Wageningen University, University of Groningen (2013, joint degree) Drawing, Reading Elvira1.bozileva@wur.nl 0681-904512 -

Real-time accounting and simulation of dynamic energy-water-material balances for achieving liveable and sustainable cities of the future

Researcher Elvira Bozileva

Supervisors Dr. ir. K. Keesman Dr. ir. I. Leusbrock

Promotor Prof. dr. ir. H.H.M. Rijnaarts

Sep. 2013 - 2017

Motivation Rapid population growth and industrialization in the last decades resulted in an enormous stress on ecosystems, resources, political systems and economies. In urban areas, these stresses are especially high, since our cities consume large amounts of resources (e.g., water, energy, nutrients) and convert these to low value waste streams (linear metabolism). Apart from that, local renewable resources (rain, solar, wind etc.) are often neglected in current supply schemes. Unlike self-sufficient natural systems, which make use of sustainable inputs and recycling mechanisms, cities at the current stage cannot be considered sustainable.

Technological Challenges

Complex system: high number of interconnected subsystems, tempo-spatial scales, feedback fluxes;

Multidisciplinary research: conversions of water, energy and (biodegradable) materials;

Integration of existing (sub-)models developed in isolation from each other into a single model;

Reduction of the model complexity without significantly reducing its accuracy.

Mimicking natural systems can stimulate a paradigm shift towards a more sustainable and a more circular metabolism of cities. A number of technological and infrastructure concepts to facilitate this shift has been proposed . However, the proposed concepts often focus on optimizing a very narrow part of the system (city) without taking into account other system’s elements. Therefore, the combined effect of these concepts on a system can be far from optimal. Modelling can aid greatly in studying these combined effects. Developing of models that could simulate the conversions of the resources within a city is the objective of the current research.

Resource Recovery from wastewater and solid waste to accelerate access to sanitation in Indonesia

Researcher Sjoerd Kerstens

Supervisor Prof dr. ir. Grietje Zeeman Dr. Ir. Kees Burger

Promotor Prof. dr. ir. Grietje Zeeman Dr. ir. Kees Burger

2013- 2015

Motivation Access to improved wastewater facilities in Indonesia is low. Moreover, the presence of large quantities of sewage and uncollected garbage intensifies the problems of already inadequate drainage networks. The lack of sanitation facilities puts both public health and the environment at risk, which results in huge economic losses. At the same time resources (energy, water, organics and phosphorous) are becoming increasingly scarce and current absence of a mature sanitation infrastructure ignores the potential and value of recoverable resource from in wastewater and municipal solid waste. The objective of this thesis is to determine how resource recovery from wastewater and management of municipal solid waste can contribute to acceleration of access to sanitation facilities in Indonesia. It is hypothesized that acceleration can be driven by a favorable cost benefit ratio of resource recovery and corresponding required interventions and management systems. This will lead to access to resources as an alternative or replacement of currently used resources.

Challenges and opportunities The current absence of a mature sanitation infrastructure is a major threat to public health and the environment. At the same time it offers an opportunity to develop a sanitation infrastructure that focuses not only on minimizing impact, but on a system that aims to contribute to people’s life, natural environment and is financially attractive. As a first step the research aims to identify the type of systems that can be introduced in Indonesia in

view of the current technical capacity and to identify the resources that can be recovered. Secondly the potential of reusing recovered resources is mapped out. This is done by preparation of a data base involving resources required for agricultural production and compost requirements in urban green areas on a provincial level. Finally the benefits and costs of resource recovery and reuse, compared to a conventional system, will be determined. The study aims to link urban areas (where an increasing majority of people is living) and rural areas (essential for agricultural development). Resource flows that will be described are phosphorus, compost, energy and water. Technologies that are considered range from simple septic tanks to anaerobic technology and activated sludge systems with N, P removal/recovery as well digestion and composting of organic solid waste and sludge.

Scheme prepared by Eduardo Hinojosa Robles

CV Researcher;

Graduated;

Hobbies;

e-mail;

tel;

website;

Sjoerd Kerstens Wageningen University, Environmental Technology (2002) Football and family (3 kids) Sjoerd.kerstens@rhdhv.com +62-819005175

CV Researcher;

Graduated;

e-mail;

tel;

website;

Brendo Meulman Van HALL Institute, BSc. in Environmental Sciences (2004) and Wageningen University (ETE), MSc. In Environmental Technologie (2006) b.meulman@desah.nl 0515-428680 www.desah.nl

Full scale demonstration of vacuum collection, transport and treatment of black water.

Researcher Brendo Meulman

Supervisor Prof.dr. ir. Grietje Zeeman

Promotor Prof. dr. ir. Grietje Zeeman

Jan 2008 - 2012

Motivation Domestic solid waste and wastewater form potential source of nutrients, energy and water. Source separation and decentralized treatment may lead to efficient utilization of valuable components and to at least 25% reduction in drinking water consumption. In the current centralized approach of collection and treatment their usefull value is for a large part lost. In the considered DeSaR (Decentralised sanitation and Reuse) concept ‘extremely’ low flush vacuum toilets together with the belonging transport system for black water are used. Thanks to low flush water use (1L per flush), the black water remains strongly concentrated, with a high-energy potential, enabling anaerobic digestion with recovery of biogas.

Technological challenge In Sneek, a city in the northern part of Holland, a new housing estate of 32 houses is provided with a collection, transport and treatment system for black water. The 32 houses are each equipped with 2 vacuum toilets. A central station, comprising vacuum pump, receiver tank and transfer pump is situated in a cellar outside. From the receiver tank the black water is pumped towards a nearby garage where the treatment system for black water is installed. The scientific challenge of this research is to test and evaluate the black water treatment system that consists of several treatment technologies that remove/recover organic material, like anaerobic digestion at different temperatures, and nutrients (nitrogen and phosphate), like struvite production and autotrophic ammonia removal.

Zero nutrient discharge and total reuse of domestic waste(water) nutrients in agriculture-Case study: St. Eustatius (Statia) Researcher Indra Firmansyah

Supervisors Dr. Marc Spiller Dr. Bert Smit (PRI) Dr. Gerrit-Jan Carsjens (LUP)

Promotor Prof. dr. ir. Grietje Zeeman

Feb 2013 - 2017

CV Researcher;

Graduated;

Hobbies;

e-mail;

tel;

website;

Indra Firmansyah Wageningen University, Urban Environmental Management (2011) Playing Football, Badminton indra.firmansyah@wur.nl 0317-482020 www.ete.wur.nl

Motivation

St. Eustatius (Statia), a small island in Caribbean, is becoming an attractive place for tourism. The population and economy are predicted grow. As a consequence production of waste, wastewater will increase. This will have adverse impact on the coastal environment in Statia. The existing wastewater infrastructure is performing poorly . Seepage or discharged effluent containing nutrient from this system might loss and accumulated in aquatic ecosystem because of leaching or run-off within the island. Furthermore, the waste is dumped at an open landfill which is close to coastal ravine. During heavy rainfall waste is dispersed across coastal zone, which leads to losses of materials and nutrient that can be also the cause of eutrophication. In addition, production of more goods is also necessary to support the island that at present the agricultural products are mostly imported from outsiders. Hence, to be more sustainable in the island, the generated nutrient from domestic waste(water) can be recovered and reused for agricultural/horticulture practices.

Figure 1. Map of St. Eustatius (www. planetware.com)

Research challenge For this research, three area of expertise is combined:

• Spatial planning, • New Sanitation, and • Agriculture/ Horticulture.

The research will focus on multidisciplinary approach by combining scenario planning, urban-agricultural design and scientific enquiry methods, methods of mass flow analysis, application of new sanitation concept and associated agricultural practices that will be weighed by means of multi criteria assessment.

Figure 2. Methodology Scheme of Research Project in Statia

Implementation of waste(water) reuse system is challenging because it needs changes to waste(water) infrastructure and agricultural/ horticulture practices. It also requires investment and capacity building to achieve the objective in the future. Thus the approach taken here is to define most suitable technologies and practices based on available nutrients, types of crops, stakeholder needs and future trends to closing nutrient cycles within island. This research is conducting as a part of TripleP@Sea Project of Wageningen University.

Modeling and Prediction of Energy Demand

Researcher Delaram Azari

Supervisor Dr. ir. Ingo Leusbrock

Promoter Prof. dr. ir. Huub Rijnaarts

July 2014 - 2018

Motivation Transition in the traditional energy system:

1. Integration of renewable energy sources on centralized and distributed scale.

2. Increase in the energy demand and changes in demand profile due to fast-pace growth of population and urbanization

Challenge: efficient and effective use of various energy sources to match the supply and demand

Detailed knowledge about energy demand profile and predicting its future variations is useful for energy managers and urban planners.

Objective We aim to develop a model for characterizing and forecasting energy demand in the urban environment in detailed spatial and temporal resolution, including the service needs and the resulting end use energy demand.

Bottom-up approach: starting from the individual buildings, and scaling up to larger clusters of buildings, up to a district and city level.

Characterizing energy demand, considering: 1. Temporal variations: daily, weekly,

seasonal, and yearly patterns 2. Building characteristics, number of

inhabitants and socio-economic conditions of the inhabitants

Disaggregating electricity and gas demand based on various service needs of different consumers

Forecasting energy demand profile based on different usage categories.

Approach

CV Researcher;

Graduated;

Hobbies;

e-mail;

tel;

website;

Delaram Azari Delft University of Technology (2013) Reading, swimming, playing the piano Delaram.Azari@wur.nl +31(0)317 48 49 93 www.ete.wur.nl

Ingo Leusbrock E-mail: Ingo.Leusbrock@wur.nl Tel: 0317-48 25 74 Grietje Zeeman e-mail: Grietje.Zeeman@wur.nl Tel. 0317 484241

Greenhouse Village – Can we link the resource flows of greenhouses and households?

Dr. ir. Ingo Leusbrock Prof. dr.ir. Grietje Zeeman

Motivation The Netherlands are renowned for densely populated urban areas and their skills and knowledge in agri- and horticulture and water technology. Urban areas such as in the western part of NL have to struggle with increasing sustainability issues due to increasing demands and stress on ecosystems as consequences of growing population density while having to preserve the current quality of life.

Scope In scope of this project, we want to investigate the combination of greenhouses and residual units in one joined concept. This concept aims at largely closed energy-, water and nutrient cycles and high self-sufficiency, which the combined resource cycles of agri-/horticultural greenhouses and residential units are assumed to enable. “Greenhouse Village" combines these functions and can provide the needed circular urban metabolism. Challenges and opportunities The Greenhouse Village concept, based on first conceptual ideas, can potentially lead to a closed resource cycles on a small spatial scale. For instance, domestic waste(water) from connected dwellings

can be collected, and treated in such way that water, organics and nutrients will be recovered for use in the greenhouses. On the other hand, greenhouses could provide heating and cooling as well asfood and leisure possibilities. Core technical elements of the Greenhouse village are a) source-separated sanitation concepts with resource recovery (New Sanitation) and b) an Aquifer Thermal Energy Storage system for heat and cold storage and supply in combination with a highly efficient heat exchanger.

Future steps 1. Stronger focus on the greenhouse / agriculture part of this project 2. Extension of knowledge of the involved resource cycles and possible technologies 3. Identification of most promising options for a combination of greenhouses and households 4. Development and design of a prototype ‘Greenhouse Village’ and integration in the built environment

Black and grey water treatment Irrigation and drinking water

Heating / cooling cycle

Additional Topics

CV Researcher;

Graduated;

Hobbies;

e-mail;

tel;

website;

Jozef van der Steen

Open University Nederland (2008), Environmental Sciences Programme

playing violoncello, vegetable gardening, painting

Sjef.vandersteen@wur.nl

0317-481331

www.microbialfuelcell.org

BEEHOLD, bio-indication of HCH with honey bees (Apis mellifera)

Researcher

Jozef van der Steen

Supervisor

Dr. ir. Tim Grotenhuis

Dr. ir. Willem Jan de Kogel

Promotor

Prof. dr. ir. Huub Rijnaarts

Febr 2012 - 2014

Motivation

Honeybees collect during foraging pollen, nectar and propolis, but also materials deposited on the flowers such as heavy metals, pesticides and (plant)pathogens. Honeybees are central place foragers and take materials collected within their foraging range (7 km2) back to the colony. Using honeybees for bio-indication is already applied to some extent, but the current sampling methods have significant limitations concerning low number of bees that can be sampled and relatively high detection limits. In this project we will develop and test a new technique, based on specific adsorption by which material on the bees will be “scraped off” and transferred to a passive sampler. This will make it possible to collect bio-indication material without killing the bees, it is a bee friendly sampling technique

Technological challenge

The project will be the proof of principle of bio-indication of diffuse organic pollutions, which contaminate flowers via atmospheric deposition of ‘particulate matter’ soil and water erosion (see figure for study set-up). The main focus in this study is hexachloorcyclohexane (HCH), a known pollutant for example in the basin of the Elbe (Germany). The sediment and food plain pollution pattern has been recorded for this basin, which will enable us to relate the bio–indication material to the pollution disseminated via soil and water erosion. A control site will be on a ‘Wadden’ island in the north of the Netherlands. Bio-indication material will be collected using a newly designed device placed at the flight entrance of the bee colony.

The technical challenge is to - design the proper device and entrance

recorders - record the number of bees needed to collect

detectable amounts of materials. - investigate which adsorption material will

be applicable for specific materials such as HCA, heavy metals or (plant) pathogens

analysis / detection HCH on

layer

HCH in environment

soil erosion, atmospheric

deposition PM

Bee’s foraging

trips

HCH on flowers

Recording of numbers of

incoming bees

adsorbtion /exchange process

Incoming honey bee

layer

HCH per bee in foraging area

data-analysis

The new technique can be applied in other central place foraging bee species for example in Kenya and Brazil.

Researcher:

University:

Ancillary act.

E-mail:

Tel:

Website:

Ing. Ingrid Miller

University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna

Editor of Journal of Proteomics

ingrid.miller@vetmeduni.ac.at

00431-25077-4224

www.vetmeduni.ac.at

Proteomic methods in Toxicology: The sex-specific effects of the persistent organic pollutant HBCD on rats

Researcher

Ing. Ingrid Miller

Supervisor

Dr. A.C. Gutleb, Dr. T. Serchi

Promotor

Prof. Dr. A.J. Murk

since May 2010

Motivation

Persistent organic pollutants that occur in polluted sediments and food chains, such as brominated flame retardants (like hexabromo-cyclododecane, HBCD) and other halogenated aromatic hydro-carbons do not induce acute and obvious toxicity, but interfere with several hormone systems in a more subtle, chronic way. This makes detection of these effects difficult, while the consequences for the body may still be serious. Previous in vivo research with rats has indicated complex effects that cannot yet be explained based on known mechanisms of action in traditional toxicological studies. Therefore in the present project another (proteomic) approach is chosen to study changes in global protein presence in a non-targeted way, followed by pathway analysis.

Technological challenge

Within tissues hundreds of proteins can be changed because of environmental influences. The challenge is to characterize and quantify the proteins that are related to the effects of chronic exposure to toxic compounds from e.g. food or drinking water. Complicating factor is that the most important protein changes may not be the most obvious or the most occurring ones. Proteins differ in their pro-perties (e.g. charge, size, composition) and, by taking advantage of this, even complex protein mixtures may be separated by combining multiple separation steps. The present study utilises gel electrophoresis, first separating proteins according to charge and then according to size, both performed in polyacrylamide gels. From the resulting complex patterns those proteins are filtered out which change between exposed and control animals. In a sub-

sequent step those candidates are identified by mass spectrometric methods and a potential connection between protein changes and their function is sought. Proteomic investigation is further complemented by specific targeted tests, e.g. hormone assays or histological examination, to better characterize the health status of the animals. Once the causal relationship has been established, proteomic changes could be used as biomarkers for subtle changes caused by chronic exposure to low levels of toxic compounds, such as endocrine disruption. This knowledge can help prioritize measures to improve the environmental quality.

Publication list Environmental Technology 2014

Arslan, D. (2014, Oktober 21). Selective short chain carboxylates production by mixed culture

fermentation. WUR Wageningen UR (211 pag.) (Wageningen: Wageningen University). Prom./coprom.: prof.dr.ir. C.J.N. Buisman, H. De Wever & dr.ir. K.J.J. Steinbusch.

Beverloo, H., Vreeburg, J.H.G. & Zwaga, A. (2014). Sediment-accumulatie in transportleidingen af waterproductiebedrijven. H2O online, 2014 (27 feb).

Beyer, F., Rietman, B.M., Zwijnenburg, A., Brink, P. van den, Vrouwenvelder, J.S., Jarzembowska, M., Laurinonyte, J., Stams, A.J.M. & Plugge, C.M. (2014). Long-term performance and fouling analysis of full-scale direct nanofiltration (NF) installations treating anoxic groundwater. Journal of Membrane Science, 468, p. 339-348. 10.1016/j.memsci.2014.06.004

Biesheuvel, P.M., Porada, S., Levi, M. & Bazant, M.Z. (2014). Attractive forces in microporous carbon electrodes for capacitive deionization. Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry, 18(5), p. 1365-1376. 10.1007/s10008-014-2383-5

Biesheuvel, P.M., Porada, S., Wal, A. van der & Presser, V. (2014). Carbon Nanomaterials for Water Desalination by Capacitive Deionization. In Y. Gogotsi & V. Presser (Eds.), Carbon Nanomaterials, Second Edition (pp. 419-460). CRC Press.

Biesheuvel, P.M. ; Porada, S. ; Wal, A. van der; Presser, V. (2014). Carbon Nanomaterials for Water Desalination by Capacitive Deionization. Carbon Nanomaterials, Second Edition / Gogotsi, Y., Presser, V., CRC Press, 2014 - p. 419 - 460.

Blazina, T., Sun, Y., Voegelin, A., Lenz, M., Berg, M. & Winkel, L.H.E. (2014). Terrestrial selenium distribution in China is potentially linked to monsoonal climate. Nature Communications, 5:4717. 10.1038/ncomms5717

Boelee, N.C., Temmink, B.G., Janssen, M., Buisman, C.J.N. & Wijffels, R.H. (2014). Balancing the organic load and light supply in symbiotic microalgal–bacterial biofilm reactors treating synthetic municipal wastewater. Ecological Engineering, 64, p. 213-221. 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2013.12.035

Boelee, N.C. ; Janssen, M. ; Temmink, H. ; Shrestha, R. ; Buisman, C.J.N. ; Wijffels, R.H. (2014). Nutrient Removal and Biomass Production in an Outdoor Pilot-Scale Phototrophic Biofilm Reactor for Effluent Polishing. Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology 172 (1). - p. 405 - 422.

Boelee, N.C. ; Janssen, M. ; Temmink, H. ; Taparaviciute, L. ; Khiewwijit, R. ; Janoska, A. ; Buisman, C.J.N. ; Wijffels, R.H. (2014) The effect of harvesting on biomass production and nutrient removal in phototrophic biofilm reactors for effluent polishing. Journal of Applied Phycology 26 (3). - p. 1439 - 1452.

Bolman, B.C., Heuvel-Greve, M.J. van den, Lagerveld, S. & Murk, A.J. (2014). Improving environmental performance of Arctic offshore operations. Conference "Drilling in ice affected regions": London (2014, mei 23 - 2014, mei 23).

Brun, N.R., Lenz, M., Wehrli, B. & Fent, K. (2014). Comparative effects of zinc oxide nanoparticles and dissolved zinc on zebrafish embryos and eleuthero-embryos: Importance of zinc ions. Science of the Total Environment, 476-477, p. 657-666. 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2014.01.053

Buisman, C.J.N. & korving, L. (2014). Water. In A. Jolly (Ed.), Clean Tech, Clean Profits : Using Effective Innovation and Sustainable Business Practices to Win in the New Low-Carbon Economy (pp. 187-198). London, UK: Kogan Page Limited.

Butkovskyi, A. ; Jeremiasse, A.W. ; Hernandez Leal, L. ; Zande, T. van der; Rijnaarts, H. ; Zeeman, G. (2014). Electrochemical conversion of micropollutants in gray water. Environmental Science and Technology 48 (3). - p. 1893 - 1901.

Coppens, L., Gils, J. van & Laak, T.L. ter (2014). Impact van rwzi’s op geneesmiddelconcentraties in kwetsbaar oppervlaktewater. H2O online(15 nov).

Deeke, A. (2014, Oktober 10). Capacitive bioanodes for electricity storage in Microbial Fuel Cells.

WUR Wageningen UR (151 pag.) (Wageningen: Wageningen University). Prom./coprom.: prof.dr.ir.

C.J.N. Buisman, dr.ir. H.V.M. Hamelers & dr.ir. A. ter Heijne.

Deixonne, P., Clément, J., Spiller, M., Corcoran, P. & Jarmache, E. (2014, Juli 02). à l’assaut du 7e

continent. Le un.

Dykstra, J.E., Biesheuvel, P.M., Bruning, H. & Heijne, A. ter (2014). Theory of ion transport with fast acid-base equilibrations in bioelectrochemical systems. Physical Review. E, Statistical nonlinear, and soft matter physics, 90:013302 (2014). 10.1103/PhysRevE.90.013302

Eerten-Jansen, M.C.A.A. van (2014, September 19). Bioelectrochemical methane production from CO2. WUR Wageningen UR (189 pag.) (Wageningen: Wageningen University). Prom./coprom.: prof.dr.ir. C.J.N. Buisman & dr.ir. A. ter Heijne.

Faust, L. (2014, December 03). Bioflocculation of wastewater organic matter at short retention times. WUR Wageningen UR (IV, 153 pag.) (Wageningen: Wageningen University). Prom./coprom.: prof. dr. ir. H.H.M. Rijnaarts & dr.ir. B.G. Temmink.

Faust, L., Temmink, B.G., Zwijnenburg, A., Kemperman, A.J.B. & Rijnaarts, H. (2014). Effect of dissolved oxygen concentration on the bioflocculation process in high loaded MBRs. Water Research, 66, p. 199-207. 10.1016/j.watres.2014.08.022

Faust, L., Temmink, B.G., Zwijnenburg, A., Kemperman, A.J.B. & Rijnaarts, H. (2014). High loaded MBRs for organic matter recovery from sewage: Effect of solids retention time on bioflocculation and on the role of extracellular polymers. Water Research, 56, p. 258-266. 10.1016/j.watres.2014.03.006

Georgantzopoulou, A., Skoczynska, E.M., Berg, J.H.J. van den, Brand, W., Legay, S., Klein, S.G., Rietjens, I. & Murk, A.J. (2014). P-GP efflux pump inhibition potential of common environmental contaminants determined in vitro. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 33(4), p. 804-813. 10.1002/etc.2493

Groot, A.V. de, Duin, W.E. van, Brinkman, A.G. & Vries, P. de (2014). Sedimentatiemodel kwelders Ameland Fase 1: ontwerp en haalbaarheid. (extern rapport, Rapport / IMARES, no C025/14). Den Helder: IMARES.

Grootscholten, T.I.M., Strik, D.P.B.T.B., Steinbusch, K.J.J., Buisman, C.J.N. & Hamelers, B. (2014). Two-stage medium chain fatty acid (MCFA) production from municipal solid waste and ethanol. Applied energy, 116(1), p. 223-229. 10.1016/j.apenergy.2013.11.061

Hamelers, H.V.M. ; Schaetzle, O. ; Paz-García, J.M. ; Biesheuvel, P.M. ; Buisman, C.J.N. (2014) Harvesting Energy from CO2 Emissions. Environmental Science and Technology 1 (1). - p. 31 - 35.

Hendrickx, T.L.G., Kampman, C., Zeeman, G., Temmink, B.G., Hu, Z., Kartal, B. & Buisman, C.J.N. (2014). High specific activity for anammox bacteria enriched from activated sludge at 10 °C. Bioresource Technology, 163, p. 214-221. 10.1016/j.biortech.2014.04.025

Hintzen, N.T., Vries, P. de, Looije, D. & Glorius, S.T. (2014). Vergelijking visserij - intensiteit op basis van AIS -VMS in de Voordelta. (extern rapport, Rapport / IMARES, no C068/14). IJmuiden: IMARES.

Hoang, T.T., Traag, W.A., Murk, A.J. & Hoogenboom, L.A.P. (2014). Levels of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) and dioxin-like PCBs in free range eggs from Vietnam, including potential health risks. Chemosphere, 114, p. 268-274. 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2014.05.010

Huanga, Tinglin, Xuan Li, --, Rijnaarts, H.H.M., Grotenhuis, J.T.C., Weixing Ma, --, Xin Sun, -- & Jinlan Xu, -- (2014). Effects of storm runoff on the thermal regime and water quality of a deep, stratified reservoir in a temperate monsoon zone, in Northwest China. Science of the Total Environment, 485-486, p. 820-827. 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2014.01.008

Kampman, C. (2014, Mei 27). Denitrification with dissolved methane from anaerobic digestion. WUR Wageningen UR (105 pag.) (Wageningen: Wageningen University). Prom./coprom.: prof.dr.ir. C.J.N. Buisman, prof.dr.ir. G. Zeeman & dr.ir. B.G. Temmink.

Kampman, C., Temmink, B.G., Hendrickx, T.L.G., Zeeman, G. & Buisman, C.J.N. (2014). Enrichment of denitrifying methanotrophic bacteria from municipal wastewater sludge in a membrane bioreactor at 20 °C. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 274, p.428-435. 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2014.04.031

Koorevaar, M.W., Padding, J.T., Wang, J., Wit, M. de, Schutyser, M.A.I., Hoef, M.A. van der & Kuipers, J. (2014). DEM-CFD Simulations And Imaging Experiments On Charging Of Pneumatically Conveyed Powders. In Proceedings of the 10th International Conference on Computational Fluid Dynamics in the Oil & Gas, Metallurgical and Process Industries.

Kuipers, J. (2014, Oktober 10). Distributed light sources for photocatalytic water treatment. WUR Wageningen UR (198 pag.) (Wageningen: Wageningen University). Prom./coprom.: prof. dr. ir. H.H.M. Rijnaarts, dr.ir. H. Bruning & dr ir D.R. Yntema.

Kuipers, J., Bruning, H., Yntema, D., Bakker, S. & Rijnaarts, H.H.M. (2014). Self-Capacitance and Resistive Losses of Saline-Water-Filled Inductors. IEEE transactions on industrial electronics, 61(5), p. 2356-2361. 10.1109/TIE.2013.2270220

Kuller, M., Dolman, N., Spiller, M. & Vreeburg, J.H.G. (2014). Haalbaarheidstudie: regenwater opvangen en benutten op luchthaven Schiphol. H2O online.

Laak, T.L. ter, Kooij, P.J.F., Tolkamp, H. & Hofman, J. (2014). Different compositions of pharmaceuticals in Dutch and Belgian rivers explained by consumption patterns and treatment efficiency. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 21(22), p. 12843-12855. 10.1007/s11356-014-3233-9.

Letema, S.C. ; Vliet, B.J.M. van; Lier, J.B. van (2014) Sanitation policy and spatial planning in urban East Africa: Diverging sanitation spaces and actor arrangements in Kampala and Kisumu. Cities 36 . - p. 1 - 9.

Lindeboom, R.E.F. (2014, Februari 27). Autogenerative high pressure digestion : biogass production and upgrading in a single step. WUR Wageningen UR (208 pag.) (Wageningen: Wageningen University). Prom./coprom.: prof. dr. ir. J.B. van Lier, dr.ir. J. Weijma & C.M. Plugge.

Lindeboom, R.E.F., Ding, L., Weijma, J., Plugge, C.M. & Lier, J.B. van (2014). Starch hydrolysis in autogenerative high pressure digestion: Gelatinisation and saccharification as rate limiting steps. Biomass and Bioenergy, 71, p. 256-265. 10.1016/j.biombioe.2014.07.031

Ni, Z., Smit, M.P.J., Grotenhuis, J.T.C., Gaans, P. van & Rijnaarts, H.H.M. (2014). Effectiveness of

stimulating PCE reductive dechlorination: A step-wise approach. Journal of Contaminant Hydrology, 164, p. 209-218. 10.1016/j.jconhyd.2014.06.005

Pabon Pereira, C.P., Vries, J.W. de, Slingerland, M.A., Zeeman, G. & Lier, J.B. van (2014). Impact of crop-manure ratios on energy production and fertilizing characteristics of liquid and solid digestate during codigestion. Environmental Technology, 35(19), p. 2427-2434. 10.1080/09593330.2014.908242

Par-Garcia, J.M., Schaetzle, O., Biesheuvel, P.M. & Hamelers, H.V.M. (2014). Energy from CO2 using capacitive electrodes – Theoretical outline and calculation of open circuit voltage. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 418, p. 200-207. 10.1016/j.jcis.2013.11.081

Porada, S., Hamelers, H.V.M., Bryjak, M., Presser, V., Biesheuvel, P.M. & Weingarth, D. (2014). Carbon flow electrodes for continuous operation of capacitive deionization and capacitive mixing energy generation. Journal of Materials Chemistry. A, Materials for energy and sustainability, 2(24), p. 9313-9321. 10.1039/c4ta01783h

Racyte, J., Yntema, D.R., Kazlauskaite, L., DuBois, A., Bruning, H. & Rijnaarts, H.H.M. (2014). Alternating electric field fluidized bed disinfection performance with different types of granular activated carbon. Separation and Purification Technology, 132, p. 70-76. 10.1016/j.seppur.2014.05.002

Racyte, J., Langenhoff, A.A.M., Ribeiro, A.F.M.M.R., Paulitsch-Fuchs, A.H., Bruning, H. & Rijnaarts, H. (2014). Effect of granular activated carbon concentration on the content of organic matter and salt, influencing E. coli activity and survival in fluidized bed disinfection reactor. Biotechnology and Bioengineering, 111(10), p. 2009-2018. 10.1002/bit.25254

Rakowska, M.I. (2014, Mei 19). Ex situ treatment of sediments with granular activated carbon : a novel remediation technology. WUR Wageningen UR (240 pag.) (Wageningen: Wageningen University). Prom./coprom.: prof. dr. ir. H.H.M. Rijnaarts, prof. dr. A.A. Koelmans & dr.ir. J.T.C. Grotenhuis.

Rakowska, M.I., Kupryianchyk, D., Smit, M.P.J., Koelmans, A.A., Grotenhuis, J.T.C. & Rijnaarts, H. (2014). Corrigendum to Kinetics of hydrophobic organic contaminant extraction from sediment by granular activated carbon. Water Research, 57, p. 339-339. 10.1016/j.watres.2014.03.033

Rakowska, M.I., Kupryianchyk, D., Koelmans, A.A., Grotenhuis, J.T.C. & Rijnaarts, H.H.M. (2014). Equilibrium and kinetic modeling of contaminant immobilization by activated carbon amended to sediments in the field. Water Research, 67, p. 96-104. 10.1016/j.watres.2014.07.046

Rakowska, M.I. ; Kupryianchyk, D. ; Smit, M. ; Koelmans, A.A. ; Meent, D. van de (2014) Kinetics of hydrophobic organic contaminant extraction from sediment by granular activated carbon. Water Research 51 . - p. 86 - 95.

Ramaker, R. & Dungen, M.W. van den (2014). Gezocht : chemische sporen van palingconsumptie. Resource: nieuwssite voor studenten en medewerkers van Wageningen UR, 9(9), p. 8.

Rijnaarts, H. & Weiss, H. (2014). Trends in Soil, Sediment and Groundwater Quality Management. Science of the Total Environment, 485-486, p. 701-704. 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2014.04.098

Rijnaarts, H.H.M. (2014). Balancing rural-urban water and resource needs. Ppt dies 10 March 2014 http://edepot.wur.nl/297783

Rijnaarts, H.H.M. & Clemens, F. (2014). Relatie watersystemen en waterketen: kansen en bedreigingen. Ppt presentation http://edepot.wur.nl/296237

Schoumans, O.F., Ehlert, P.A.I., Nelemans, J.A., Doorn-van Tintelen, W. van, Rulkens, W.H. & Oenema, O. (2014). Explorative study of phosphorus recovery from pig slurry : laboratory experiments. (extern rapport, Alterra-rapport, no 2514). Wageningen: Alterra Wageningen UR.

Schram, E., Kooten, T. van, Blom, E., Schrama, J.W., Murk, A.J. & Verreth, J.A.J. (2014). Towards optimal off-flavour depuration: effects of water flow rate, temperature and feeding on geosmin excretion by European eel, Atlantic salmon and Nile tilapia. Aquaculture Europe 2014: Donostia - San Sebastian (2014, oktober 14 - 2014, oktober 17).

Slijkerman, D.M.E., León, R. de & Vries, P. de (2014). A baseline water quality assessment of the coastal reefs of Bonaire, Southern Caribbean. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 86(1-2), p. 523-529. 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2014.06.054

Sommer, W.T. ; Doornenbal, P.J. ; Drijver, B.C. ; Gaans, P.F.M. van; Leusbrock, I. ; Grotenhuis, J.T.C. ; Rijnaarts, H.H.M. (2014) Thermal performance and heat transport in aquifer thermal energy storage Hydrogeology Journal 22 (1). - p. 263 - 279.

Spiller, M., Vreeburg, J.H.G., Leusbrock, I. & Zeeman, G. (2014). Flexible design in water and wastewater engineering - Definitions literature and decision guide. Journal of Environmental Management, 149, p. 271-281. 10.1016/j.jenvman.2014.09.031

Spruijt, E. & Biesheuvel, P.M. (2014). Sedimentation dynamics and equilibrium profiles in multicomponent mixtures of colloidal particles. Journal of Physics-Condensed Matter, 26:075101(7). 10.1088/0953-8984/26/7/075101

Suarez Zuluaga, D.A., Weijma, J., Timmers, P.H.A. & Buisman, C.J.N. (2014). High rates of anaerobic oxidation of methane, ethane and propane coupled to thiosulphate reduction (online first). Environmental Science and Pollution Research. 10.1007/s11356-014-3606-0

Suss, M.E., Biesheuvel, P.M., Baumann, T.E., Stadermann, M. & Santiago, J.G. (2014). In Situ Spatially and Temporally Resolved Measurements of Salt Concentration between Charging Porous Electrodes for Desalination by Capacitive Deionization. Environmental Science and Technology, 48(3), p. 2008-2015. 10.1021/es403682n

Sutton, N.B. (2014, Juli 03). Microbiological and geochemical dynamics of the subsurface: chemical oxidation and bioremediation of organic contaminants. WUR Wageningen UR (295 pag.) (Wageningen: Wageningen University). Prom./coprom.: prof. dr. ir. H.H.M. Rijnaarts & dr.ir. J.T.C. Grotenhuis.

Sutton, N.B., Kalisz, M., Krupanek, J., Marek, J., Grotenhuis, J.T.C., Smidt, H., Weert, J. de, Rijnaarts, H.H.M., Gaans, P. van & Keijzer, T. (2014). Geochemical and Microbiological Characteristics during in Situ Chemical Oxidation and in Situ Bioremediation at a Diesel Contaminated Site. Environmental Science and Technology, 48(4), p. 2352-2360. 10.1021/es404512a

Sutton, N.B., Langenhoff, A.A.M., Hidalgo Lasso, D., Zaan, B.M. van der, Gaans, P. van, Maphosa, F., Smidt, H., Grotenhuis, J.T.C. & Rijnaarts, H.H.M. (2014). Recovery of microbial diversity and activity following chemical oxidation in diesel contaminated soils. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 98, p. 2751-2764. 10.1007/s00253-013-5256-4

Sutton, N.B. ; Grotenhuis, J.T.C. ; Rijnaarts, H.H.M. (2014) Impact of organic carbon and nutrients mobilized during chemical oxidation on subsequent bioremediation of a diesel-contaminated soil. Chemosphere 97 . - p. 64 - 70.

Tervahauta, T.H. (2014, Oktober 10). Phosphate and organic fertilizer recovery from black water. WUR Wageningen UR (X, 156 pag.) (Wageningen: Wageningen University). Prom./coprom.: prof.dr.ir. C.J.N. Buisman, prof.dr.ir. G. Zeeman & dr. L. Hernandez Leal.

Tervahauta, T.H., Bryant, I.M., Hernandez Leal, L., Buisman, C.J.N. & Zeeman, G. (2014). Improved Energy Recovery by Anaerobic Grey Water Sludge Treatment with Black Water. Water, 6(8), p. 2436-2448. 10.3390/w6082436

Tervahauta, T.H. ; Weijden, R.D. van der; Flemming, R.L. ; Hernández, L. ; Zeeman, G. ; Buisman, C.J.N. (2014) Calcium phosphate granulation in anaerobic treatment of black water: a new approach to phosphorus recovery. Water Research 48 (1). - p. 632 - 642.

Tuantet, K., Temmink, B.G., Zeeman, G., Janssen, M.G.J., Wijffels, R.H. & Buisman, C.J.N. (2014). Nutrient removal and microalgal biomass production on urine in a short light-path photobioreactor. Water Research, 55, p. 162-174. 10.1016/j.watres.2014.02.027

Tuantet, K. ; Janssen, M.G.J. ; Temmink, H. ; Zeeman, G. ; Wijffels, R.H. ; Buisman, C.J.N. (2014) Microalgae growth on concentrated human urine. Journal of Applied Phycology 26 (1). - p. 287 - 297.

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