Optimize the measurement of Poly-hydroxy-alkanoates (PHA) in biomass

Poly-hydroxy-alkanoate (PHA) is an intracellular polymer that can be used as an energy and carbon source by microorganisms. Measuring PHA is important for understanding the microbial metabolism of enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) and aerobic granular sludge (AGS) systems. There is a commonly used method to measure PHA, which is...

Performance and fouling mechanism of ceramic membranes in treating real oily wastewater

Membrane technology is widely used as an effective water treatment or pretreatment technology, especially in the filtration of oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions. Ceramic membranes have shown excellent performance in this regard. However, due to the complex composition of real wastewater, laboratory studies are limited to the filtration of simulated O...

Martian Gale crater methane as a potential biosignature for anaerobic communities an experimental bayesian approach

On the 14th of July 2013, a methane peak was observed in the Gale crater. This methane peak has been investigated in a non-biological context before. This study applies exoplanet research strategies and knowledge about biological methane production on Earth to investigate the biological context. Bayes formula is the foundation of the Bayesian...

Overcoming fouling in desalting industrial organic solutions by electrodialysis

Lignocellulose is an abundant source of feedstock and consists of hemicellulose, cellulose, and lignin. Pre-treatment is done to fragment lignin and hydrolyse the hemicellulose and cellulose fractions into simple sugars which is then converted into bioplastics. The pre-treatment generates a mix of sugar solutions, lignin breakdown products and...

Recovery of magnesium from RO concentrate for struvite production

Magnesium is one of the most critical natural resources and 96% of magnesium used in Europe is imported. The present study investigated possible ways of implementing circularity in the magnesium cycle within the borders of Waternet, a water utility in the Netherlands. The wastewater treatment plant at Amsterdam-West produces struvite from...

Proof of principle study of continuous flow iron(0)-electrocoagulation for removal of anthropogenic contaminants from secondary effluent

With the rapid population growth and industrialization, water bodies are being infiltrated by a rising number of contaminants like metals, pharmaceuticals, pesticides and detergents, which requires the need for novel treatment technologies. Electrocoagulation (EC) is a water treatment technology where the coagulant is dosed electrochemically...

Performance and membrane fouling of alumina UF membranes in treating nano-sized oil-water emulsions

Ultrafiltration (UF) is an efficient and effective method of filtrating oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions. However, the favorable conditions of filtrating nano-sized O/W emulsions have not been investigated. This study investigated the influence of four different parameters including membrane pore size, cross flow velocity, pH and salinity on...

Exploring Electrochemical Advanced Oxidation Processes as Novel Method for Arsenic Removal from Dune Water

Dunea’s drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs) want to reach the new arsenic (As) companytarget of &lt; 1 µg/L, due to uncertainties on toxicity at the current WHO, European and Dutch guideline of 10 µg/L. The aim of this research was to lower the As concentration in Dunea’s effluent<br/>to &lt; 1 µg/L by improving our system understanding and...

Proof of concept design of a black water disinfection system for on board use on recreational vessels and yachts

There are more than 160,000 recreational crafts in the Netherlands with a toilet on board. It is forbidden to discharge blackwater into the environment from these crafts. Stricter enforcement of the law by the sealing of the valves of the external drain, leaves the owners of these crafts with a major problem. It is allowed, however, to treat the...

Influence of film formers on magnetite properties under water-steam cycle conditions: The influence on acidic flow-accelerated corrosion and magnetite surface charge in conditions pertinent to condensate, feedwater and boiler systems

Corrosion and fouling are considered major factors affecting the performance of water-steam cycles (WSC). Flow-accelerated corrosion (FAC), present in feed and condensate systems, is a well known corrosion mechanism, eroding and dissolving the protective magnetite layers. Fouling of the boiler, by suspended magnetite particles, is partly...

Disinfection of faecal indicator organisms by iron electrocoagulation for reuse of sewage water

Due to the quick growth in human population and subsequently a high rate of urbanization, fresh water sources are under pressure. Estimated 1.8 billion people drink water from potentially sewage-contaminated sources and also the presence of antibiotic resistant bacteria in sewage has made the improper treatment of wastewater effluent an emerging...

Electrochemical sensing and electrochemical advanced oxidation treatment of nevirapine using micro- and nanocrystalline boron doped diamond electrodes

Boron-doped diamond (BDD) is an electrode material applied in high end advanced oxidation processes and electrochemical sensing. BDD has a low background current, is robust and has a high affinity for the production of oxidizing radicals. BDD shows better degradation rates compared to competing electrode materials, and can also be used to detect...

On-site Regeneration of Acetaminophen Loaded Zeolite Granules by Applying Gaseous Ozone Based Oxidation Process

The wide application of pesticides, pharmaceuticals and personal care products cause an increasing contamination of aquatic systems. Adsorption by zeolites is a promising process to remove target organic micro-pollutants (OMPs) selectively from water bodies. In order to have a sustainable adsorption process, restoring the adsorption capacity of...

Ceramic Nanofiltration Of NOM Rich Brine

The presence of organic and inorganic contaminants in aquatic ecosystem has been threat to public health and environment. To produce drinking water, removal of natural organic matter has been of importance due to formation of DBPs. Of the many available treatments, ion exchange (IEX) has the potential to remove natural organic matter (NOM)....

Adsorption of free floating DNA and antimicrobial resistance genes out of wastewater effluents by sewage-based biochar and iron-oxide-coated sands

The presence of extracellular DNA (eDNA) containing antibiotic resistance genes in the treated wastewater effluents can contribute to the spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) among receiving waters. The removal of cell associated antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) has been widely studied using advance treatments. However, these treatments...

Integrated Sulphate Removal from Ion Exchange Brine Using Chemical Precipitation and Ceramic Nanofiltration

In drinking water production, natural organic matter (NOM) is sometimes removed using ion exchange (IEX) resin. This treatment method has a limitation based on the exchanging capacity on the resin. Therefore, the resin needs to be regenerated when it is saturated with adsorbed NOM which leads to the production of brine. In general, NaCl is used...

Steering Product Formation in Anaerobic Digestion Systems: The effect of elevated CO2 partial pressure on the fermentative degradation of pyruvate and butyrate by a mixed microbial consortium

In the context of steering product formation in anaerobic digestion systems, the present thesis work elaborates on the potential role of elevated CO2 partial pressures as an environmental driver that may influence end-product selectivity from methane towards compounds from the carboxylic platform. As an emerging field of research, organic acid...

Dewaterability of thermophilic digestate: Characteristics and underlying processes: A heuristic comparison of mesophilic digestion, thermophilic digestion and digestate ammonia stripping on the site of Bath WWTP, Netherlands

In a WWTP operating with full scale mesophilic digestion, a thermophilic digestion pilot and a digestate ammonia stripping pilot were installed. Benefits of the aforementioned sludge treatment processes, such as energy and nutrient recovery, are extensively recognized. However, drawbacks, such as deficient sludge dewatering, are amply...