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Type of project: BSc/MSc internship
Starting date: for February 2026 (could be discussed)
Duration: > 3 months (could be discussed)
Location: Van Hall Larenstein and Wetsus, European Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Water Technology, Leeuwarden, the Netherlands
Salary: The maximum Wetsus allowance for this internship is 425 € per month. Grant holding students (i.e. Erasmus or other) receiving financial support of less than 425 € per month can apply for a top-up supplement to the maximum allowance.
Project description:
Electrodialysis (ED) is a widely used membrane-based separation process with growing applications across desalination, wastewater treatment, chemical recovery, and food processing. As industries increasingly seek sustainable and energy-efficient alternatives to traditional separation technologies, the global market for electrodialysis has expanded significantly.
However, the long-term operational efficiency of ED systems is heavily constrained by internal issues such as membrane fouling, mineral scaling, and undetected leaks. These phenomena compromise ion selectivity and increase energy consumption, often leading to costly downtime and membrane replacement.
Traditional maintenance strategies rely on periodic inspection and performance monitoring, which may fail to catch problems early or pinpoint their location precisely. As a result, there is an urgent need for non-invasive, real-time diagnostic tools that can track the internal state of membrane systems and support predictive maintenance strategies.
One possible method to enable better diagnostics is through the use of electrical impedance. This is the first pilot project of its kind aimed at validating this method for electrolysis systems.
Your profile:
– Background in Electrical Engineering/Environmental Science or any other related STEM fields
– MSc or BSc student, a MSc student is preferred, but BSc students with excellent hands-on capabilities are also accepted.
– Highly motivated, enthusiastic, is a fast learner and independent
– Good communication skills in English.
– Currently studying in the Netherlands or has citizenship from an EU country
Your task:
– Operation of electrochemical cells.
– Perform electrical impedance measurement
– Reporting to your supervisors
How to apply:
Please upload your CV (max. 2 A4 pages) and a motivation letter (max. 1 A4 page) in the application form below. Feel free to contact Liang-Shin Wang (liang-shin.wang@wetsus.nl) or Ruixuan Qi (ruixian.qi@wetsus.nl) if you have further questions or need more information.
Abstract
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Abstract
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Abstract
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Abstract
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Abstract
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Abstract
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