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Field: Bioprocess, Biotechnology, Environmental Engineering
Duration: 6 to 9 months.
Starting date: October – November 2023 with flexibility
Location: Wetsus, European Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Water Technology, Leeuwarden (The Netherlands)
There are a few possibilities for allowances:
– The allowance for students is €200. The student can apply for ‘Wetsus Grant’ allowance (€200 extra; an internal committee decides if the allowance will be granted).
– Students can apply for Erasmus; (if the Erasmus grant is less than €400, the student can apply for the Wetsus Grant).
– Erasmus
*The Wetsus Grant allowance is not guaranteed and must be approved by the Grant Committee.
Saline wastewater streams can be found in different industries, i.e., fish processing, chemical, petroleum and leather. The organic pollutants from these streams could be treated using up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor. This anaerobic process could convert the organics into CH4 energy- and cost-effectively compared to the physical/chemical treatment. UASB reactor could operate at a high organic loading rate mainly due to the anaerobic granular sludge present in the system where a high biomass concentration can be achieved. Granular sludge is a spherical biofilm encapsulated with extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) excreted by microbes. EPS from other sources, such as aerobic wastewater treatment process, showed the potential to be used as a nature flocculant, coating material etc. The potential of the EPS from anaerobic granular sludge is yet to study. In this project, we aim to start up UASB reactors and explore the resource recovery potential using anaerobic granular sludge.
What you can learn:
– Comprehensive understanding of anaerobic digestion and UASB reactor.
– Hands on experience for reactors assemble, operation and monitor.
– Principles of sludge characterization and mass balance.
– Interaction and collaboration within a dynamic multidisciplinary and multinational research team.
Your profile:
– Specializing in bioprocess, biotechnology, environmental engineering or related fields.
– Preferably an EU citizen or an international MSc student actively enrolled in a Dutch university.
– An aptitude and interest for practical laboratory experience and analytical work.
– Fluent in English language (spoken, written and communication skills).
– Highly motivated, enthusiastic, and independent thinker and doer who also like to work in a team.
How to apply:
Please upload your CV (max. 2 pages) and motivation letter (max. 1 page) via the application form provided. Do not hesitate to contact Olga Sójka (olga.sojka@wetsus.nl) if you have any further questions or you need more information.
