Project: Catalytic Enhancement of Anaerobic Ammonium Oxidation for Nitrogen and Pharmaceutical Removal in Wastewater (WP2)

Host institution: USC (University of Santiago de Compostela)

Supervisor(s): Anuska Mosquera (PhD promoter)

Objectives: To explore the impact of nanomaterials on the efficiency of partial nitritation and anaerobic ammonium oxidation (Anammox) processes for the concurrent removal of nitrogen and CECs from wastewater.

DC11 will focus on innovating Partial nitritation-Anammox (PN-AMX) processes using metal oxide nanoparticles, assessing their performance in both suspended and attached forms for enhanced degradation of nitrogen and selected pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs). The aim in the case of PN will be to suppress the activity of nitrite-oxidizing bacteria either by washing or inactivating them. In the case of AMX, it will focus on increasing overall biomass activity by either retaining AMX or enhancing its specific activity. Additionally, the correlation with co-metabolic biotransformation of PhACs will be explored. DC11 will investigate the influence of nanoparticles on microbial community dynamics and their correlation to PhAC degradation. Comprehensive analyses will measure the overall biodegradation efficiency, biomass activities, and community shifts.  DC11 will quantify reactor performance, elucidating PhACs fate and key biodegradation mechanisms.

Expected results: Enhanced removal efficiency of 90% and increased TRL level from start of project (4) to 5 at the end of project

Planned secondments:

• TU Delft (Sup.: Jules van Lier): M29-32 (4 months): Effect of conductive nanoparticles on the removal of CECs by the anammox process
• PURE (Sup.: N. De Rouck): M25 (1 month): Training in system scale-up: design principles and building industrial-scale ozonation systems; assessment of economic feasibility.

Enrolment in Doctoral degree: Escola de Doutoramento Internacional da Universidade de Santiago de Compostela (USC), Chemical and Environmental Engineering Doctoral Program

Recruited candidate: Corrado Maucieri