Job Detail

 Eawag, the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, is an internationally networked aquatic research institute within the ETH Domain (Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology). Eawag conducts research, education and expert consulting to achieve the dual goals of meeting direct human needs for water and maintaining the function and integrity of aquatic ecosystems.The Department of Process Engineering (ENG) has a vacancy for aMaster student working on the production of polyhydroxyalkanoates (bioplastics) from wastewater
Topic: In conventional wastewater treatment plants, organic carbon is oxidized under aerobic conditions to CO2 using ordinary heterotrophs associated with high substrate to biomass yields. Such approach results in high energy demand (for aeration) and high excess sludge production, the latter creating a new waste-stream. Anaerobic digestion is thus mainly used to reduce the amount of excess sludge through conversion into methane. However, the value of methane remains limited compared to the value of other intermediates of anaerobic digestion.
Anaerobic digestion without biogas production is thus evaluated as a relevant strategy for the conversion of organic substrates. The proposed master thesis focuses on the production of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) that can further be converted into polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs); a precursor for bioplastics with a considerably higher market value than methane. Combining an anaerobic valorization line with advanced separation technologies (micro-sieving, high-rate activated sludge) would allow up to 90% of the influent organic substrate to be captured and converted, while reducing the overall excess sludge production and energy consumption.




The experimental master researchwill focus on operating fermentation reactors in continuous mode with three different types of influents: micro-sieved material, primary sludge and high-rate activated sludge. The thesis should answer the following questions:

• To what extend is hydrolysis influenced by the influent composition?


• What is the link between influent composition and the fermentation products?


• Are the conversion yields and product mixtures suitable for economic carbon valorization?


• Can influent pre-treatment (thermal hydrolysis, grinding) help increasing the yield of the specific VFAs required for PHA production?

We are looking for a highly motivated individual with pronounced interest in biological wastewater treatment and anaerobic processes. The student should be willing to engage a new research field that is linked to uncertain expectations and no established methods. Suitable candidates are expected to be MSc students in environmental engineering or related fields.




The closing date for applications is 15 February 2019 or until filled. Please submit your application including a CV and copies of your academic research. The preferred starting date is 1 March 2019 resp. in agreement with the involved parties. The thesis will be supervised by Antoine Brison and Dr Nicolas Derlon and advised by Prof. Dr Kai Udert.



 For further information, please contact Antoine Brison, Email antoine.brison@eawag.ch




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