Table of contents
Table of Contents
Introduction
3
Research
5
Individual Projects
45
Education
151
Publications
173
1
Introduction
Introduction by Professor Luuk Rietveld
The year 2016 was again successful for the Sanitary
Between April-June, 2016 we started the new elective
Engineering section of the Faculty of Civil Engineering and
course “Industry Water”, comprising internal industrial
Geosciences. We managed to consolidate the activities
water loops, process water recycling, production of
that were started in 2015 and even expanded the scope
ultra clean water, and efficient processing of industrial
of our work. We managed to obtain new research funding,
wastewater. The new educational course resulted from
graduated a good number of PhD and MSc students,
our increasing research in this field and was selected
started a new educational track and extended our staff.
by over 40 students who highly ranked this course in
Within the partnership program TISCA on Technology
their evaluation. As such, “Industry Water” is becoming
Innovation for Sewer Condition Assessment, with RIONED,
a recognised pillar in our research and educational
STOWA, and the Knowledge Program Urban Drainage as
curriculum.
partners, we managed to get several projects funded.
The greatest innovation in education was the start of
This has led to an increased consolidation of Urban Water
the new Master Track “Environmental Engineering”
Infrastructure research in the section, being now even a
within our faculty, in which we also cooperate with
strategic field of interest for the entire Faculty.
the group Environmental Biotechnology, led by prof.
In addition, Merle de Kreuk managed to obtain a
Mark van Loosdrecht. Environmental Engineering has
prestigious VIDI grant from NWO on granular activated
two specialisations, i.e. Environmental Science and
sludge. This gives here the possibility to further extend
Environmental Technology, and fills a clear gap at the
here research group on this theme. To support the
TU in which fundamentals of chemistry, microbiology,
group, Ralph Lindeboom was appointed in a Tenure Track
transport phenomena, hydrology, etc., are taught in an
position. Ralph graduated at Wageningen University on
interdisciplinary manner with the objective to predict e.g.
Autogenerative High Pressure Digestion and worked
climate changes and to create engineered interventions
as a post-doc at Ghent University. In his tenure-track
for preventing or restoring degrading environments.
position he aims to integrate solar energy into biological
Even without active promotion from TU side for this new
wastewater treatment systems with the aim of locally
master already 10 students subscribed to the first batch,
recovering potable water, nutrients, chemicals and
which started in September 2016. Recent evaluations
energy carriers.
were very positive and many potentials new students
In total 7 PhD students of our group defended their thesis
showed interest. With this new MSc track we managed
in 2016. The topics varied from the monitoring of the
to attract students with various backgrounds coming
condition of sewer systems, to the improvement of slow
from all over the world. It is clearly an enrichment of
sand filtration in rural Colombia, digestion of sewage fine
the offered specialisations in Hydrology, Water Resources
sieve fraction for decentralised energy generation, and
Engineering and Urban Water Engineering in the Water
UV-based treatment for swimming pools.
Management Track.
Regarding education we are continuously improving our
With all these achievements in 2016, we are confident in
online lecturing material as well as our online access for
a prosperous 2017!
education. The trilogy MOOC “Water & Climate” was a
We wish the same to all of you…!
great success and the split MOOC “Drinking Water” and
“Urban Sewage Treatment” was followed by thousands
of students worldwide and the Drinking Water MOOC
Professor Luuk Rietveld
has even been translated into Arab. At present we are
Head Water Management department
developing online professional education (or ProfEd)
Professor Urban Water Cycle
courses, which will focus on specified themes, i.e.
and Drinking Water Technology
Membrane Technology in Water Treatment, Aerobic
Granular Sludge Technology, and High-Rate Anaerobic
Wastewater Treatment. All three courses will be launched
in 2017.
3
4
Annual report 2016
Research
5
Research
Mission statement
Mission statement Section Sanitary Engineering
From urban water chain to urban water
cycle
Sanitary engineering typically takes place within the
More than 50% of humanity lives in urban areas, with
urban water cycle, which in itself is part of the greater
the largest growth in developing countries. Cities and
hydrological cycle. Drinking water is obtained from
water are closely linked to each other. A well-functioning
groundwater or surface water. The water is treated and
water network is essential for a city. Everybody has the
subsequently transported to the users, i.e., households
right to be supplied by clean and riskless drinking water,
and industries, by means of an extensive distribution
proper sanitary services, safe and reliable collection and
network. Hereafter, the used waters, previously called
treatment of the used urban waters, and protection
wastewaters, are collected, often together with the
of surface water and groundwater bodies. Fresh and
drainage water, again via an extensive sewerage system.
clean water, however, is scarce and for several cities the
Subsequently, the collected sewage is conveyed to the
limiting factors for economic growth. Smart technologies
sewage treatment plant, where the water is relieved from
combined with a robust infrastructure give the opportunity
unwanted pollutants. After treatment, the purified water
to use the scarce fresh water multiple times. In this way
is discharged into open surface waters, after which it is
a win-win situation is created where the population,
again part of the natural hydrologic cycle.
industries and (peri-)urban agriculture are less dependent
on imported fresh water. Concomitantly, recovery of the
Given the worldwide increasing water scarcity and/
urban water-linked resources such as nutrients but also
or costs involved in importing fresh waters from large
thermal and chemical energy will be addressed by the
distances, a growing interest exists in making short-
mentioned technologies.
cuts in the urban water cycle, creating possibilities for
multiple water use or even partly transforming the urban
6
Mission statement
water chain into an urban water cycle. As such, water
university and partners not only benefit from the scientific
is more and more regarded as a valuable commodity,
and professional publications and PhD dissertations, but
whereas its polluting constituents are more and more
also from patents, practical applications, and knowledge
recognized
Intervening
transfer in open course ware lectures via internet. At
technologies are being developed for upgrading water
present, about 60 students carry out their PhD research
qualities and concomitantly recovering contaminants as
and yearly about 20 students finalise their MSc in Sanitary
resources turning negatively valued urban streams into
Engineering.
as
recoverable
resources.
positively valued assets. Traditional conveyance systems
for sewage and urban drainage are critically evaluated
Education
and made fit for the modern urban water cycle approach,
In addition to the research, education is the most
anticipating on current societal demands and possible
important activity of the section Sanitary Engineering.
climate changes. Forecasted increase in flood events
Apart from two introduction courses in the BSc, specialised
will put additional demands on adequate urban drainage
courses are given in the MSc-track Water Management.
designs. Obviously, reliability, cost-effectiveness, and
The philosophy of the section is that these courses must
resource efficiency are keywords in present research in
be, as much as possible, available for everyone. Therefore
sanitary engineering and water treatment technologies.
both on-campus and on-line education is provided. The
In order to take all benefits from the used urban waters,
on-campus education is focussed on the learning-by-
profound knowledge is required on physical-chemical
doing, involving students, where possible, with practical
and biological treatment technologies needed to upgrade
assignments (activated learning).In addition, students
these waters to agreed standards for subsequent use or
are stimulated to have an internship abroad, in order to
discharge.
broaden their horizon. On-line education is divided into
three different categories: (i) Open Course Ware is freely
The mission of the research program at the section of
available and consists of recorded lectures (collegerama)
Sanitary Engineering of TU Delft is to achieve practical
and written material; (ii) the on-line master’s programme
breakthroughs in these niches by a coordinated approach
also makes use of the recorded lectures to stimulate
in close cooperation with the Dutch water sector and
distant learning, but the content is exactly the same
the international scientific community. By working
as for on-campus students; (iii) Massive Open On-line
together within a well-developed network with the stake
Course (MOOC) “Introduction to Water Treatment” is
holders from science and industry, we aim to cover the
freely available and is especially made to address large
complete innovation cycle, from the initial brain wave,
groups. The section Sanitary Engineering is front runner
through research planning, funding and execution, to
in on-line education and the mentioned MOOC was the
implementation in practice and possibly valorization and
first one of TU Delft.
commercialisation.
Ambition in research and education
Research themes and approach
Dutch drinking water is characterized by a very high
Research and education of the Sanitary Engineering
quality, owing to the high technical standards in Dutch
Section is of high societal relevance and technical
water companies, resulting in continuous supply of
excellence. It serves the current needs of the Dutch
safe drinking water at an acceptable price. No chlorine
Water sector and outlines present developments and
is used during drinking water production, which is
future strategies in close cooperation with the sector. In
made possible by applying a multiple barrier treatment
addition, international developments and our increasing
system, producing biologically stable water. Moreover, the
participation in the international Water arena increasingly
drinking water is soft, has a pleasant taste and colour
include research projects of global concern. Our
and pipeline leakages are virtually zero. As a result of
philosophy results in a balanced combination of societal
this, the trust in the drinking water quality is high. The
and industrial pull and scientific push. We strongly
Dutch drink water from the tap and they do not feel
believe that this is in the best interest of our MSc and
the need for using bottled water or point-of-use filters.
PhD students serving both science and industry. Delft
Continuation of the high quality standards in the water
7
Research
Mission statement
sector requires research on presence and fate of priority
To be able to address the research needs of the water
pollutants, biological growth (e.g. Legionella) and water
sector, our MSc and PhD research is clustered in 6
quality deterioration in the distribution system.
thematic research themes:
1. “Emerging
Municipalities
are
responsible
for
collecting
and
transporting used waters and managing the rainwater
technologies
for
water
treatment”
includes solutions for emerging threats, increasing
standards, and optimized treatment.
and groundwater in urban areas. In the near future they
2. “Reclamation and recovery of water, energy and used
are faced with several challenges, e.g. climate change,
compounds” deals with technologies for the closing
(de-)urbanisation, increased pollution, costs, energy,
and resource effectiveness, implementation of sensor
networks for process control. These challenges are to
be faced in the light of a more intense cooperation with
of material cycles in the urban water cycle.
3. “Modeling, sensoring and automation” deals with
operational efficiency improvement.
4. “Distribution and discharge networks” investigates
other stakeholders, ultimately leading to an increasing
the
need for knowledge of the involved processes and sound
distribution and drainage systems.
engineering solutions.
water
quality
and
hydraulic
aspects
in
5. “Sustainable solutions for global development”
focuses on improving drinking water supply and
Water boards, ultimately responsible for the upgrading
sanitation in developing countries.
of the used urban waters, are challenged by increasingly
6. “Water and Health” focuses on the relations between
stringent effluent criteria and societal concerns on priority
technical interventions and related health risks.
pollutants and hygienic quality of the produced effluents.
Moreover, foreseen shortcuts in the water chain, creating
Each of the staff members has its own specialisation to
urban water cycles, require effluent qualities meeting the
develop research in one or more of the above mentioned
demands of the subsequent user, that are often much
research
more stringent than the emission standards. This logically
(anaerobic) membrane bioreactors, (ceramic) membrane
results in improved operation of sewage treatment plants,
filtration, metallic surfaces in water, characterisation of
introduction of new treatment technologies, interactions
natural organic matter, soft sensors in water treatment,
between sewerage and separation of rain water from
monitoring in sewer systems, emerging pathogens and
the sewer system. In addition, the water boards are
technology selection in relation to water quality.
themes.
These
specialisations
include
emphasizing the potentials of recovery of resources, such
as nutrients, bio-plastics, cellulose fibres, and energy
Our research agenda includes a mixture of desk-top
from sewage streams.
research, laboratory experiments, pilot-plant experiments
and full-scale field research. Computer modelling is very
important as it enables us to understand the complex
reality and limit the number of experiments to achieve
an optimal result. Where laboratory experiments test our
initial hypothesis under defined conditions, pilot plant
and field research includes the specific water quality and
reactor operational aspects that cannot be simulated in
the lab. Moreover, full-scale investigations at treatment
plants and piped/sewerage networks are required in
order to study the effects of large scale hydraulics. As
such, our research can be characterised as a mixture of
water quality, process technology, hydraulics and applied
mathematics. A thorough understanding of physical,
chemical and biological processes is required to improve
the water matrix to the required level. This, combined
with a thorough insight in hydraulic aspects, such as
8
Mission statement
turbulence, mixing, and uneven flow patterns, will ensure
Boulder, Waterloo, Trondheim, Dresden, Poitiers, Rennes,
the feasibility of the technology in large scale settings.
Toulouse, Zürich, Valencia, Santiago de Compostela,
Based on our experience, these mixtures of scales
Singapore, Harbin, Beijing, Shanghai, and Xiamen.
and sciences provide a total view on sound sanitary
Research projects are performed in cooperation with
engineering that stimulates new ideas and approaches.
Agentschap NL, NWO, Commercial partners, TTIWetsus
The professors in our group have a down-to-earth
and the European Union. Special agreements for
approach and practice ‘management by participation’.
research collaboration are made with Waternet, Dunea,
They stimulate discussions between PhD students,
Oasen, Evides, HWL, Vewin and Rioned. Next to papers
staff members and experts from science and industry.
and reports, our research is communicated through a
Moreover, they frequently participate in national and
newsletter. In addition, many ideas are disseminated at
international meetings on the research agenda for the
our annual ‘Vakantiecursus’ which is acknowledged as the
water sector, such as the International Water Association
leading Dutch conference on Sanitary Engineering being
and KNW, providing additional stimuli to the research.
annually first, just after New Years’ eve.
The processes of improvement and innovation function
primarily through the interaction with the experts from
science and industry.
Frequent external visitors are invited to participate in
meetings and colloquia.
Our international network includes a vast number of
foreign universities, such as in Duisburg, Leuven, Gent,
Sheffield, New South Wales, Bradford, Johannesburg,
Professor Jules van LierProfessor Luuk Rietveld
Head section Sanitary Engineering
Head Water Management department
Professor of Environmental Professor Urban Water Cycle and
Engineering and WastewaterDrinking Water Technology
Treatment
9
Research
Mission statement
Theme 1: Emerging technologies for water treatment
Theme leaders: Bas Heijman & Jules van Lier
In recent years it has become clear that the pollution of
the effectiveness of different treatment technologies and
water sources has become so widespread that traces of
treatment combinations in removing these emerging
compounds such as endocrine disputers, polar pesticides
substances is investigated. Also a modeling approach
and pharmaceuticals can even be found in Dutch drinking
is developed to predict the removal of new emerging
water. Only a few of these emerging substances are
substances and to assess the plant performance towards
known and measured in our drinking water. To face these
organic micro pollutants.
new substances application of advanced water treatment
Due to the increasing need for protection of water
is required. Moreover, due to the scientific progress we
resources, the growing environmental awareness, as laid
have come to understand that also microbiological threats
down in the European Water Framework Directive (WFD),
still cannot be ignored, the most relevant being Legionalla
and the public inclination to sustainability, the pressure
and Cryptosporidium. Fortunately, in recent years we have
on water recycling, and the need for improvement of
also seen major breakthroughs in new technologies such
effluent quality of waste water treatment plants (WWTP)
as membrane filtration and disinfection/oxidation with
are increased over the past years. Therefore, there is a
ozone/UV/H2O2. These technologies can be used both on
need for upgrading the WWTPs. This can be done by
the drinking water as well as on the waste water side and
advanced or tertiary treatment of effluent of conventional
an integrated approach has to be developed. Our research
WWTP’s by filtration and ultrafiltration; the development
in this theme deals with the further development of these
of alternatives for conventional treatment processes e.g.
technologies and in particular the determination of the
the membrane bioreactor either aerobic or anaerobic;
practical feasibility including such aspects as efficiency,
and the modification of the conventional treatment to
costs and operational aspects. In several PhD projects
optimize the efficiency.
Research projects
Decision Support System for controlling emerging substances in the water cycle
Astrid Fischer
Hybrid Advanced Oxidation and Artificial Recharge to Remove the Organic Micropollutants from
Drinking Water
Feifei Wang
Increasing the utilization of organic waste and low value feeds with the help of lignin
degrading fungi
DIPOOL Advanced UV-based technology for pool water treatment
Anaerobic Membrane Bioreactor Technology for the Treatment of Industrial Effluents
Application of Dynamic Membranes in Anaerobic Membrane Bioreactor Systems
Emerging substances: Towards an absolute barrier
Microbiological safe swimming pools without chlorine
Mostafa Zahmatkesh
Maarten Keuten
Recep Kaan Dereli
Mustafa Evren Ersahin
Cheryl Bertelkamp
Marjolein Peters
Cost-Effective Municipal Wastewater Treatment by Coupling of UASB and
Hydrodynamic determination of RO membranes using the PIV method
BioXtreme treatment of industrial wastewater
10
Amir Haidari
Julian Muñoz Sierra
Mission statement
Theme 2: Reclamation and recovery of water, energy and
used compounds
Theme leaders: Jules van Lier & Luuk Rietveld
Wastewater treatment is needed to full-fill the Water
white (rain) streams are (partly) separated. The yellow
Framework Directive. However, more and more attention
stream can e.g. be used for the production of fertilizer.
is paid to the fact that wastewater is also a potential
Phosphate recovery is becoming an important issue
resource for city water, agriculture and/or industrial
since this compound is getting scarce and prices are
water. Crucial is treatment at acceptable costs with
rising dramatically. Finally, the water of the effluent of
the aim of resource recovery at various levels, such as
a wastewater treatment plant is a resource for industry
energy, fertilizing agents and water. In the Netherlands
and agriculture. In the Netherlands e.g., 80% of the fresh
specific programmes are developed to increase the
water use is industrial and when domestic wastewater
energy production at wastewater treatment plants
treatment plant effluent is used for industrial application
by for example the production of green gas (from
less pressure is laid on the precious water sources.
sludge) that can be injected in the existing natural
Therefore, the Sanitary Engineering section focusses
gas distribution system. This could even be applied to
on technology development to make reclamation and
black water in a decentralized system where the black
recovery feasible not only in the Dutch/western context
(faeces), yellow (urine), grey (bathing and kitchen) and
but also in the context of developing countries.
Research projects
Organic carbon in demineralized boiler feedwater
David Moed
Enhanced Enzymatic Anaerobic Fermentation of Organic Residues (EnzyFOR) Steef de Valk
Anaerobic digestion (AD) of fine sieve concentrated sewage waste Dara Ghasimi
Emission Minimalization of Marine Aquaculture Recirculation Systems
Xuedong Zhang
OPTIMIX
Guido Kooijman
Forward Osmosis in Sewer Mining
Kerusha Lutchmiah
Treatment of Domestic Sewage by Anaerobic Membrane Bioreactor Technology – Anaerobic MBR
for Aqua Cleaning and Energy Recovery
Hale Ozgun
Innovative ceramic ultrafiltration for water reuse: fouling on MF/UF and RO Ran Shang
Distinguishing competitive effects from characterized background EFOM isolates on adsorption
of trace organic contaminants by typical activated carbons Advanced Oxidation-Electrochemical solutions for water and wastewater treatment
Ceramic nanofiltration for sustainable wastewater reclamation
Sustainable fresh water supply for Urbanizing Maputo, Mozambique
Jingyi Hu
Yasmina Bennani
Franca Kramer/Ran Shang
Noor Gulamussen/Celma Niquice
Ceramic nanofilter held by Jiayun Lu at Harnaschpolder
11
Research
Mission statement
Theme 3: Modeling, sensoring and automation
Theme leaders: Luuk Rietveld & Henri Spanjers
Water treatment plants consist of numerous treatment
long lasting experience in this respect and works closely
processes in series and in parallel. The operation of the
with industry to develop news tools for modelling and
present-day infrastructure is done by operators who
monitoring of the Urban Water Cycle, finally resulting in
mainly focus on providing the required flow and quality
advanced control for automation.
at all times. It is obvious that it is possible to achieve
better results at lower costs and with less impact on
the environment by utilizing available options such as
buffer tanks, equal flow distribution over process units,
flow control and process control. By using computer
models it is now also possible to control the water quality
leaving the treatment plant while delivering the required
flow and quality. The Sanitary Engineering section has a
Research projects
Model-based control in the urban water cycle Annelies Aarts
Removal of pharmaceuticals by organic coagulants/flocculants in primary settling
of wastewater treatment plant
Mohamad Mohd Amin
Novel monitoring and process control system for efficient production of VFA and biogas in
anaerobic digestion plant
Broadening and renewal of the Dutch drinking water benchmark
Xuedong Zhang
Marieke de Goede
Optimized mixing for enhanced biomass conversion using CFD modeling of multiphase flow in anaerobic
digester
12
Peng Wei
Mission statement
Theme 4: Distribution and discharge networks
Theme leaders: Marie-claire ten Veldhuis, Francois Clemens & Jeroen Langeveld
Water infrastructures are a vital support of urban societal
and probabilistic methods in support of quantitative risk
development: they supply clean drinking water and
analysis. We use urban labs to collect experimental data
evacuate polluted wastewaters to protect public health
from real-life conditions and use data mining techniques
and they drain storm waters to prevent flood damage
linking multiple data sources to predict failures in support
and economic and societal disruption. Quality of service
of risk analysis and prevention. Our aim is to provide
provided by water infrastructures is under threat as
society with effective techniques and strategies to use
ageing processes degrade structural and hydraulic
ageing water infrastructures while maintaining optimal
conditions. Leakages, blockage, pipe blockage, water
functionality.
quality deterioration are but a few of the detrimental
effects ageing processes can generate. Developing better
understanding of ageing processes is a prerequisite to
be able to predict and prevent harmful effects. Early
detection and warning is another essential strategy
to cope with failures and to increase understanding of
failure conditions. The focus of this research theme is on
monitoring, detection and prediction of failures in water
infrastructures by a combination of experimental research
Research projects
Strategic assetmanagement in the water cycle
Failure prediction and management of lateral connections in sewer systems
Risk-based sewer asset management
Decision making and organization of sewer asset management
Effective Sewer Asset Management
Quality based real time control in wastewater systems
Sewer maintenance and hydraulic performance
Transportation of domestic slurry in pipeline systems
New generic design guidelines for pump sumps of wastewater pumping stations
Propagation of uncertainties in integrated catchment models
Critical sewers
Rian Kloosterman
Johan Post
Matthijs Rietveld
Wouter van Riel (graduated in 2016)
Nikola Stanić (graduated in 2016)
Petra van Daal-Rombouts
Marco van Bijnen
Adithya Radhakrishnan
Alex Duinmeijer
Antonio Manuel Moreno Rodenas
Didrik Meijer
13
Research
Mission statement
Theme 5: Sustainable solutions for global development
Theme leaders: Jules van Lier, Bas Heijman & Doris van Halem
Safe drinking water and improved sanitation are at
and gravel filtration, and wastewater reclamation.
present not available for every human being on earth.
Appropriate sanitation, in balance with the prevailing
The current knowledge on low-cost drinking water
socio-economic conditions is of crucial importance for
treatment and sanitation is often insufficient to provide
(partly) meeting the agreed MDG-7. Sustainability in
safe water in remote or densely populated areas. Either
terms of cost-effectiveness, technical plain and recovery
solutions do not fit within the targeted environment or a
of resources are the main drivers for novel developments.
scientific approach is not at hand.
Energy recovery via anaerobic conversion processes may
Research to develop and improve treatment systems for
generate direct benefits on household levels meanwhile
the poor is the main objective of the work done within
basic sanitary requirements are established. A similar
this new research theme. The (upcoming) projects in
approach will be followed in addressing sanitation at
this theme aim at critically evaluating existing treatment
community level and/ or city section level, where block
options
sanitation or satellite sewers are connected to technical
and
the
development
of
new
innovative
technologies. The current research focuses on low-cost
plain systems which focus on recovery of resources.
ceramic filtration, (subsurface) arsenic removal, riverbank
Research projects
Upflow gravel filtration for multiple uses
Luis Dario Sanchez Torres
Transport and attenuation of organic compounds and turbidity peaks in subsurface
porous media during aquifer passage Juan Pablo Gutierrez
Safe drinking water in Bangladesh: feasibility and sustainability of hand-pump subsurface
arsenic removal in diverse settings
Arsenic removal in Nicaragua
Ag and Cu nanoparticles in ceramic pot filters
14
Sandra Borges Freitas
Bayardo Gonzalez
Katie Camille Friedman
Mission statement
Theme 6: Water & Health
Theme leader: Gertjan Medema
Safe water is essential to our society. Water systems
These provide new niches for pathogens and new routes
should protect society against the spread of infectious
of exposure to pathogens.
diseases. New pathogens emerge (like SARS, new (avian)
influenza viruses). They emphasize the vulnerability
The research focus in this theme is:
of our densely populated society to infectious diseases
▪▪
Quantitative health impact assessment of water
and highlight the importance of knowledge about
systems, with an emphasis on risks caused by
the pathogens, their possible pathways and effective
pathogenic microbes. The results will help to make
management. In our densely populated country, the
informed risk management decisions in the water
burden on the environment with pathogenic microorganisms is high and the possibilities for exposure
sector.
▪▪
to these pathogens are also many. The conventional
prevent transmission of pathogens through the water
exposure through drinking water is well under control,
but other water uses (such as bathing) are not. Moreover,
we are inventing new concepts for dealing with water
Effective (treatment) technologies or strategies to
route.
▪▪
Research is a close collaboration with KWR Watercycle
Research Institute and the water sector.
in our society (wastewater reuse, water in cities, etc.).
Research projects
Health impact of new urban water concepts
Helena Sales Ortells
Mechanisms of loose deposits´ microbiota effects on the quality of chlorinated distribution
systems water New methods for microbial water quality testing
Ana Poças
Maja Taucer-Kapteijn
Virus control by nanometals
Lina Bachert
15
Research
Research grants 2016
PS Drink – Priority-setting System to assess emerging risks
for safe Drinking water supply
During the last decades, new risks for drinking water
chemical risks and
resource quality frequently emerged. Emerging risks
3) the incorporation of risk perception and risk
may be brought about by societal, economic pressure
communication in the developed methodology.
and climate change and may impose a public health
risk. Notification of emerging risks, like the presence of
pharmaceuticals in drinking water, often gives rise to public
concern. To date, emerging risks are often identified in a
non systematic way. As a consequence, emerging risks
might be addressed late, thus making expensive control
strategies necessary. On the other hand, not all emerging
risks may impose a threat to public health.
The aim of this project is to develop an integrated
approach to systematically identify, assess and prioritize
emerging risks to the production and supply of safe
drinking water and to develop effective strategies to
communicate such risks.
Specific research questions are:
1) Which emerging risks for drinking water production
can be identified by systematic screening of information
from various sources?
2) How can the identified (microbial and chemical)
emerging risks be ranked and prioritized?
3) How can the prioritized risks be quantified and what
remediation strategies are possible?
4) What are the information needs from the public
regarding emerging risks for drinking water production?
What are effective strategies to communicate these risks?
Novel elements of the project are:
1) the proactive systematic analysis of emerging risks
combining literature, research data, information from
registration databases and expert opinion,
2) the integrated approach for ranking of microbial and
Project partners:
Funded by:
Project coordinator:
Period:
16
TU Delft, Universiteit Utrecht – Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences,
RIVM – National Institute for Public Health and the Environment
RIVM – National Institute for Public Health and the Environment
Jan Peter van der Hoek
2016 - 2020
Research grants 2016
Hydraulic modelling of liquid-solid fluidisation in drinking
water treatment processes
In the Netherlands annually 400 million m3 drinking
The performance of the chemical process in pellet
water is softened in treatment plants applying fluidised
softening reactors is proven dependent on the state of
bed pellet reactors. Generally, sand is used as seeding
the fluidised particle bed.
material and calcium carbonate pellets are produced as
a by-product. To improve sustainability calcite pellets are
The aim of the research is to obtain substantial more
grained and sieved and re-used as seeding material.
knowledge regarding the hydraulics of the liquid-solid
fluidisation phenomena which will optimize the softening
Theoretical knowledge of perfect round spheres in
process in fluid bed reactors,
liquids is generally accepted and applied to predict
the fluidisation behaviour. Regarding natural particles
The research will take place at the Weesperkarspel facility
numerous semi-empirical models have been published.
in Amsterdam.
However, there is no general agreement regarding
which equation is the most accurate. In many cases
shape factors are introduced for the particle diameter to
improve the numerical results.
In the transition from a fixed to a fluidised bed state, after
increasing the water throughput, the drag force existing
on particles increases. This research will show the
dependency of the drag on the actual particles size and
change in orientation. It will be demonstrated that not the
shape of the particle will decline, but the re-orientated
will cause the drag force the decrease with 50%. This
revised approach will result in a better understanding and
prediction of the fluid bed state.
In the well know Moody chart the friction factor is plotted
against the Reynolds number, in which the emphasis is
made on the turbulent flow. In liquid-solid systems the
flow regime is in general assumed to be laminar. In an
improved approach the friction factor is represented not
using the default log-log method. The frequently cited
and applied Richardson-Zaki fitting model is revised
and replaced by an improved hydraulic model. The
improved prediction model is more accurate and based
on thoroughly carried out pilot plant experiments.
Project partners:
Funded by:
Project coordinator:
Period:
TU Delft, Waternet
Waternet
Jan Peter van der Hoek
2016 - 2020
17
Research
Research grants 2016
Integration and optimization of water, energy and material
flows to achieve sustainable urban solutions
The flows of water, energy and materials have a large
1. Water transport systems: the integration of water,
potential to contribute to sustainable solutions in the
energy and material flows in an urban metabolism
city. The research focuses on the transition from a linear
system results in quality and quantity characteristics of
metabolism to a circular metabolism in cities to contribute
urban water flows, different from the present ones. This
to the realization of a circular economy in cities in which
requires new and innovative water transport systems.
waste and emissions do not longer exist.
2. Smart water technologies: recovery of water, energy
Up till now, water, energy and materials are often
and materials from urban water flows requires new
considered as non-renewables resulting in emissions to
and innovative technologies, capable to recover these
soil, water and air. However, by reuse, recycling and/
compounds economically and effectively.
or conservation of these flows a circular metabolism
is created and emissions to soil, water and air can be
3. Smart water control: integration of water, energy and
reduced or prevented.
material flows requires new and innovative operation and
control systems. Especially in the case of decentralized
In this research, urban water is the starting point. Urban
systems, traditional monitoring is much too expensive and
water is defined as drinking water, storm water and
new monitoring and sensoring strategies are required.
wastewater. Water is the starting point in this research
Closing loops in the urban water cycle introduces new
because it offers excellent possibilities to close the
(human health) risks. To manage these risks smart water
watercycle and reuse urban water, to recover energy
control systems have to be developed based on new and
from urban water, and to recover and reuse materials
innovative monitoring and sensoring strategies.
from urban water.
4. Sustainable system integration: although water is
Concepts to realize an urban metabolism with water
chosen as staring point in this research, a sustainable
as starting point have been proposed and tested both
system integration is a prerequisite to make the water
on centralized scale and on decentralized scale. The
harvesting successful and to make a contribution to the
choice between centralized and decentralized concepts
concept of the circular city. Up till now water, materials and
depends amongst others on local circumstances, on the
energy are quite separated domains. System innovations
materials aimed at to recover and reuse, on financial and
are required to realize the integrated approach.
environmental considerations, and also on the preferences
of the stakeholders involved. Whether centralized or
decentralized, four main topics require special attention
and up till now these aspects have not been considered
in an integrated approach.
TU Delft, Amsterdam Intitute of Advanced Metropolitan Solutions (AMS)
Project partners:
Funded by:
TU Delft, Amsterdam Intitute of Advanced Metropolitan Solutions (AMS)
Project coordinator:
Jan Peter van der Hoek
Period:2016-2018
18
Research grants 2016
The research is carried out in the framework of the
position of Prof. Jan Peter van der Hoek as Principal
Investigator at the AMS Institute. AMS (www.amsinstitute.org ) is the institute in Amsterdam, founded in
2014 and supported by the City of Amsterdam, in which
Technische Universiteit Delft, Wageningen University
Research and Massachusetts Institute of Technology,
together with partners from the public and private sector,
work on three specific themes: Circular City – Vital City
– Connected City.
Project partners:
TU Delft, Amsterdam Intitute of Advanced Metropolitan Solutions (AMS)
Funded by:
TU Delft, Amsterdam Intitute of Advanced Metropolitan Solutions (AMS)
Project coordinator:
Jan Peter van der Hoek
Period:2016-2018
19
Research
Research grants 2016
SewerSense - Multi-sensor condition assessment for sewer
asset management
Proactive asset management is necessary to ensure the
We aim to address these challenges by improving
high levels of service currently provided by the sewer
automated defect detection and classification diagnostics
system. There are three main challenges to sewer asset
for closed-circuit sewer inspection (CCTV) and promising
management addressed within this project: Firstly, the
novel inspection techniques (e.g. laser range scanning,
lack of reliable sewer condition data, which limits our
stereo vision). Their applicability and performance will
ability to assess the past, current, and future condition of
be assessed and validated in the lab and in the field.
sewers and hence to identify immediate, mid-term, and
Together with representatives from the Dutch urban
long-term rehabilitation (and financial, personnel) needs.
drainage sector, we want to develop a framework for
Secondly, a sewer condition assessment framework
sewer condition assessment so that defect information
is needed that links observed defects to performance
can
implications and hence to decision-making objectives.
and predictive modelling of potential performance
This also requires practically applicable models to
implications. We will adapt, test, and use suitable models
describe, understand, and predict deterioration as well
to quantify the added value of better inspection and
as associated risks. Thirdly, validation of inspection
condition assessment techniques for identifying sewer
techniques to obtain this data, as well as predictive
network condition, optimal inspection intervals and the
models exploiting it, are crucial for providing dependable
most suitable inspection approach.
decision support to sewer asset managers.
Project partners:
TU Delft, Leiden University
Funded by:
Technologiestichting STW
Project coordinator:
Lisa Scholten
Period:2016-2020
20
be
directly
used
for
condition
assessment
Current research grants
AMBR tool developments for full-scale applications
Project partners:
Biothane-Veolia
Funded by:Biothane-Veolia
TU coordinator:
Jules van Lier
Period:2010 - 20-10-2015
A-Racer - Anaerobic MBR for Aquacleaning and energy recovery
Project partners:
Pentair (Norit), Saxion
Funded by:
Agentschap NL - Innowater program
TU coordinator:
Jules van Lier
Period:2011 - 20-10-2015
Aquademia
Project partners:
University of Girona, WUSMED, Aqualogy, Spain, TU Graz, Austria, IWTH, Germany, TU Delft,
Waterboard De Dommel
Funded by:
EU Life Long Learning Programme
TU coordinator:
Jeroen Langeveld
Period:2013 - 01-10-2015
Ceramic nanofiltration as the key step for sustainable wastewater treatment with
reuse of water, energy and nutrients
Project partners:
TU Delft, Evides Industriewater, Logisticon
Funded by:STW-TKI
TU coordinator:
Bas Heijman
Period:2014-2018
DELTAP (an integrative approach for smart small-scale piped water supply in the
Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna Delta)
Project partners:
Studio Bereikbaar, Schlumberger, Evides, Precious Plastics, Dhaka University, AN College, EPRC, Max Foundation, UNICEF India, PRACTICA
Funded by:
NWO WOTRO Urbanising Deltas of the World 2
TU coordinator:
Doris van Halem
Period:2016-2021
Domestic Slurry Transportability
Project partners:
TU Delft, Deltares
Funded by:
STW Watertech2013, Deltares, STOWA/Rioned, Waternet, Waterschap Zuiderzeeland, XYLEM BV
Grontmij BV, Desah BV
TU coordinator:
Ivo Pothof
Period:2014-2018
Dynafil - Dynamic filtration of A-stage activated sludge in aeration tank and
anaerobic digester
Project partners:
KWR, Logisticon, STOWA, WS Brabantse Delta, Waternet, Bert Daamen
Funded by:
Agentschap NL - Efficiente vergistingsketen
TU coordinator:
Jules van Lier
Period:2011 - 11-2015
21
Research
Current research grants
EFRO Swimming pools
Project partners:
Hellebrekers Technieken, Van Remmen UV techniek, Akzo Nobel, Coram International, Sportfondsen
Nederland
Funded by:
EFRO East Netherlands
TU coordinator:
Luuk Rietveld
Period:2010-2013
Enhanced low-cost ceramic membrane filters for drinking water treatment
Project partners:
TU Delft’s ChemE and Industrial Design Engineering. Research institutes, NGOs and the Ministry of
Water in Nicaragua
Funded by:
Delft Global Initiative
TU coordinator:
Doris van Halem
Period:2016-2020
Enzyfor - Enzymatically enhanced digestion for enhanced treatment of secondary
sludge
Project partners:
DSM, COSUN, Tauw, STOWA
Funded by:
STW - W2R program
TU coordinator:
Jules van Lier
Period:2011 - 02-2016
E4Water
Project partners:
Dechema
Funded by:
EU (FP7 Program)
TU coordinator:
Luuk Rietveld
Period:2012-2015
FixAs
Project partners:
Vitens, Brabant Water, Hatenboer Water, RH-DHV, Dunea, Pidpa, Evides, RIVM, TU Delft
Funded by:STWatertechnology
TU coordinator:
Doris van Halem
Period:2014-2019
Fungi - Increasing the utilization of organic waste and low value feeds with the help
of lignin degrading fungi
Project partners:
Wageningen University and Research Center
Funded by:
STW - Waste to Resource
TU coordinator:
Henri Spanjers
Period:2012-2016
GFSA
Project partners:
Paques, TU Delft
Funded by:
STW, Partnership program: “Partnership Paques - The VFA Platform”
TU coordinator:
Merle de Kreuk
Period:2013-2017
22
Current research grants
Hydraulic modelling of liquid-solid fluidisation in drinking water treatment processes
Project partners:
TU Delft, Waternet
Funded by:Waternet
TU coordinator:
Jan Peter van der Hoek
Period:2016 - 2020
Lightning
Project partners:
PoolwaterTreatment and Stichting Gorinchemse Sportaccomodaties
Funded by:
Agentschap NL - Innowater Program
TU coordinator:
Luuk Rietveld
Period:2010-2015
Integrated Filter Technology
Project partners:
Visser & Smit Hanab BV, Grontmij Nederland BV, TU Delft, Waterschap Veluwe
Funded by:
Agentschap NL - Innowater Program
TU coordinator:
Luuk Rietveld
Period:2010-2015
Integration and optimization of water, energy and material flows to achieve
sustainable urban solutions
Project partners:
TU Delft, Amsterdam Intitute of Advanced Metropolitan Solutions (AMS)
Funded by:
TU Delft, Amsterdam Intitute of Advanced Metropolitan Solutions (AMS)
TU coordinator:
Jan Peter van der Hoek
Period:2016 – 2018
Microbiologically safe drinking water
Project partners:
RCEES (China), Oasen, TU Delft
Funded by:NWO
TU coordinator:
Gertjan Medema
Period:2014-2015
NICHE-KEN 212
Project partners:
Pwani University Kenia, Q-point, K.I.Samen, DLV Dier, Egerton University
Funded by:
Nuffic
TU coordinator:
Bas Heijman
Period:2015-2018
OASIS
Project partners:
Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine (London), ) Commissariat a I’Energie Atomique
et aux Energies Alternatives (France), TU Delft, Stichting Deltares, ARIA Technologies S.A. (France),
METNEXT (France), PIK (Germany)
Funded by:KIC-Climate
TU coordinator:
Marie-Claire ten Veldhuis
Period:2012-2015
23
Research
Current research grants
OPTI-VFA
Project partners:
Attero, Optomeasures (France), Rikola (Finland), MTT Multantiv (Finland), MSI (Spain), Maris Projects,
VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland (Finland), CEIT (Spain), TU Delft
Funded by:EU
TU coordinator:
Henri Spanjers
Period:2013-2015
Propopi - Towards Pro-Poor Private Investments in water supply in Kota Bandung
Project partners:
Vitens-Evides-International (VEI), Simavi, PDAM-Bandung
Funded by:RVO
TU coordinator:
Bas Heijman
Period:2014-2019
PS Drink – Priority-setting System to assess emerging risks for safe Drinking water
supply
Project partners:
TU Delft, Universiteit Utrecht – Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, RIVM – National Institute for Public Health and the Environment
Funded by:
RIVM – National Institute for Public Health and the Environment
TU coordinator:
Jan Peter van der Hoek
Period:2016 - 2020
Puro
Project partners:
Logisticon, Haitjema, Waternet, Oasen
Funded by:
Agentschap NL - Innowater Program
TU coordinator:
Bas Heijman
Period:2010-2015
Quantifying Uncertainty in Integrated Catchment Studies (QUICS)
Project partners:
University of Sheffield, University of Bristol, TU Delft, CH2M Hill (formerly Halcrow), Wageningen
University, Justus-Liebig-University of Giessen, University of Coimbra, Public Research Centre Henri
Tudor, Eawag (Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology), Aquafin, Waterways srl,
Ruhr-Universitat Bochum, Witteveen+Bos, Universite Laval, CTGA - Technological Center for
Environmental Management
Funded by:
EU funded FP7 Marie Curie Initial Training Network (ITN)
TU coordinator:
Jeroen Langeveld/Marie-Claire ten Veldhuis
Period:2014-2018
RainGain
Project partners:
TU Delft, Provincie Zuid-Holland, Gemeentewerken Rotterdam, KU Leuven, Aquafin BV, Imperial
College London, MetOffice, ENPC/ParisTech, Local Government Floof Forum, Val de Marne County,
Seine-St Denis County, MeteoFrance, Veolia
Funded by:
Interreg IVB NWE
TU coordinator:
Marie-Claire ten Veldhuis
Period:2011-2015
24
Current research grants
Rain Sense
Project partners:
TU Delft, WUR, IBM, Cisco, Waternet, Deltares, KPN, future: Achmea
Funded by:
AMS, TU Delft (EWI & CiTG), WUR, and sponsors Waternet, IBM, KPN, Cisco, Deltares
TU coordinator:
Marie-Claire ten Veldhuis, Wouter Koole
Period:2014-2015
Set-up of the FIPAG Academy for Professional Development in Water and Sanitation
Project partners:
IHE-Delft (Lead), TU Delft, IRC Water and Sanitation Centre, UNESCO-HydroEX, Rand Water, Eduardo
Mondiane University
Funded by:
Nuffic/NICHE
TU coordinator:
Luuk Rietveld
Period:2012-2016
SewerSense - Multi-sensor condition assessment for sewer asset management
Project partners:
TU Delft, Leiden University
Funded by:
Technologiestichting STW
TU coordinator:
Lisa Scholten
Period:2016-2020
Shell ZLD research formulation
Project partners:
Shell
Funded by:Shell
TU coordinator:
Henri Spanjers
Period:2012 - 2015
STW valorisation grant
Project partners:
TU Delft, Elemental Water Makers, STW
Funded by:STW
TU coordinator:
Luuk Rietveld
Period:2014-2015
Sustainable fresh water and energy production for the Island of Johnny Cay
(Colombia)
Project partners:
Solteq Energy, Lenntech, Coralina, TU Delft
Funded by:
Transition Facility 2014, ODA subsidy, Education & Capacity building
TU coordinator:
Bas Heijman
Period:2014-2018
Sustainable fresh water supply in urbanizing Maputo, Mozambique
Project partners:
TU Delft, UNESCO-IHE, Universidade Eduardo Mondlane, Vitens-Evides-International, FIPAG, Royal
HaskoningDHV, Waterbedrijf Limburg, IRC
Funded by:
TU coordinator:
Luuk Rietveld
Period:2014-2018
25
Research
Current research grants
TAPES - Transnational Action Program on Emerging Substances
Project partners:
TU Delft, Waternet, Waterschap De Dommel, KWR, DVGW, Erftverband, VMW, University of Edinburgh
FNHW, VITO
Funded by:
Interreg IVB NWE
TU coordinator:
Jan Peter van der Hoek
Period:2013-2018
Thermal Energy Recovery from Drinking Water
Project partners:
TU Delft, Waternet
Funded by:
Waternet, Topsector Water TKI Watertechnology
TU coordinator:
Jan Peter van der Hoek
Period:2015-2019
VEWIN - Improving and broadening of the Dutch drinking water benchmark
Project partners:
Vewin, TU Delft (Faculty TBM), Dutch drinking water companies
Funded by:
Vewin (Association of Dutch water companies), PWN, Oasen, Waternet
TU coordinator:
Jan Peter van der Hoek
Period:2013-2018
Virus control - Enhanced elimination of viruses in household water treatment
processes
Project partners:
Unilever (UK & Hindustan), Berson UV, WLN, Wetsus, RIVM, TU Delft
Funded by:
TTI Watertechnologie
TU coordinator:
Gertjan Medema
Period:2012-2015
Water Institute Indonesia (WII)
Project partners:
Institut Teknologi Bandung, Directorat General of Human Settlements, Perpamsi, BPPSPAM, Stichting
Wateropleidingen
Funded by:
Agentschap NL - EVD Program
TU coordinator:
Bas Heijman
Period:2010-2015
WOTRO Subsurface arsenic removal
Project partners:
Free University Amsterdam, Wageningen University, Dhaka University, Bangladesh University of
Engineering and Technology
Funded by:
NWO - Wotro program
TU coordinator:
Doris van Halem
Period:2010-2015
Zeolites as novel adsorbent in water treatment (Zeotreat)
Project partners:
Oasen, Evides, PWN, HWL, TU Delft
Funded by:
TKI Watertechnolgie
TU coordinator:
Bas Heijman
Period:2015-2018
26
Academic staff
Head section Sanitary Engineering
Professor Environmental Engineering
/Wastewater Treatment
Room 4.57
[email protected]
+31 15 27 81 615
Prof. Dr. Ir. Jules van Lier
Head Water Management dept
Professor Urban Water Cycle and
Drinking Water Technology
Room 4.53
[email protected]
+31 15 27 84 732
Prof. Dr. Ir. Luuk Rietveld
Professor Sewerage
Room 4.65
Professor Water and Health
Room 4.63
[email protected]
+31 15 27 85 450
[email protected]
+31 15 27 89 128
Prof. Dr. Ir. Francois Clemens
Prof. Dr. Gertjan Medema
Professor Drinking Water
Engineering
Room 4.49
[email protected]
+31 15 27 85 227
Prof. Dr. Ir. Jan Peter van der Hoek
Associate professor Wastewater
Room 4.63
H.L.F.M. [email protected]
+31 15 27 89 128
Dr. Ir. Henri Spanjers
Assistant professor Sewerage
Room 4.65
[email protected]
+31 15 27 84 734
Dr. Ir. Marie-Claire ten Veldhuis
Assistant Professor Water &
Control
Room 4.95
[email protected]
Dr. Edo Abraham
Assistant professor Wastewater
Treatment
Room 4.61
[email protected]
+31 15 27 85 274
Dr. Ir. Merle de Kreuk
Associate professor Drinking
Water
Room 4.51
[email protected]
+31 15 27 84 282
Dr. Ir. Bas Heijman
Director Urban Drainage
Programme
Room 4.68
Assistant professor Drinking
Water
Room 4.48
[email protected]
+31 6 18 97 62 83
[email protected]
+31 15 27 86 588
Dr. Ir. Jeroen Langeveld
Dr. Ir. Doris van Halem
27
Research
Academic staff
Assistant professor Urban Water
infrastructure
Room 4.65 | 3.45
Postdoc
Room 4.68
[email protected]
+31 15 27 89 576
[email protected]
+31 15 27 81 734
Dr. Lisa Scholten
Ir. Mathieu Lepot
Assistant professor Water Quality
Modelling
Room 4.49
Postdoc
Room 4.61
[email protected]
+31 15 27 85 227
[email protected]
+31 15 27 87 174
Dr. Boris van Breukelen
Dr. ir. André Arsénio
Assistant Professor Resource
Recovery from Waste Water
Room 4.61
[email protected]
+31 15 27 82069
Dr. ir. Ralph Lindeboom
[email protected]
+31 15 27 88 578
Dr. ir. Matthieu Spekkers
Postdoc
Room 4.52
Postdoc
Room S3.02.041
[email protected]
+31 15 27 81 585
[email protected]
+31 15 27 82 231
Dr. ir. Maria Lousada Ferreira
Dr. Marjet Oosterkamp
Postdoc
Room 4.48
Postdoc
Room 4.44
[email protected]
+31 15 27 81 567
[email protected]
+31 15 27 81 567
Dr. ir. Annemarie Mink
Dr. ir. Ran Shang
Lab Technician
Room S3 0.03
Lab Technician
Room S3.02.010
[email protected]
+31 15 27 84 946
[email protected]
+31 15 27 89 894
Ing. Mohammed Jafar
28
Postdoc
Room 4.66
Armand Middeldorp
Academic
Academic staff
Academic staff
Lecturer
Room 4.48
Online education officer
Room 4.52
[email protected]
+31 15 27 87 490
[email protected]
+31 15 27 87894
Dr. Ir. Anke Grefte
Sabrina Kestens MSc
Executive Secretary
Room 4.78
Secretary
Room 4.55
[email protected]
+31 6 20 10 23 68
[email protected]
+31 15 27 81 812
Drs. Petra Jorritsma MSc
Mariska van der Zee
29
Research
Strategic programs
Sewerage and urban drainage research program
The Dutch urban drainage sector will be facing a number
performance. The research projects within this theme will
of significant challenges in the next decade. The sector
provide knowledge on the relation between the operation
has to deal with new issues such as climate change and
and maintenance strategy applied and overall system
priority pollutants, whilst at the same time there is a societal
performance. The main focus will be on the front end of
pressure on cutting cost levels, reducing CO2 emissions and
sewerage, being house connections and gully pots. This topic
nutrient recovery. In addition, there is an increasing lack of
is dealt with by ir. Johan Post. In addition, Marco van Bijnen
highly qualified personnel. This urged the sector to decide to
is doing research on the relation between the condition of
support the sewerage chair at Delft University of Technology,
the sewer system in terms of root intrusion and sediment
with the following objectives:
beds and hydraulic performance. Matthijs Rietveld started
•
an increase of the number of MSc students;
November 1st, 2016 with follow up research on risk based
•
an increase of the number of PhD students;
• fundamental
research
answering
the
sewer asset management.
observed
challenges.
Theme 3. Dynamics of sewer systems
Continuous monitoring of hydraulics and wastewater quality
Research program
is applied at a number of locations in the Netherlands. These
The research program comprises 4 themes, therewith
data open an enormous opportunity to study the dynamics of
covering the main challenges of the sewerage and urban
sewer systems itself and in relation with wwtps and receiving
drainage sector.
waters and to enhance the knowledge on in sewer processes.
Ir. Petra van Daal-Rombouts works on this topic, using the
Theme 1 Asset management
extensive database of Waterboard De Dommel and closely
In the Netherlands, each year € 600 million is spend on
cooperating with the Waterboard. Antonio Moreno Rodenas is
asset management or, more specifically, on sewer renovation
working on the uncertainties in integrated modelling.
and rehabilitation. Recent research has demonstrated visual
sewer inspections to be associated with significant uncertainty
Theme 4. Sustainable urban water cycle
and limited reproducibility. As these inspections are the main
Theme 4 focuses on research on new concepts for the urban
source of information used in sewer rehabilitation projects,
water cycle enabling energy recovery and reuse of materials.
these annual investments lack a profound basis. The
The main issue left to be dealt with is the conveyance of
research within this theme focuses on alternative sources
black water. Adithya Thota Radhakrishnan, M.Sc is the Phd
of information (or ways of working) in order to organize
student working on this theme within the STW funded project
the asset management in such a way that sewer system
Domestic Slurry Transport.
performance (serviceability) will be maintained at the desired
level. Laser scanning and core sampling have been tested as
Organization
alternative technology, verified by full scale testing of pipe
The research program is funded by partners from the Dutch
strength. In addition, a serious game has been developed to
urban drainage sector. Each contributor to the research
analyse the role of information quality and the influence of
program participates in this Program Committee. The Program
interactions between stakeholders. Nikola Stanic M.Sc and ir.
Committee advises the sewerage chair on the composition of
Wouter van Riel both successfully defended their PhD thesis
the research program. In addition, the members have the
in 2016. Their work will be succeeded by Eva Nieuwenhuis in
privilege to actively participate in the supervisory committees
the beginning of 2017.
of the research projects within the program and to provide
case studies.
Theme 2. Operation and maintenance
Operation and maintenance in sewer systems is driven by
The partners of the research program are (in alphabetical
local criteria, e.g. gully pots are typically cleaned once a
order):
year, irrespective of the type of sewer system (combined or
ARCADIS, Deltares, Gemeente Almere, Gemeente Arnhem,
storm sewer) and irrespective of the impact on sewer system
Gemeente Breda, Gemeente ’s-Gravenhage, Gemeentewerken
30
Strategic programs
Rotterdam, Gemeente Utrecht, GMB Rioleringstechnieken,
thus creating a solid base for the further development of this
KWR, Royal HaskoningDHV, Stichting RIONED, STOWA,
challenging research field.
Sweco, Tauw, Vandervalk & De Groot, Vitens, Waterboard
De Dommel, Waternet en Witteveen+Bos.
dr.ir. J.G. Langeveld (Jeroen)
Director Kennisprogramma Urban Drainage
The urban drainage research program started in 2010 with a
Associated professor Sewerage and Urban Drainage
5-year budget. Given the success of the program, in 2015 all
partners decided to prolonged their participation until 2020,
TU Delft cooperation Vitens in the field of drinking water
research
On 14 January 2011, the Faculty of Civil Engineering and
opinion that knowledge development for ‘Innovative
Geosciences (CEG) signed a contract in the field of water
water technology’ in the drinking water supply chain is
research.
an essential precondition for retaining the high quality
of drinking water both nationally and internationally. The
A cooperation was entered into with drinking water
research focuses on integral, sustainable approaches to
company Vitens in the field of drinking water research
the sub-fields of sources, purification and distribution.
and a new chair of Innovative Water Technology was
set up at the Faculty’s Water Management department.
The cooperation agreement coincided with the appointing
Vitens provides an annual, 200 k€ financial contribution
of two new part-time professors at the Drinking water
and TU Delft sees to staffing and facilities. The two
chair. Prof. dr. ir. Jan Peter van der Hoek MBA, director
parties signed the agreements in Delft during the 63rd
of Waternet, the Amsterdam water company’s strategic
Vakantiecursus [Summer Holiday Course], the Dutch
centre and Prof. dr. ir. Walter van der Meer lead the
water industry’s annual networking symposium, by Dean
drinking water research together with Prof. dr. ir. Luuk
Prof. ir. Louis de Quelerij, director of Stichting RIONED
Rietveld.
Hugo Gastkemper and chairman of the board of directors
ir. Rik van Terwisga of Vitens.
Vitens is the Netherlands largest drinking water company
and provides the provinces of Friesland, Overijssel,
Flevoland, Gelderland and Utrecht and a number of
municipalities in the provinces of Noord-Holland and
Drenthe with drinking water. Both parties are of the
31
Research
Strategic programs
Evides IW and TU Delft: Update on cooperation on
“Innovations in the Industrial Waterloop”
Evides IW
for application in the industry to compile know-how to
Next to drinking water, Evides water company is one of
optimize the industrial water loop and reduce its water
the largest suppliers of water & water services to the
footprint.
industry in the Netherlands. Evides Industry Water (EIW)
is acting as a full-service water partner to the industry,
The cooperation aims to establish a permanent base
providing a utility portfolio compiling: industrial water
with substantial expertise and know-how of the industrial
treatment (process and demineralised water), waste
water utility within the Delft University. In time this should
water treatment and integrated treatment (water reuse).
be aggregated into a professorship at the Delft University
In addition EIW designs, finances and operates their
in the field of knowledge of Industrial water treatment
custom-made water treatment plants. EIW is operating
and utilities. The enhancement of structural knowledge
water plants for all major (petro)chemical multinational
about the improvement of existing and development
companies and makes use of both proven technology as
of new technologies will add to the attractiveness of
well as innovative new process designs.
the water technology sector for young, well-educated
professionals.
Water Reuse
One of the mayor targets of EIW is to establish water
The cooperation will support MSc and PhD research
reuse and recycling. Closing the water loop has a positive
projects to develop technologies & solutions with
effect on the environment, as it reduces the industrial
superior performance in relation to (i) reduced energy
use of precious water resources, such as groundwater
footprint, (ii) maximized sustainable production of re-
and drinking water. Effluent water coming from waste
usable water and brine (concentrates) conversion (iii)
water treatment plants is a potential feedstock and
operational stability over substantial periods of time at
suited to apply as a source for the production of process
lowest operational expenses.
water. EIW has excellent experiences with the recycling
of wastewater for the production of process water in the
At present 2 PhD students are working in the framework
Netherlands, for example on the Dow Chemical Terneuzen
of this cooperation. Julian Munoz is researching the
site (reusing both industrial as well as municipal effluent
potentials for bio-treatment under extreme conditions,
to serve as process & demin water). The coming years
characterized
the water cycle of the site and its Terneuzen surroundings
salinity and high temperature. Franca Kramer is working
will even be further closed. This development is
on the use of ceramic nanofiltration for direct wastewater
supported by the results of the
EU FP7 E4Water
treatment and water reuse. 17 November 2015 David
project (completed 2016): ”Towards a paradigm shift
Moed defended his PhD thesis “Organic Contaminants
in the chemical industry to create a breakthrough in
and Treatment Chemicals in Steam-Water Cycles”.
industrial water treatment by enhanced reuse, recycling
In addition to the PhD students, several MSc students have
and valorization of complex wastewater”. For this case
performed their thesis research in the framework of
and other examples, see: www.evides.nl/en/industrial.
this cooperation. Joeri Legierse
by
refractory/toxic
compounds,
high
worked on closed
(domestic) water systems in the ‘Stadshavens’ project of
TUD-EIW Cooperation
Evides researching the potentials of ceramic membranes,
On May 24th-2011 TUDelft CiTG and Evides signed an
whereas
exclusive long-term cooperation aiming at a research
desalinisation using electro dialysis and capacitive de-
program focused on the industrial water utility. The
ionisation to prepare cooling water from blow down
research program is focusing on fundamental and
water and other sources. Mark Schetters researched
applied research into the water production, waste
the flocculation of activated sludge treating chemical
water treatment, reuse & zero discharge technologies
wastewaters under saline conditions. Currently, in the
32
Marleen
Heinekamp
worked
on
mild
Strategic programs
is investigating the phosphate limitation in industrial
Cooperation with Shell on Zero Liquid
Discharge Technology
waste water plants. In addition, under this cooperative
Shell is a new partner in our industrial water (reuse)
framework, Diana Brandao, researched the potential
programme with interest to optimize the Zero Liquid
for upgrading Harnaschpolder effluent to high-quality
Discharge (ZLD) technology and finding solutions for
surface water, combatting salt water intrusion in the
Produce Water in oil extraction wells. Basak Savun drafted
Westland area. The latter research was part of the “Delft
literature research reports in current ZLD technologies
Blue Water” pilot project focusing on water reuse, and
with focus on high quality salt production. In May 2015,
in the long run, full scale effluent water reuse from
the second phase of the project was started, focusing on
the Harnaschpolder sewage treatment plant. The main
the characterization of salt streams resulting from zero
activity of “Delft Blue Water” was conducting research on
liquid discharge systems in the petrochemical industry.
demonstration scale which focused on the production of
Within this project Niels van Linden is carrying out his
two different water qualities: high quality ground water
MSc research with emphasis on the dissolved sodium
& surface water and high quality greenhouse water. For
chloride recovery from brines for reuse purposes in a Zero
this case and reuse studies, see: www.delftbluewater.nl
Liquid Discharge system.
framework of her internship, Alexandra Prodanescu
Dunewater in the 21th century – Strategic cooperation
Dunea Duin en Water – TUD in the field of drinking water
research
On 9 October 2013 Dunea drinking water company and
the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences signed
a 4-year contract for strategic cooperation in the field of
of chlorine, on microbiological contamination.
▪▪
Preliminary research into the extension of the lifetime
of the transport system “Afgedamde Maas”.
drinking water research. In fact it is a continuation of
the previous contract. The cooperation covers the period
Dunea will contribute € 50,000 per year to support these
2013-2017 and focuses on four specific subjects:
researches.
▪▪
▪▪
▪▪
The effect of advanced oxidation processes on
managed aquifer recharge during the removal of
Dunea Duin en Water produces and distributes drinking
organic micro pollutants from drinking water.
water for over 1.2 million customers in the province Zuid-
Research into the effect of dune infiltration on the
Holland. The dunes near Scheveningen, Katwijk and
arsenic concentration, and research into methods
Monster are the centre of Dunea’s treatment process,
to reduce the increase during dune infiltration and
which enable the production of safe and reliable drinking
methods into removal of arsenic from drinking water.
water. Surface water from the Afgedamde Maas is
Research into the effect of flushing the drinking
Dunea’s main water source. After pretreatment this water
water distribution system, with and without the use
is transported to the dune area and infiltrated.
33
Research
Strategic programs
Waternet and TU Delft investigate innovation in water
cycle
On May 27 2008 ir. Roelof Kruize, CEO of Waternet,
has been assigned to perform these tasks by waterboard
and prof.ir. Louis de Quelerij, dean of the faculty of
Amstel, Gooi en Vecht and the city of Amsterdam. With
Civil Engineering and Geosciences of TU Delft signed a
Waternet’s ambition to shape the innovation in the water
strategic collaboration contract. The collaboration focuses
cycle and the expertise of TU Delft in the sectors of the
on research in innovation in the water cycle, particularly
water cycle, this collaboration is a logical next step.
on the sectors drinking water, waste water and water
systems.
The duration of the collaboration was, in first instance,
four years and still continues. The collaboration consists
Waternet is the first water cycle company in the
of MSc work of TU Delft students at Waternet, PhD
Netherlands. Waternet takes care of the entire water cycle:
research of employees of TU Delft and Waternet, post
from drinking water, sewerage and treatment of waste
doc research by employees of TU Delft at Waternet,
water to discharge of waste water effluent into surface
employees of Waternet doing their MSc (in part time) at
water. Furthermore, maintenance of ditches, lakes and
TU Delft and the use of the pilot installation at Leiduin as
ponds, advice during high ground water levels and dike
a “water cycle laboratory”.
supervision are part of the tasks of Waternet. Waternet
Strategic research collaboration HWL
TU Delft cooperates closely with Het Waterlaboratorium
Enduring relationship
(an
partnership
Het Waterlaboratorium invests 50,000 euro’s in this
agreement was signed on Thursday 11 March 2010 by
partnership annually. TU Delft and Het Waterlaboratorium
Marcel Tielemans, the director of Het Waterlaboratorium,
were already partners, but on a smaller scale. Both parties
and Prof. Louis de Quelerij, Dean of the Faculty of
continue this successful cooperation on a systematic
Civil Engineering and GeoSciences at TU Delft. Het
basis.
institute
for
water
research).
A
Waterlaboratorium makes funding available totalling
50,000 euro’s for innovative research into the detection
Het Waterlaboratorium
and removal of organic micro-pollutants in the urban
Het Waterlaboratorium specialises in high-quality advice
water cycle.
and research relating to water. The laboratory’s expertise
is available for all those who want to achieve perfect
Innovative research
water quality. Its customers are companies that supply
Cooperation brings benefits for both parties. Het
drinking water, but also include hospitals and health
Waterlaboratorium
institutions, the off-shore sector, municipal government,
benefits
from
easier
access
to
knowledge and research at the university, while TU Delft
gains access to the expertise of Het Waterlaboratorium
in the field of detecting and identifying organic micropollutants. Research themes include the presence
and behaviour of priority substances and emerging
substances within the urban water cycle, the behaviour
and selective removal of natural organic material, and the
quality of water in distribution networks. This research is
carried out both by staff at Het Waterlaboratorium and
by students, PhD researchers and postdoc researchers.
34
businesses and sports institutions.
Strategic programs
Collaboration Oasen Water company and TU Delft
Oasen water company and TU Delft collaborate in
Oasen water company and TU Delft were already working
research on drinking water engineering. Ir. Alexander
together, on drinking water research for some years.
Vos de Wael, CEO of Oasen water company, and Prof.ir.
With this strategic collaboration both organisations aim
Hans van Dijk, professor in Drinking Water Engineering
to have a more structured research relationship. The
at TU Delft, signed a collaboration agreement on June
collaboration has advantages for both organisations.
30, 2008.
Oasen water company has more access to knowledge
and research at the university. TU Delft has the possibility
Oasen Water company produces drinking water for
to execute applied research on pilot locations close to
750,000 customers and 7,200 companies in the eastern
Delft. Both organisations intend to do innovative research
part of the province of South-Holland. The supply area
on different aspects of the drinking water process. The
has an surface area of 1,115 km2. The head office of
research is carried out by employees of Oasen water
Oasen water company is located in Gouda.
company, PhD students and post docs from TU Delft.
Bron: Digidaan
35
Research
Strategic programs
TISCA: Cooperation Programme Technology Innovation for
Sewer Condition Assessment
Sewer systems and wastewater transport systems are
inspection technologies. In total 5 research projects have
vital parts of the urban wastewater infrastructure. In
been granted as part of the TISCA program, two of which
the Netherlands, like in many other countries in Europe,
have been granted to Jeroen Langeveld and one to Lisa
over 90 % of the population is served by the urban
Scholten.
wastewater infrastructure. Managing these assets is one
Lisa Scholten is responsible for the project SewerSense
of the main challenges for the municipalities and water
– Multi-sensor condition assessment for sewer asset
boards that own and operate these systems. In order
management.
to further develop and optimize asset management for
This project aims at four aspects of condition assessment:
urban wastewater infrastructures, it is essential to have
1) data acquisition, 2) validation of inspection technology,
sufficiently reliable information about the current status
3) a framework to assess the impacts of assessed sewer
of the assets.
condition and 4) prediction models. TU Delft and Leiden
During the last decades, CCTV inspection has been the
University will develop automated defect detection and
main source of information for the assessment of the status
classification diagnostics for CCTV and promising novel
of gravity sewers. For rising mains, generally having less
inspection techniques, such as laser profiling and stereo
capabilities to enable easy access during operation, the
vision camera’s. The framework will be adjusted to make
development of dedicated (non-destructive) inspection
a direct relation between condition assessment and
techniques is still at an early stage of development.
expected remaining service life.
Recent research at Delft University has demonstrated
Jeroen Langeveld is responsible for the projects FOULC:
that the information obtained by CCTV inspections
Fast Over-all scanning of Underground and Linear
is associated with high uncertainties and that this
Constructions and Geo-Electrical Sewer Leak Detection,
information is by definition limited to failure mechanisms
Quantification and Location.
accompanied by visible damage within the pipe. In order
The FOULC project aims at obtaining information on
to overcome these limitations, other methods, such as
some of the main functionalities of a sewer using non-
core sampling, laser profiling, tilt meters, have been
intrusive techniques. Several sensors will be positioned
tested as part of the ‘Kennisprogramma Urban Drainage
on a hoovercraft drone, that can move in partly filled
(KPUD) at Delft University of Technology. In order to
pipes. Information can be gathered in-situ to quantify the
speed up the process of technology development for
actual hydraulic capacity, the presence and the amount
sewer inspection, the KPUD, RIONED and STOWA have
of sediments and biofilm, detailed 3D information on the
set up the TISCA programme in cooperation with STW.
actual sewer geometry and information on the locations
where and the amount of infiltrating groundwater. The
The programme budget amounts to a maximum of € 3
development of this sensor platform is dedicated to sewer
million. The financial resources for this programme come
systems, but the application is not limited to sewers
from Technology Foundation STW (€ 1,5 million), KPUD
since it can also be applied for obtaining information on
(€ 0,75 million), RIONED (€ 0,5 million) and STOWA (€
hydraulic capacity of and the presence of sediments in
0,25 million).
ditches and canals.
The researchers in TISCA will cooperate very closely with
the researchers in the KPUD. Part of the programme are
monthly TISCA days, which will comprise colloquia to
exchange ideas and results, working sessions on specific
topics, (in-)formal meetings with fellow PhD students and
meetings with the user groups and user committees.
The main focus of TISCA is on solutions for a coherent
methodology for the (partly in-situ) condition assessment
of sewers. Or, in other words, the next generation of sewer
36
Strategic programs
The leak detection project addresses leakage, which is
one of main causes of failures of pressure mains and
the nightmare of sewer operators in areas where ground
water is used as a source for drinking water production.
Leaks occur due to ageing of our underground wastewater
infrastructure, leakage of sewers and pressure mains and
subsequent infiltration or exfiltration (I/E) is becoming an
increasingly important issue. In order to be able to deal
with leakage, sewer operators need to be able to detect,
quantify and locate I/E. The project focusses on exploring
the potential of geo-electrical monitoring: Self Potential
monitoring and Electrical Resistivity Tomography in the
soil and Focused Electrode Leak Location from within the
sewer to detect, quantify and locate leaks.
Dr. ir. J.G. Langeveld (Jeroen)
Director Kennisprogramma Urban Drainage
Associated professor Sewerage and Urban Drainage
37
Research
Strategic programs
PROPOPI Towards Pro-poor private investments in water
supply in Kota Bandung
PROPOPI is a project of the water company of Bandung
▪▪
PROPOPI leads to an enabling environment for
PDAM in cooperation with, Vitens Evides International
attracting
B.V., Delft University of Technology and Simavi. The
provision in Bandung. This means that all parts of the
overall goal is to improve water supply (pro-poor access
supply value chain are to generate positive returns
and quality) in Bandung, Indonesia. The most important
result will be the production and distribution of drinking
(private)
investors
to
water
supply
on investment.
▪▪
Social context: sense of ownership amongst poor
water to an additional 35.000 people in Bandung, the
consumers; sense of priority for improving pro
building of 120 public stand posts serving 12.000 poor
poor access among water utility staff and other
people located in 12 currently inadequately supplied
stakeholders;
neighbourhoods.
Result 4 Improvement of distribution and access
Investments and in kind contributions are provided
▪▪
Implementation of DMAs
by PDAM Kota Bandung, VEI, TU Delft and Simavi.
▪▪
Planning and construction of public stand posts (poor
Further, the project is supported by a subsidy from the
communities)
Netherlands Enterprise Agency RVO through the ‘Fonds
▪▪
Training/capacity building
Duurzaam Water’ (‘Sustainable Water Fund’).
▪▪
Plan and construct 45 km of new pipeline to
The initial activities for the project started in 2015. The
connect inadequately served neighbourhoods to the
distribution network.
project is intended to be completed by 31 December 2018.
The project is devided in the following workpackages:
▪▪
▪▪
Demonstrate how water utilities can create enough
capacity to successfully mobilise private investments.
Result 1 Inception Phase
Quickscan existing situation with respect to treatment
and distribution
▪▪
Business case: Lower non-revenue water levels by
20%.
Dr. Ir. Rusnandi Garsadi
Result 2 Improvement of production
Dr. Ir. Bas Heijman
▪▪
Assessment WTP processes and operations
▪▪
Determine improvement actions, measures
▪▪
Investments for improvement
▪▪
Operation and maintenance systems and procedures
▪▪
Training/capacity building
▪▪
Water demand study
▪▪
Improvement
and
optimization
of
the
water
treatment plants at Badaksinga as design capacity
1000 & 800 l/sec , Total actual capacity 1500 l/sec,
possibility improve to 2500 l/sec, by Micro Hydraulic
Water Treatment technology (TU Delft – ITB), target
capacity minimal 25% increasing.
Result 3 Community awareness and participation
▪▪
Strategy on community awareness and participation
▪▪
Seminars/workshops with relevant institutional actors
▪▪
Preparation of information and education materials
▪▪
Training/workshops for facilitators
▪▪
Creating awareness and ownership as well as
behavioural changes of (prospective) end users.
38
Strategic programs
TU Delft en Turkije continueren samenwerking
afvalwaterbehandeling
De Turkse overheid stelt opnieuw beurzen beschikbaar
Beurzen
aan Turkse promovendi om aan de TU Delft onderzoek
De drie promovendi kregen een beurs van de Turkse
te verrichten naar afvalwaterbehandelingstechnologieën.
overheid om aan de TU Delft onderzoek te verrichten.
Dat gaf de Turkse ambassadeur in Nederland 21
Van Lier zet de belangrijkste resultaten op een rij. “Het
oktober aan na afloop van een workshop over anaerobe
onderzoek van Hale Özgün, richtte zich op de productie
membraanbioreactoren bij de TU Delft waarbij drie Turkse
van
promovendi hun onderzoeksresultaten presenteerden.
afvalwater.
nutriëntenrijk
Daarvoor
irrigatiewater
gebruikte
uit
zij
huishoudelijk
een
anaerobe
bioreactor met geïntegreerde membranen.
De workshop bij de TU Delft is de voorlopige kroon op het
Het voordeel van haar aanpak is dat er geen energie voor
werk van drie Turkse promovendi die vier jaar geleden
beluchting nodig is. Ook kun je met deze technologie de
met het AMBROSIUS-project zijn gestart en die op 20
ziekteverwekkende organismen uit het afvalwater filteren
oktober achter elkaar de doctorstitel behaalden. Professor
om zo alleen waardevolle nutriënten voor irrigatie over
Afvalwaterzuivering / Milieutechnologie Jules van Lier
te houden.”
van de TU Delft en promotor van de drie promovendi is
hier vanaf de start bij betrokken. “Doel van het project
Industrie
was om kosteneffectieve oplossingen voor anaerobe
De
membraantechnologieën in kaart te brengen. Ook keken
onderzocht samen met Biothane Veolia hoe diverse
de promovendi naar de herbruikbaarheid van het effluent
industriële afvalwaterstromen zich in een anaerobe
in de industrie en in de landbouw voor irrigatie.”
membraanbioreactor gedragen. Van Lier wijst erop
tweede
promovendus,
Recep
Kaan
Dereli,
V.l.n.r.: Prof İzzet Öztürk (ITU), Dr. Henri Spanjers, Dr. Evren Erşahin, Mr. Sadık Arslan (Turkish Ambassador in the
Netherlands), Prof. Jules van Lier, Dr. Hale Özgün, Dr. Kaan Dereli, Prof. İsmail Koyuncu (ITU)
39
Research
Strategic programs
dat Biothane Veolia bezig is om deze technologie te
Voortzetting
vermarkten. “Zo staat er bij Mars in Veghel sinds twee
Vijftig
jaar een waterzuiveringsinstallatie die gebruik maakt van
van bedrijven zoals Royal HaskoningDHV, Pentair en
de anaerobe Memthane technologie. Biothane Veolia
Nijhuis
wilde vooral inzicht krijgen in hoeverre afvalwaterstromen
van universiteiten uit binnen-en buitenland, volgden
uit diverse industriële sectoren de bedrijfsvoering van
met veel belangstelling de workshop waarin de drie
zo’n waterzuiveringsinstallatie beïnvloedt.”
promovendi
genodigden,
Water
waaronder
Technology,
hun
vertegenwoordigers
evenals
representanten
onderzoeksresultaten
toelichtten.
De Turkse ambassadeur in Nederland, Sadik Arslan,
Afvalwater
gaf in zijn toespraak aan dat de Turkse overheid de
Zo keek Recep Kaan Dereli onder meer naar het afvalwater
samenwerking met de TU Delft graag wil continueren.
van een bedrijf dat mais verwerkt om er vervolgens bio-
Van Lier: “Inmiddels zijn er weer toptalenten van de
energie van te maken. Van Lier benadrukt dat het afvalwater
Istanbul Technical University geselecteerd voor een beurs
dat bij het proces vrijkomt lastig is te behandelen met
om aan de TU Delft onderzoek te verrichten. De eerste
conventionele waterzuiveringstechnologieën. “Daarvoor
promovendi komen binnenkort naar Nederland.”
zijn meerdere zuiveringsstappen nodig die in de praktijk
veel geld kosten. Het onderzoek van Recep Kaan Dereli
heeft Biothane Veolia meer inzicht gegeven in de manier
waarop het bedrijf zijn anaerobe membraanbioreactoren
het beste kan instellen voor optimale zuiveringsresultaten
van lastig te behandelen industriële afvalwaterstromen.”
Textiel
Mustafa Evren Ersahin, de derde promovendus, kwam er
tijdens zijn onderzoek achter dat textiel met een laagje
biomassa niet alleen veel goedkoper is, maar net zo
effectief is als een kostbaar membraan. Van Lier: “Daarbij
maakte hij gebruik van een speciaal soort textiel van
Lampe Technical Textiles in Sneek. Hij slaagde erin om op
het textiel een laagje biomassa te laten groeien dat in de
praktijk net zo goed als een membraan werkt. Bovendien
zijn er geen chemische coatings nodig.”
Toepassing
Van Lier wijst er op dat de Turkse overheid de resultaten
van de promovendi in de praktijk gaat toepassen. “Een
van de deelnemers aan de workshop is niet alleen
hoogleraar aan een Turkse universiteit, maar werkt tevens
voor het Turkse ministerie van Milieu. Hij gaf aan dat de
overheid met de resultaten van Hale Özgun en Mustafa
Evren Ersahin aan de slag gaat bij diverse communale
waterzuiveringen.”
40
Awards
Jaap van der Graaf award 2015/2016
Op 8 januari 2016 is tijdens de 68e Vakantiecursus ‘Water
toegekend en bestaat uit een geldbedrag van 5.000 euro
in de Stad’ van de afdeling Watermanagement van de
en een glasobject.
TU Delft de Jaap van der Graaf-prijs uitgereikt. De prijs
wordt toegekend aan een student of onderzoeker die in
Artikelen dienen te voldoen aan de volgende voorwaarden:
het voorgaande jaar het beste Engelstalige artikel over de
• het onderwerp betreft de stedelijke watercyclus
stedelijke watercyclus schreef.
(drinkwater, afvalwater en riolering) en draagt bij aan de
Het winnende artikel van André Marques Arsénio en
profilering van de Nederlandse expertise op dit gebied;
mede-auteurs is gepubliceerd in het blad ‘Structure and
•
Infrastructure Engineering’ en is getiteld ‘Pipe failure
of is werkzaam binnen de Nederlandse beroeps-praktijk;
de auteur studeert aan een Nederlandse universiteit
predictions in drinking water systems using satellite
•
observations’.
werkzaam is binnen de Nederlandse beroepspraktijk,
De jury beoordeelde in totaal 52 artikelen, waarvan
geldt dat het onderzoek in Nederland moet hebben
het niveau hoog was en erg dichtbij elkaar lag. Tijdens
plaatsgevonden;
de Vakantiecursus werden de drie genomineerden
•
en de winnaar bekendgemaakt. De jury heeft bij de
peer reviewed tijdschrift;
beoordeling vooral gelet op vijf criteria: maatschappelijke
•
bijdrage, innovatie, toepasbaarheid op korte/middellange
De onafhankelijke jury bestond dit jaar uit prof.dr.ir.
termijn, wetenschap en taal. De artikelen die door twee
Jules van Lier (TU Delft/Unesco-IHE, voorzitter), prof.
of meer juryleden in de top 10 genoemd waren, zijn
dr.ir. Gertjan Medema (TU Delft/KWR Water), dr.ir.
opnieuw bekeken. De jury koos het artikel van Arsénio
Jelle Roorda (Evides), dr.ir. Jasper Verberk (Evides), ir.
als winnaar, met name gezien de maatschappelijke
Ad de Man (Waterschapsbedrijf Limburg), ir. Fred de
relevantie van leidingonderhoud en het voorspellen van
Bruijn (Witteveen+Bos), dr.ir. Arjen van Nieuwenhuijzen
leidingbreuken. De jury identificeert het vervangen van
(Witteveen+Bos), en dr.ir. Hardy Temmink (WUR/
(drinkwater)leidingen als dé opgave van de komende
Wetsus).
indien de auteur ten tijde van publicatie niet (meer)
het Engelstalige artikel is in 2015 gepubliceerd in een
het onderwerp is in de praktijk toepasbaar.
decennia. Daarbij zijn de resultaten simpel te vertalen
naar onderhoud van andere leidingnetwerken, zoals
gasleidingen of rioolsystemen.
Arsénio heeft zijn MSc behaald in Biological Engineering
aan het Instituto Superior Técnico (Lisboa, Portugal) en
promoveerde aan de TU Delft, sectie Sanitary engineering
in 2013 (proefschrift getiteld ‘Lifetime prediction of PVC
push-fit joints’). Sinds 2014 is hij verbonden aan de
TU Delft als post-doc binnen het project ‘Sustainable
freshwater supply in Maputo, Mozambique’ een vijf jaar
durend project gefinancierd door NWO en WOTRO in het
kader van het overkoepelende project Urbanizing Deltas
of the World’.
De Jaap van der Graaf-prijs is op initiatief van ingenieursen adviesbureau Witteveen+Bos ingesteld in 2009 toen
Van der Graaf terugtrad als hoogleraar in de Behandeling
van Afvalwater aan de TU Delft. Jaap van der Graaf
was van 1988 tot 2003 algemeen directeur van het
ingenieursbureau uit Deventer. De prijs wordt jaarlijks
41
Research
Awards
Vidi for Merle de Kreuk: the effects of suspended solids on
granular sludge
NWO has awarded 800,000 euros to ten TU Delft
This meant that, in theory, there was an alternative for
researchers. They include Merle de Kreuk and her
the large sedimentation basins required for conventional
research into the effects of suspended solids on granular
sewage purification plants, in which the bacteria grow in
sludge. Vidis are awarded to experienced researchers
flocs that do not settle so readily. However, managing
who have conducted a number of years of successful
a process in a small 3-litre reactor in a laboratory is
research after receiving their PhD. Vidi grants enable
one thing; converting it into an effective, profitable
researchers to conduct five years of research and develop
type of sewage purification plant is quite another. It is
their own, innovative research lines.
a classic feat of engineering: developing and upscaling
a technically rational invention into an installation that
Merle on this subject: ‘I want to see and comprehend what
works in practice and can be applied, preferably in an
bacteria do to the colloidal fraction and decomposable
economically sustainable way, with effluent that is slightly
particles in granular systems, in (an)aerobic processes. I
cleaner and with a view to wider social acceptance.
want to unravel the granules and their components - cells,
polymers, enzymes. If fundamental research enables you
This challenge, the process from invention to practical
to understand exactly what is going on, the opportunity
application, turned out to be something De Kreuk was cut
exists that you may be able to devise different, smarter
out to do. ‘I did environmental hygiene at Wageningen
processes.’
University and after graduating I immediately started a
job at IHC Holland. I was the only woman in the shipyard.
Elected Simon Stevin Fellow, finalist for the European
I advanced quite quickly up the career ladder but always
Inventor Award, awarded the Jaap van der Graaf Prize...
felt that I really wanted to do research and take my PhD.
Before the awarding of the Vidi Merle de Kreuk had
In 2000, I came into contact with Mark van Loosdrecht
already been honoured for her prior work on the Nereda
(Professor of environmental biotechnology) when he
waste water treatment system. This technology enables
was looking for someone who could work out the proof
the treatment of domestic waste water using 25% less
of principle for the aerobic granular sludge reactor. It
energy and taking up 75% less space.
really appealed to me: the chance to put something into
practice.’
The fact that aerobic bacteria (‘requiring oxygen’) are able
to convert the carbon and nitrates from sewage water
into CO2 and nitrogen gas and that these bacteria can
grow in granules, making it easier to separate biomass
from the purified water, had already been proven in the
laboratory.
42
Awards
Cees Boeter Prijs 2016
Ook dit jaar is de Cees Boeter prijs weer uitgereikt voor
Het Bachelor Eind Project wat er voor de jury boven
het beste BSc eindwerk.
uitstak had een zeer sterke wiskundige basis, een
De Cees Boeter prijs voor het beste BSc eindwerk op
indrukwekkende hoeveelheid gegevens, en dat allemaal
het gebied van Watermanagement is ingesteld door
zeer goed opgeschreven in het Engels. De student die dit
de afdeling Watermanagement van de faculteit Civiele
project heeft afgerond is Luc Koppens, en hij is dan ook
Techniek en Geowetenschappen van de TU Delft en heeft
de winnaar van de Cees Boeter Prijs 2016!
een tweeledig doel:
▪▪
Het stimuleren van studenten tot het leveren van
prestaties van hoog academisch niveau.
▪▪
Daar
waar
mogelijk
het
bevorderen
van
de
toepassing van de resultaten van de eindwerken in
de beroepspraktijk
Criteria voor het beoordelen van de eindwerken zijn de
breedte en diepgang van het werk, de originaliteit, de
bruikbaarheid van de resultaten en het niveau van de
rapportage en presentatie.
Aan de “Cees Boeter Prijs” is een geldbedrag verbonden
van €250,00.
Genomineerden voor 2016
Dit jaar waren er vier genomineerden:
• Cömert en Niek van de Koppel werkten aan een
project rond moisture recycling in China en Australië.
• Koppens rondde een project over bodemvocht
succesvol af.
•
Bouhnouf heeft het grondwater in Delft aangepakt.
Alle studenten hebben blijk gegeven van inzicht in de
materie die ze bestudeerd hebben. Verder hebben ze
allemaal theorie en toepassing weten te koppelen, en
hebben ze het goed en toegankelijk op weten te schrijven.
43
Research
Awards
Gijs Oskam Award 2016
Marij Zwart, werkzaam bij Evides, won de Gijs Oskam
prijs met haar scriptie over energie uit afvalwater. Voor
de Gijs Oskam prijs komen jonge ademici in aanmerking
recent zijn afgestudeerd op het gebied van de Stedelijke
Watercyclus. De aanmoedigingsprijs van 2500 euro moet
jonge onderzoekers/ingenieurs een extra stimulans
geven.
The Best Thesis of Istanbul Technical University” of 2015
The thesis of Hale Özgün, Anaerobic Membrane
Bioreactors for Cost-Effective Municipal Water Reuse,
was selected in Turkye as the best Thesis of 2015 of the
Istanbul Technical University
Prof. J.P. van der Hoek appointed as Pricipal Investigator
at AMS -Postdoc position available for 1 year
In September 2016 the board of the Amsterdam Institute
As AMS Principle Investigator he received a TU Delft
for Advanced Metropolitan Solutions (AMS) has appointed
strategic
Professor Jan Peter van der Hoek as Principal Investigator
“Integration and optimization of water, energy and
for a period of two years.
material flows to achieve sustainable urban solutions”.
AMS is the institute in Amsterdam, founded in 2014 and
The fellowship consists of the salary costs for one post-
supported by the City of Amsterdam, in which Technische
doctoral researcher for one year, starting as soon as
Universiteit Delft, Wageningen University Research and
possible, complemented with a budget for travel costs.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, together with
partners from the public and private sector, work on three
specific themes: Circular City – Vital City – Connected
City.
44
research
support
grant
for
the
project
Annual report 2016
Individual Projects
45
Individual Projects
Annelies Aarts
Uncertainty of phenomenological models applied to full
scale wastewater treatment filters
Research objectives
was well presented by Gaussian copula (Kurowicka and
The aim of the research is to identify and quantify sources
Cooke, 2004), the BN was used for sensitivity analysis.
of uncertainty of phenomenological models when applied to
Nodes that contributed most to uncertainty, i.e. nodes
full scale wastewater treatment systems in order to evaluate
that were strongest correlated to the model fit errors,
reliable use of the models for optimization projects.
were identified.
Project outline
Results
Introduction
The most important result was that the model of Iwasaki
Many phenomenological models were developed to
et al. (1937) described well the solids removal process.
describe particle deposition and head loss in deep bed
The main part of model output uncertainty was found
filters. However, few filter optimization studies were
to be measurement uncertainty. Only during (heavy)
published that include these models. An important
rain events, higher uncertainty was calculated. Here,
reason might be that authors claimed that simplified
the solids and phosphate concentration of the secondary
phenomenological models such as the solids removal
effluent that entered the tertiary treatment filter, and the
models proposed by Iwasaki et al. (1937) and the head
dosage of coagulants were identified as contributing most
loss models developed by Carman (1937) and Mays
to model output uncertainty.
and Hunt (2005) are not able to describe the full scale
The uncertainty of the hydraulic models of Carman (1937)
filtration installations.
and Mays and Hunt (2005) was higher, especially for
Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the
subdatasets where coagulants were used. As parameter
uncertainty
models
uncertainty was found to contribute to uncertainty despite
applied to deep bed filters of a tertiary treatment system.
the local calibration scheme, calibration in windows
of
simplified
phenomenological
smaller than three hours should decrease model output
Approach
uncertainty. Sources of model structure uncertainty were
First, the models of Iwasaki et al. (1937), Carman (1937)
mainly found in the solids concentration of the secondary
and Mays and Hunt (2005) were used to model solids
effluent, water temperature and the flow itself.
removal and decrease of flow rate of a variable declining
rate filtration installation. The models were calibrated
Scientific relevance
within windows of three hours based on full scale data
This work contributes to correct understanding and
from the wastewater treatment plant of Harderwijk. After
interpretation of the uncertainty of well-known filtration
calibration, the model fit error which is the difference
models by using founded mathematical methods such as
between the modelled output and the measured
Bayesian Networks.
value, was calculated. The errors quantified the output
uncertainty of the phenomenological models.
Social relevance
Correct interpretation of model uncertainty allows using
Second, the marginal distribution of the model fit errors,
the calibration parameters and the operational variables
was calculated. A joint distribution was constructed from
the included marginal distributions. As such, a Bayesian
Network (BN) was built. Such network connects the
variables, parameters and model fit errors as nodes to
each other and contains information about (conditional)
rank correlations between the nodes of the network.
Third, after validation of the assumption that the BN
46
models to optimize wastewater treatment technologies.
Annelies Aarts
Literature
Carman, P. 1937. Fluid flow through granular beds. Chem Eng Res Des,
75:32–48.
Cooke, R. M., Kurowicka, D., Hanea, A. M., Morales, O., Ababei, D.
A., Ale, B., and Roelen, A. 2007. Continuous/discrete non parametric
Bayesian belief nets with unicorn and Uninet.
Iwasaki, T., J. J. Slade, J., and Stanley, W. E. 1937. Some notes on sand
filtration. American Water Works Association, 29(10):1591–1602.
Mays, D. and Hunt, J. 2005. Hydrodynamic aspects of particle clogging
in porous media. Environmental Science and Technology, 39(2):577–
584.
Delft University of Technology
Faculty of Civil Engineering
Water Management Department
Sanitary Engineering Section
E-mail: [email protected]
www.sanitaryengineering.tudelft.nl
Postal address:
P.O. BOX 5048
2600 GA Delft
Visiting address:
Stevinweg 1
2611 CN Delft
Building of Civil Engineering
Figure 1. Example of a Bayesian Network with all nodes connected to each
other
Start date project: Jun 2010
Expected end date: 2017
Key words:
Models, uncertainty, wastewater
Cooperation with other institutes:
BWA/Brightworks, Grontmij,
Visser&Smith Hanab,
Waterschape Veluwe, Waterschap
de Dommel
47
Individual Projects
Jawairia Imtiaz Ahmad
Biostability in Drinking water distribution networks
(DWDN) during and after Thermal Energy Recovery
Research objectives
Scientific relevance
The aim of the current research is to determine the
The
impacts of thermal energy recovery on microbiological
distribution network vulnerable
quality and biostability of drinking water in distribution
bacterial communities. Theimpact may also be the
network. The study will also focus on determining
opposite for some microbes which cannot compete at
the maximum allowable temperature change without
high temperatures. This is one of the questions to be
compromising the biostability and microbiological quality
solved: TER either will enhance the growth of microbial
after thermal energy recovery (TER).
communities in the system or it will increase the microbial
thermal
energy
recovery
might
make
the
for growth of some
quality of drinking water in DWDN. The current study is
Project outline
trying to fill this knowledge gap in field of drinking water
Introduction
supplies and biostability of water.
Climate Change is happening and it results into temperature
changes globally and also at regional and local levels. It
Social relevance
is also impacting the water bodies, as reported in the
Reducing carbon emissions is the human responsibility
IPCC AR5. It is strongly agreed that fresh water resources
to save earth from climate change. The supply of safe
will be negatively impacted by climate change, resulting
and wholesome drinking water to masses of population
in reduced water quality. These risks will occur due to
is also the core responsibility of drinking water utilities.
increased temperature, sediment and nutrient load due to
This research is trying to correlate/link both goals by
heavy rainfalls, which cause malfunctioning of treatment
extracting the TER from DWDN under the condition
plants (Cisneros et al. 2014). But every threat comes
which cannot compromise biostability and microbiological
with an opportunity. In the same manner the water sector
quality of the drinking water.
has a huge potential to contribute in lessening the impacts
of climate change by reducing CO2 emissions from its
Literature
processes. Because water contains a lot of energy, both
Douterelo, I., Sharpe, R.L. & Boxall, J.B. (2013). Influence
thermal and chemical energy, recovery of this energy and
of hydraulic regimes on bacterial community structure
using it as an alternative for fossil fuel will reduce CO2
and composition in an experimental drinking water
emissions (Van der Hoek 2012). But the changes in water
distribution system. Water Res. 47, 503-516.
temperature may effect the microbiological, physical and
Elias-Maxil
chemical properties of water during distribution ( McNeill
L.(2014). Energy in the urban water cycle: Actions to
& Edward, 2002). It was highly observed that frequency
reduce the total expenditure of fossil fuels with emphasis
abundance of many dominant phyla in DWDN increased in
on heat reclamation from urban water. Renewable and
summer and in extreme winter conditions. Apart from this
sustainable energy reviews 30: 808-820.
some opportunistic pathogens do exist in DWDN under
Frijns, J., Hofman, J., and Nederlof, M. (2013). The
favourable temperature conditions above 25oC (Pinto et
potential of (waste)water as energy carrier. Energy
al. 2014; Chakhtoura et al. 2015; Hammes et al. 2010).
conversion and Management. 65, 357-363.
JA, Van der Hoek JP, Hofman J, Rietveld
J. El-Chakhtoura, E.I. Prest, P. Saikaly, M.C.M. van
Approach
The current study
Loosdrecht, F. Hammes, J.S. Vrouwenvelder (2015).
is carried out both at bench scale
Dynamics of bacterial communities before and after
and full scale distribution networks with a thermal
distribution in a full-scale drinking water network. Water
energy recovery system to evaluate the impacts of TER
Research 74, 180-190.
on biostability and microbiological water quality under
Microbial growth in Drinking-water supplies; problems,
different process regimes.
causes, control and research needs. 2014 IWA Publishing.
Edited by Van der Kooij D & Van der Wielen P W J.J. 2014.
48
Jawairia Imtiaz Ahmad
Van der Hoek JP. (2012). Towards a Climate neutral water cycle. Journal
of Water and Climate Change.
Van der Hoek, JP. (2011). Energy from the water cycle: a promising
combination to operate climate neutral. Water Science and Technology,
6(2):1–2.
Delft University of Technology
Faculty of Civil Engineering
Water Management Department
Sanitary Engineering Section
E-mail: [email protected]
www.sanitaryengineering.tudelft.nl
Postal address:
P.O. BOX 5048
2600 GA Delft
Visiting address:
Stevinweg 1
2611 CN Delft
Building of Civil Engineering
Start date project: May 2015
Expected end date: May 2019
Key words:
Thermal energy recovery,
Drinking water distribution
network, Biostability, Microbial
water quality
Cooperation with other institutes:
Waternet, TKI
49
Individual Projects
Lina Bachert
Review of virus reduction by metals and nanometals for
water treatment
Research objectives
(dataset). One dataset described one virus applied with
The main objective of this study was to review
one metal application (Figure 1).
publications addressing reduction of human pathogenic
viruses and/ or bacteriophages in water by metals alone
with major focus on silver and copper and in combination
with disinfectants.
Project outline
Introduction
Approximately 1.7 million cases including 760,000 child
deaths under the age of five years and a significant
number of illnesses annually are primarily attributed to
diarrheal diseases due to poor hygiene and inadequate
access to safe and clean drinking water and sanitation
facilities [1, 2]. Waterborne viruses, such as rotavirus
and hepatitis E virus (HEV) are major agents of diarrheal
diseases and are persistent for long periods in the aquatic
environment [3, 4]. To address this health risk, household
water treatment and safe storage (HWTSS) systems may
improve and protect drinking water quality from enteric
viruses and contribute to the reduction of diarrheal
disease
transmission.
Numerous
HWTSS
systems
include conventional disinfection methods such as UV
light and chlorine, however, some enteric viruses are
highly resistant and thereby not effectively inactivated
by conventional disinfectants alone [5, 6]. Metals such
as silver and copper have emerged in water disinfection
applications for their antiviral effects. Significant interest
has also arisen in the use of metal nanoparticles. In
combination with other existing technologies such as UV
light or membranes, metals and metal nanoparticles have
been demonstrating strong synergistic effects to enhance
disinfection [7-9].
Approach and results
A systematic literature search was performed for
Figure 1. Distribution of datasets on applications of
(A) silver and (B) copper in function of virus species
(white=pathogenic viruses, gray=bacteriophages;
dotted=filters and/or mebranes, grid=nanoparticles,
upward diagnol=ions, vertical=surfaces, dashed
horizontal=coagulants)
publications addressing the primary outcome of virus
Scientific relevance
reduction by metals in water by combined disinfection
This review demonstrated that silver and copper have a
treatments. Publications were searched with relevant
potential as alternative disinfectants in water treatment,
search terms that combined selected viral pathogens
mainly in combination with other disinfectants, e.g. in
and terms describing process selections. The systematic
multi-barrier approach. The individual use of the metal
literature search identified 1,375 publications based on
ions and nanoparticles apparently showed minor antiviral
the search terms. Application of specified selection criteria
activities for water treatment compared to conventional
yielded 69 publications from which data were extracted
disinfectants. The most efficient applications of silver
50
Lina Bachert
as an alternative disinfectant were in combination with irradiation and
immobilized in structures and membranes. Copper in conjunction with
conventional disinfectants such as hydrogen peroxide showed enhanced
disinfection efficacy in many publications.
Social relevance
This review demonstrated that pathogenic virus studies are needed which
display true viral reduction. For example, rotavirus, HEV, and norovirus
are of utmost concern in developing countries. No publication was found
that included HEV or norovirus against metals and nanometals. Only
a few datasets were obtained for rotavirus. Effective technologies for
household water treatment and safe storage (HWTSS) systems improve
and protect water quality from fecal contamination and contribute to the
reduction of diarrheal disease transmission. The WHO estimates that
6-90% of diarrheal diseases can be prevented by using HWTSS systems
for the production of safe and clean drinking water depending on the
technology, exposed population and local conditions [10].
Literature
World Health Organization. Diarrhoeal disease. 2013 [cited 2014 November 26,
2014]; Available from: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs330/en/.
United Nations Children’s Fund, Pneumonia and diarrhoea: Tackling the deadliest
diseases for the world’s poorest children. 2012, UNICEF: New York, NY.
Lopes-João, A., et al., Multiple enteropathogenic viruses in a gastroenteritis
outbreak in a military exercise of the Portuguese Army. Journal of Clinical
Virology, 2015. 68: p. 73-75.
Rodríguez-Lázaro, D., et al., Virus hazards from food, water and other
contaminated environments. FEMS Microbiology Reviews, 2012. 36(4): p. 786814.
Hijnen, W.A.M., E.F. Beerendonk, and G.J. Medema, Inactivation credit of UV
radiation for viruses, bacteria and protozoan (oo)cysts in water: A review. Water
Research, 2006. 40(1): p. 3-22.
Au, K.-K., Water treatment and pathogen control: Process efficiency in achieving
safe drinking-water. 2004: IWA Publishing.
Delft University of Technology
Faculty of Civil Engineering
Water Management Department
Sanitary Engineering Section
E-mail: [email protected]
[email protected]
www.sanitaryengineering.tudelft.nl
Postal address:
P.O. BOX 5048
2600 GA Delft
Visiting address:
Stevinweg 1
2611 CN Delft
Building of Civil Engineering
Start date project: Jan 2012
Expected end date: 2017
Key words:
Ag, Cu nanoparticles, ions, UV,
antiviral effect, enteric viruses
Cooperation with other institutes:
RIVM Bilthoven, Wetsus
Leeuwarden
Butkus, M.A., et al., Use of aqueous silver to enhance inactivation of coliphage
MS-2 by UV disinfection. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 2004. 70(5):
p. 2848-2853.
Zodrow, K., et al., Polysulfone ultrafiltration membranes impregnated with silver
nanoparticles show improved biofouling resistance and virus removal. Water
Research, 2009. 43(3): p. 715-723.
Kim, J.Y., et al., Enhanced inactivation of E. coli and MS-2 phage by silver ions
combined with UV-A and visible light irradiation. Water Research, 2008. 42(12): p. 356-362.
World Health Organization. Household water treatment and safe storage Treatment technologies. 2015 [cited 2015 October 9, 2015]; Available from:
http://www.who.int/household_water/research/technologies_intro/en/.
51
Individual Projects
Yasmina Bennani
Electrochemically active biofilm
Research objectives
Approach
Heterogeneous photocatalysis is a well understood and
TiO2 film electrodes were manufactured according to
highly investigated topic, and despite its promising results
the paint-thermal decomposition method [3]. Impact on
in water decontamination, its practical exploitation has
phenol degradation of progressing biofilm growth on the
been restricted by its low photonic efficiency, which
anode was studied. This was done by first evaluating the
is mainly due to recombination of the e−/h+ pair.
degradation by the individual processes: biodegradation,
In order to decrease the recombination limitation of
photolysis and photo(electro)catalysis. Subsequently,
photogenerated charge carriers and to enhance the
various combinations of these processes were investigated
quantum efficiency of the immobilised photocatalyst, few
with respect to the mineralization of phenol. Every
approaches were adopted in this study (figure 1). Building
mentioned process was evaluated by the rate of phenol
upon the knowledge gained in the previous research, the
degradation and the extent of enhancement driven by
objective of this research was to bring insight into the
either applied potential, E or attached bacteria in biofilm.
coupled system, bio-photoelectrocatalysis, as well as to
assess and demonstrate the efficiency for decreasing
Results and conclusions
the electron/hole recommbination. The role of biofilm
growth (6, 12, 20 and 40 days) and the extent of its
coverage on the anode surface was studied, in relation
to enhanced degradation kinetics of phenol in a batchscale photoelectrocatalytic reactor. An anode with a fully
developed biofilm (FDB) was compared with an electrode
without biofilm coverage in separate systems.
Figure 2. SEM image (20 kV, 50 µm, x 400) mixed culture of
bacteria cells
Figure 1. Approaches for enhancing PEC efficiency and
scaling up of the technology
Project outline
Introduction
Microorganisms as bio-catalysts are used in bioelectrochemical systems. The major role of microorganisms
is to generate electrons through substrate metabolism
and to help mediate the electron transfer to the anode,
functioning as a catalyst [1]. TiO2 coated on the Ti offers
rich abundance, low cost, nontoxicity, chemical stability
and good electron transfer [2, 3]. In addition, the use
of solar light with a non-doped simple, TiO2/Ti composite
electrode, e.g., prepared with the paint-thermal method,
Figure 3. Phenol degradation by photolysis (◊);
biodegradation (x); photocatalysis (□); photoelectrocatalysis
(Δ); bio-photocatalysis with a biofilm developed after
20 days (ж) and bio-photoelectrocatalysis with a biofilm
developed after 20 days (ᴏ)
would avoid drawbacks such as thermal instability (metal
centres acting as electron traps), which reduces the
photocatalytic efficiency, and would be less expensive [2].
▪▪
An electrochemically active biofilm (figure 2) on the
TiO2/Ti composite electrode was found to increase
the current density (8.4x10-2 mAcm-2) and charge
transfer (lower impedance) and phenol degradation
52
Yasmina Bennani
efficiency, confirming that electron transfer can be enhanced by
biofilm formation on the electrode.
▪▪
A positive effect in phenol degradation efficiency (62% after 4
hours) was observed by coupling photo(electro)catalysis and
biofilm formation into one system (figure 3).
▪▪
The degradation efficiency of phenol was far higher in the biofilmelectrode process than in the photocatalytic (23.2%) and biological
processes (2.3%) within the same degradation time (four hours).
▪▪
Impedance related to biofilm was sensitive to the duration of biofilm
growth (thickness) and it reached its lowest value at the optimal
amount of bacteria coverage on the electrode (electrochemically
active biofilm developed for 20 days).
▪▪
Impedance related to biofilm was sensitive to the duration of
biofilm growth (thickness) and it reached its lowest value at the
optimal amount (20 days growth period) of bacteria coverage on
the electrode.
Delft University of Technology
Faculty of Civil Engineering
Water Management Department
Sanitary Engineering Section
E-mail: [email protected]
www.sanitaryengineering.tudelft.nl
Scientific relevance
A promising approach for water treatment and the removal of toxic
organics is thus to combine characteristics from AOP with biodegradation.
By understanding the phenomena, optimal combinations can be
found and innovative, efficient and cost effective technologies can be
developed. In this research the residence time for sufficient phenol
removal could be diminished by a factor 2.
Societal relevance
Photoelectrocatalysis is a relatively cheap green technology. It does not
generate secondary waste nor involve the use of additional chemicals,
and offers improved beneficial uses of produced water. It can generate
and store energy, use renewable energy source (solar light), remove
Postal address:
P.O. BOX 5048
2600 GA Delft
Visiting address:
Stevinweg 1
2611 CN Delft
Building of Civil Engineering
Start date project: Oct 2011
Expected end date: 2017
Key words:
TiO2, photoelectrocatalysis,
enhancement, photodegradation
organics, produce clean water and recover valuable materials from
produced water with little or no negative impact on the environment.
Literature
[1] B. Erable, N. M. Duţeanu, M. M. Ghangrekar, C. Dumas, K. Scott,
Application of electro-active biofilms, Biofouling 26 (2010) 57.
[2] M. M. Khan, S. A. Ansari, J. Lee, J. Lee, M. H. Cho, Mixed
Culture Electrochemically Active Biofilms and their Microscopic and
Spectroelectrochemical Studies, ACS Sustain. Chem. Eng. 2 (2014) 423.
[3]
X.
D.
Benetton,
S.G.
Navarro-Ávila,
C.
Carrera-Figueiras,
Electrochemical Evaluation of Ti/TiO2-polyaniline Anodes for Microbial
Fuel Cells using Hypersaline Microbial Consortia for Syntheticwastewater Treatment, J. New Mater. Electrochem. Syst. 13 (2010).
[4] A. Nickehslat, M. M. Amin, H. Izanloo, A, Fatehizadeh, S. M. Mousavi,
Phenol photocatalytic degradation by advanced oxidation process under
ultraviolet radiation using titanium dioxide, J. Environ. Public Health
2013 (2013) 9.
53
Individual projects
Irene Caltran
Organic Matter removal from surface waters: Separation
of Dissolved Organic Carbon and ions from Ion Exchange
brine using Ceramic Nano Filtration
Research objectives
•
This research aims to:
concentrate for other uses, for instance for agricultural
•
purposes
Make an inventory of the state of the art for Organic
Separate salts from OM, in order to recover the OM
Matter removal from drinking water
•
Test and upscale Nano Filtration ceramic membranes
in order to treat Organic Matter rich brine
Approach
The current techniques for OM removal and their
combinations will be inventoried, with particular attention
Project outline
to the drinking water companies in the European Two
Introduction
Channels region. The inventory will include the approach
Organic Matter (OM) is usually present in surface water.
used by different water companies and their experienced
OM is not only the cause of odor and color problems in
challenges. Both literature research and questionnaires
drinking water. It is also responsible for the majority of the
are used for this purpose.
demand for coagulants and disinfectants, the competition
IEX is a promising OM removal technique and the disposal
with removal of other compounds, membrane fouling,
of the brine produced is challenging its use. To address
biological instability and bacterial growth and formation
this problem, separation between ions (Cl- , NO3- and
of disinfection by-products (DBPs) (Matilainen and
SO42-) and OM by ALD Ceramic Nano Filtration will be
Sillanpää, 2010).
investigated. Both artificial water with single compounds
In locations where fresh ground water is scarce, the
and IEX brine from a drinking water treatment plant will
removal of OM from surface waters is one of the main
be used.
challenges of drinking water companies. Therefore, many
companies are performing experimental work about
Scientific
this subject. DOC2C’s is a joint project of different West
The work will contribute to understand the different
relevance
European drinking water companies and universities and
approaches used to remove Organic Matter and can be a
has the aim to improve the OM removal processes with
basis for the choice of the most suitable Organic Matter
research and mutual collaboration.
treatment technique(s) in a specific situation.
One of the technologies for OM removal is Ion Exchange
Moreover, a performance study of the innovative
(IEX). The resin used during IEX has to be periodically
Nano Filtration ceramic membrane with Atomic Layer
regenerated. From the regeneration process, there is
Deposition will be provided.
production of brine containing salts, OM and other ions.
The disposal and the treatment of the brine can be a
Social relevance
limiting factor for the use of IEX at a large scale (Verdickt,
The inventory and the integration of the experimental
2012).
work of different companies and institution can facilitate
Several approaches are studied in order to reduce the
the optimization of the efforts for research on Organic
amount of brine to be disposed and in order to recover
Matter.
resources present in the IEX brine, such as water, salt
Further, studies on brine treatment using ceramic Nano
and OM.
Filtration will contribute to waste reduction and resource
TU Delft is developing Ceramic Nano Filtration membranes
recovery in the drinking water sector.
(CNF), coated by Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD). The
membranes will be studied in order to be applied to the
IEX brine with the objective to:
•
Separate the regeneration salt (e.g. NaCl) from OM
and the other ions (e.g. NO3-, SO42-), in order to reuse
the recovered salty water in the regeneration process
54
Irene Caltran
Literature
Matilainen, A., & Sillanpää, M. (2010). Removal of natural organic matter
from drinking water by advanced oxidation processes. Chemosphere,
80(4), 351-365.
Verdickt, L. (2012). Verwijdering van NOM door middel van
ionenwisseling. Report Vlaamse Maatschappij voor Water Voorziening.
Delft University of Technology
Faculty of Civil Engineering
Water Management Department
Sanitary Engineering Section
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 0652473226
www.sanitaryengineering.tudelft.nl
Postal address:
P.O. BOX 5048
2600 GA Delft
Visiting address:
Stevinweg 1
2611 CN Delft
Building of Civil Engineering
Start date project: Apr 2016
Expected end date: Apr 2020
Cooperation with other institutes:
PWNT, South West Water, De
Watergroup, University of Lille
55
Individual projects
Pamela Ceron Chafla
Steering Product Formation in High-Pressure Digestion
Systems
Research objectives
Approach
The aim of the project is to produce high-value bulk
The research will focus in the development of a suitable
products from low-grade biomass through further
HPD technology for production of high-value bulk
research on product steering in High Pressure Digestion
products using undefined mixed cultures. The feasibility
reactors which will include optimization of process
of treating simple and complex substrates, mechanisms
conditions and reactor design, as well as alternatives for
for controlling the product spectrum as well as the
feasible and cost-effective downstream processing.
requirements for process optimization, reactor design
and alternatives for downstream processing will be
Project outline
studied along the project.
Introduction
Anaerobic Digestion is a widely used and advantageous
Scientific relevance
technology for wastewater treatment, since besides
HPD has been proposed as a cost-effective technology for
organic material degradation, biogas is produced (Van Lier
direct biogas upgrading. However, its possible use inside
et al. 2008). Using conventional technology and process
the “carboxylate platform” remains as an unexploited
conditions, the methane content reaches 50-75% (IEA
field of study. The forthcoming results of this research will
Bioenergy 2009). This, plus a high CO2, NH3, H2S and
provide insights into establishing HPD as an innovative
water content make the obtained biogas not suitable for
and cost-effective resource recovery technology focused
natural gas grid direct injection, so upgrading systems are
on viable bioproducts.
required. Previous proof-of-principle research work has
demonstrated the feasibility of using Autogenerative High
Social relevance
Pressure Anaerobic Digestion (AHPD) to produce biogas
Increased waste production is a direct consequence
with improved quality (90-95% methane content) and at a
of population growth, so alternatives to sustainably
pressure suitable for high grade use (Lindeboom 2014a).
reduce/treat them are required. Wastewater treatment
Furthermore, AHPD has also proved to produce other
has traditionally been seen as an expenditure and
metabolites (carboxylates), that by themselves or through
an environmental compliance requirement. However,
further conversion, could be of interest for the chemical
using an innovative technological approach focused on
industry (Lindeboom 2014b). New insights into waste to
resource recovery, this perspective about wastewater and
bioproduct conversion have been established and it has
its treatment can be significantly changed. This research
been demonstrated that interesting and economically-
project aims that inside the context of a biobased
attractive end-products can be obtained with undefined
economy, wastewater can become an innovative source
mixed cultures dealing with complex substrates (Agler et
of organic “feedstocks” for the carboxylate platform.
al. 2011). In this context, High Pressure Digestion (HPD)
offers some interesting features. Based on previous work,
it is expected that specific pressure effects influence the
kinetics of mixed culture fermentations (e.g. role of the
CO2 partial pressure). This project aims to further address
these effects and determine to what extent they can be
exploited to improve the production yield or increase
the selectivity once optimized process conditions are
achieved regarding substrate, inoculum and operational
parameters.
56
Pamela Ceron Chafla
Literature
Agler, M.T. et al., 2011. Waste to bioproduct conversion with undefined
mixed cultures: the carboxylate platform. Trends in Biotechnology,
29(2), pp.70–78.
IEA Bioenergy, 2009. Biogas upgrading technologies – developments
and innovations,
Van Lier, J.B., Mahmoud, N. & Zeeman, G., 2008. Anaerobic Wastewater
Treatment. In Biological Wastewater Treatment: Principles, Modelling
and Design. pp. 401–442.
Lindeboom, R.E.F., 2014a. Autogenerative High Pressure Digestion:
Biogas production and upgrading in a single step. Wageningen
University.
Lindeboom, R.E.F., 2014b. Piezo-tolerant natural gas-producing microbes
under accumulating pCO2. In Autogenerative High Pressure Digestion:
Biogas production and upgrading in a single step. pp. 98–127.
Delft University of Technology
Faculty of Civil Engineering
Water Management Department
Sanitary Engineering Section
E-mail: [email protected]
www.sanitaryengineering.tudelft.nl
Postal address:
P.O. BOX 5048
2600 GA Delft
Visiting address:
Stevinweg 1
2611 CN Delft
Building of Civil Engineering
Start date project: Oct 2016
Expected end date: Oct 2020
Key words: High Pressure,
Anaerobic Digestion, Carboxylates
Production, Resource Recovery,
Undefined Mixed cultures
Cooperation with other institutes:
Ghent University (Belgium),
Paques
57
Individual Projects
Elena Cristiano
Effects of high spatial and temporal resolution of rainfall data on
hydrological response in lowland urban catchment
Research objectives
Two different approaches, a theoretical and a numerical
This research aims to study the effects of combinations
one, will be developed to study the hydrological processes
of different spatial and temporal resolutions on urban
in the urban catchment.
models, considering the influence that catchment and
storm’s characteristics (such as drainage area, slope,
Results
imperviousness, rainfall intensity, duration and velocity)
The study developed until now confirms a higher
have on the hydrological response.
sensitivity of the hydrological response to the temporal
resolution than to the spatial resolution and shows
In particular this study aims to investigate the hydrological
that some characteristics of the storm, as velocity and
processes of urban catchments located in lowland areas,
intermittency of the peaks, have a strong influence on the
where the slope is nearly absent and the flow is by gravity.
sensitivity of the model.
Project outline
Scientific relevance
Introduction
In the last years new instruments and techniques have
Flooding in urban areas is one of the main weather-
been developed to measure rainfall with high spatial and
related risk problems of the last decades. The increase of
temporal resolution (e.g. weather radars, microwave
urbanization produces a fast and short in time response
links, etc.), but the sensitivity of the hydrological response
to the heavy rainfall that characterize the climate
to these data in urban areas has not been studied yet.
changing of the last years. On top of that, the increase
In particular, the response in a lowland area, still needs
of the density of the population in the city makes these
further investigations.
areas more vulnerable to flood events.
Social relevance
Due to the lack of slope, in lowland urban areas it is more
This study aims to better understand the behavior of the
complex to estimate the amount and the direction of
runoff in urban lowland areas, in order to estimate possible
runoff. This scenario is typical in the Netherlands, where
flooding during rainfall events. A better knowledge of the
the looped drainage system, characterized by pumps
runoff helps to choose the best solutions to apply in order
and weirs, allows the flow to choose different paths,
to reduce the flooding risk in urban area.
depending on the characteristic of the rainfall event.
Approach
Considering the fast response and the relative small
dimensions of the urban catchments, high temporal
and spatial resolution rainfall data are required as input
(Berne et al.,2004). Previous researches have studied the
sensitivity of different spatial and temporal resolutions
on urban catchments, highlighting correlations between
the rainfall resolution and the model scales (Bruni et al.,
2015, Ochoa-Rodriguez et al., 2015).
In this study rainfall data from a dual polarimetric X-band
weather radar with a resolution of 1min and 100x100m
are used to study different districts of Rotterdam (NL).
58
Elena Cristiano
Literature
Berne, A., Delrieu, G., Creutin, J.-D., & Obled, C. (2004). Temporal and
spatial resolution of rainfall measurements required for urban hydrology.
Journal of Hydrology, 299, 166-179.
Bruni, G., Reinoso, R., van de Giesen, N. C., Clemens, F. H. L. R., and ten
Veldhuis, J. A. E.: On the sensitivity of urban hydrodynamic modelling
to rainfall spatial and temporal resolution, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 19,
691-709, doi:10.5194/hess-19-691-2015, 2015.
Ochoa-Rodriguez, S., Wang, L. P., Gires, A., Pina R. D., Reinoso Rondinel,
R., Bruni, G., Ichiba, A., Gaitan, S., Cristiano, E., van Assel, J., Kroll, S.,
Murla-Tuyls, D., Schertzer, D., Tchiguirinskaia, I., Onof C., Willems, P.,
ten Veldhuis J. A.E., Impact of spatial and temporal resolution of rainfall
inputs on urban hydrodynamic modelling outputs: a multi-catchment
investigation, Journal of Hydrology, 2015.
Delft University of Technology
Faculty of Civil Engineering
Water Management Department
Sanitary Engineering Section
E-mail: [email protected]
www.sanitaryengineering.tudelft.nl
Postal address:
P.O. BOX 5048
2600 GA Delft
Visiting address:
Stevinweg 1
2611 CN Delft
Building of Civil Engineering
Start date project: Dec 2014
Expected end date: Dec 2018
Key words:
Urban hydrology, Drainage
system, Rainfall, Radar
Cooperation with other institutes:
Deltares, Gemeente Rotterdam
59
Individual Projects
Petra van Daal-Rombouts
Quality based real time control in wastewater systems
Research objectives
the functioning of the contributing sewer systems into
The main research question of this project is: “Under
account as well, allowing SST discharges only if the sewer
which conditions can real time control (RTC) based on
system is prone to discharge. Preliminary results show a
the quality of the receiving water be used in wastewater
decrease in SST discharges of 40 % in number of events
systems?”
and 20 % in volume. The PC control aims at reducing
the peak load of the WWTP at the onset of wet weather
This question is divided into two sub questions:
▪▪
▪▪
conditions by changing the amount of PCs in operation
Is there added value in applying RTC based
during different phases of a rain event. Example of
on
the intended functioning of the PC-control are given in
increasingly
demanding
strategies
and
implementation levels?
Figures 1 (simplified example) and 2 (based on current
Can the added value be demonstrated in practice?
measurements). The control will be implemented in the
near future. Measurements and modeling will be applied
Project outline
to quantify the impact of the control on the effluent
Introduction
quality of the WWTP.
A wastewater system consists of different subsystems:
a sewer system, a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP)
Scientific relevance
and receiving water. These subsystems interact with
Previous research performed by Langeveld (2004) and
one another through water quantity and water quality.
Schilperoort (2011) has shown there are possibilities to
However, the influence of the quality of the receiving
decrease the impact of a sewer system and WWTP on
water on the sewer system or the WWTP is very limited
the surface water. One very likely means is using RTC.
and indirect. Improvement of the quality of the receiving
Previous research on RTC in wastewater systems covers
water could be achieved through the application of
e.g. volume based RTC, optimization techniques and
RTC in the wastewater system: using information from
theoretical research. There is a lack of research on quality
downstream locations to adjust the operation of upstream
based RTC, large case studies, comparison between
systems.
theory and practice, and studies on the total wastewater
system. The research presented here aims at filling these
Approach
gaps and making the knowledge available for practice.
As the research questions imply, the project consists
of both theoretical and practical elements. The theory
Social relevance
focuses on determining the added value of applying RTC
Social relevance is at the very basis of this project. It is
in wastewater systems based on quality and impact. To
aimed to decrease the impact of the sewer system and
do this, models and measurements from a case study
WWTP on the receiving water through RTC, therefore
(Langeveld et al., 2013) are used and effort is made to
improving its quality and thus leading to a higher
improve them. The practical element consists of making
ecological/recreational value.
an effort to demonstrate the added value in real life by
implementing the RTC in the case study and monitoring
Literature
the effects.
Langeveld, J. G. (2004). Interactions within wastewater
systems. Analysis. TU Delft.
Results
Langeveld, J.G., Benedetti, L., De Klein, J., Nopens, I.,
As a first step towards incorporating impact based RTC in
Amerlinck, Y., Van Nieuwenhuijzen, A., Flameling, T., Van
the wastewater system of the case study, new controls
Zanten, O., Weijers, S.R. (2013). Impact-based integrated
for the stormwater settling tank (SST) and primairy
real-time control for improvement of the Dommel River
clarifiers (PC’s) at the WWTP have been designed and
water quality. Urban Water Journal, 10, 312–329.
(are) implemented. The SST was originally controlled
Schilperoort, R. (2011). Monitoring as a tool for the
by the WWTP operation only. The new control takes
assessment of wastewater quality dynamics. TU Delft.
60
Petra van Daal-Rombouts
Figure 1. Example of intended PC-control functioning for heavy, system
wide rainfall
Delft University of Technology
Faculty of Civil Engineering
Water Management Department
Sanitary Engineering Section
E-mail: [email protected]
www.sanitaryengineering.tudelft.nl
Postal address:
P.O. BOX 5048
2600 GA Delft
Figure 2. Example of intended PC-control functioning based on current
measurements
Visiting address:
Stevinweg 1
2611 CN Delft
Building of Civil Engineering
Start date project: Jan 2012
Expected end date: 2017
Key words:
Wastewater system, real
time control, water quality,
monitoring, integrated modelling,
optimisation, conceptual models
Cooperation with other institutes:
Witteveen+Bos, Waterboard
De Dommel, Municipality of
Eindhoven, INSA de Lyon,
Deltares
61
Individual projects
Daniel Daniel
Tools for the selection of household water treatment and
safe storage intervention in developing countries
Research objectives
common tools for decision support system or using new
The aim of this research is to develop a framework or
concept. Finally, the tools will be tested in the study area
selection tools for household water treatment and safe
in developing countries. The tools can be used to develop
storage (HWTS) intervention program in developing
a new intervention program or to evaluate the running
countries. It can help decision makers or relevant
HWTS intervention program.
stakeholders to designing implementation program that
can improve the health status by improving the drinking
One of the purposes in this research is to involve different
water quality at household level in the study area.
discipline and stakeholder. Expert interview, focus group
discussion, and field data collection will be conducted to
Project outline
answer all the research questions.
Introduction
A wastewater system consists of different subsystems:
There
Although access to improved water supplies has increased
research: slum area, remote or inaccessible area, or
worldwide, poor drinking water quality remains a major
underdeveloped ethnic. The main reason behind that
challenge globally. One of the reasons is contamination
is because those areas have a bigger challenge and
in household level. Household water treatment and safe
limitation than others (urban), in terms of accessibility,
storage was introduced to tackle this problem.
social norm, culture, economic, etc. They may also have
are
three
possible
study
areas
for
this
a health problem due to bad drinking water quality. Bad
Currently, there are many options for HTWS intervention
selection of intervention for people in that area will cause
in developing countries. The problem arises when we
unsustainable and ineffective project. All those areas are
need to select the appropriate intervention program.
planned to be located in Indonesia.
From literature review, all factors relevant that need
to be considered for selecting the HWTS intervention
Scientific relevance
in developing countries can be categorized into four
The research was designed to address the gaps about
aspects: economic, social, technical, and institution.
the selection tools for HWTS intervention in developing
countries. Most of the current intervention program was
However, despite a many options of intervention program,
selected based on intuition or past experience. We need
there is limited research available concerning tools for the
to use schematic approach to select the appropriate
selection of appropriate HTWS intervention. The selection
program.
tools need to consider all those four aspects and then
implement the best intervention option. Otherwise the
The current selection tools for HWTS intervention were
intervention program will not run sustainably in the
not addressing all four relevant factors. Most of them
future.
focused on technical or performance factors and may
not be used in developing countries because they do not
From literature review, I expect that social factor has
consider some factors that play an important role, e.g.,
the highest impact, whereas technical has the lowest
social norm and local belief.
one that need to be considered for HWTS intervention in
developing countries.
Approach
First, factors relevant for selection of HWTS will be
investigated. Afterwards, choosing the appropriate tools
to select the best intervention program will be the next
step in this research. We could choose either using
62
Daniel Daniel
Social relevance
Since the study area of this research will be applied in slum area, remote
area, or underdeveloped ethnic, the result could help them to improve
their health status by consuming better and cleaner drinking water. The
output of this research can be used also by relevant stakeholder or
decision makers to develop the next HWTS intervention
Literature
Baffrey, R. M. N. (2005). Development of program implementation,
evaluation, and selection tools for household water treatment and safe
storage systems in developing countries. Massachusetts Institute of
Technology.
Loo, S.-L., Fane, A. G., Krantz, W. B., & Lim, T.-T. (2012). Emergency
water supply: a review of potential technologies and selection criteria.
Water research, 46(10), 3125-3151.
Sobsey, M. D., Stauber, C. E., Casanova, L. M., Brown, J. M., & Elliott, M.
A. (2008). Point of use household drinking water filtration: a practical,
effective solution for providing sustained access to safe drinking water
in the developing world. Environmental science & technology, 42(12),
4261-4267.
Delft University of Technology
Faculty of Civil Engineering
Water Management Department
Sanitary Engineering Section
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: +31 682329482
www.sanitaryengineering.tudelft.nl
Postal address:
P.O. BOX 5048
2600 GA Delft
Visiting address:
Stevinweg 1
2611 CN Delft
Building of Civil Engineering
Start date project: Oct 2016
Expected end date: Oct 2020
Key words:
drinking water, developing
countries, selection tools
Cooperation with other institutes:
EAWAG
63
Individual Projects
Alex Duinmeijer
On the research into the mechanisms of formation and
degradation of debris layers in wastewater pump sumps
Research objectives
Obtaining knowledge about mechanisms of formation
and degradation of debris layers in wastewater pumping
stations. Knowledge will be used to adapt the current
design guidelines for wastewater pump sumps.
Project outline
Introduction
Wastewater pumping stations can experience problems
due to the presence of floating fat, scum and other debris
in the pump sump (hereafter referred to as ‘pollution’).
The presence of this pollution can result in pump failures
which may result in a 16% increase of yearly volume of
CSO (Korving, 2006). The current guidelines for sump
design (e.g. ANSI/HI (2012)) only deal with the transport
of pollution in a superficial manner for a limited number
of sump geometries (i.e. trench type and circular sumps).
Figure 1. Side and front view of test facility: 1) pump sump,
2) pump, 3) flow meter, 4) inlet conduit, 5) hydraulic gate
in overflow sill, 6) measurement of entrained air, 7) control
valve, 8) ultrasonic sensor for water level measurement, 9)
outflow, 10) reservoir
According to the author, basically there is a need for a
Next, the obtained knowledge about the potential
more generic formulation of design guidelines which
transport mechanisms will be tested in in real wastewater
provides a balanced compromise between avoiding poor
pumping stations which experiences problems with
flow conditions and air-entrainment on one hand while
floating pollution. Finally, based on the experimental
avoiding the formation of pollution on the other hand. The
research, field research and a serviceability inventory
processes involved are currently only poorly understood.
of real pumping stations, new generic guidelines will be
Therefore, the author has started a (experimental)
formulated that address conflicting criteria (optimal flow
research to the mechanisms of the formation and
conditions, no air-entrainment, no pollution) resulting
degradation of debris layers. The obtained knowledge
in robust, efficient and maintenance friendly pumping
will be used to adapt the current guidelines which must
stations.
lead to more robust, efficient and maintenance friendly
pumping stations.
Results
Based on the first executed experiments, the preliminary
Approach
conclusions can be drawn that the presence of floating
First, a theoretical research is conducted into potential
pollution affects the formation of strong free-surface
mechanisms for transport of pollution. Initially, two
vortices, see Figure 2 and Figure 3. Extensive future
hypotheses are defined: (1) using the vertical transport
research will be executed by the author to investigate the
capacity of free-surface vortices and (2) horizontal
ability of strong free-surface vortices as a mechanism for
transport by keeping pollution in suspension. An
the transport of floating pollution.
extensive experimental research will be conducted in a
full scale test facility to investigate the validity of both
hypotheses as a mechanism for the transport of pollution
into the pump suction inlet. Figure 1 shows the set-up of
the test facility.
64
Alex Duinmeijer
Figure 2. Formation of free-surface
vortex in ‘clean’ water test facility
Figure 3. No formation of freesurface vortex at same hydraulic
conditions but with presence of
floating layer of polystyrene pearls
Scientific relevance
The experimental data from experimental and field research in
wastewater pump sumps is considered essential for science-based
optimized design of wastewater pumping stations. The experimental
research provides insights in the flow phenomena’s in wastewater
sumps with respect to formation and degradation of layers of floating
debris.
Social relevance
Generic design guidelines for sumps with respect to pollution decreases
pump failures and therefore increasing the sewer system serviceability.
As a result, the yearly volume of CSO spills of raw wastewater
into receiving surface water bodies decreases providing a better
environmental health. Also, less pollution of pump sumps significantly
decreases the annual costs for sump cleaning and pump failure repair
costs.
Literature
Korving, J.L., Clemens, F.H.L.R., and van Noortwijk, J.M., 2006b.
“Statistical Modelling of the Serviceabilitiy of Sewage Pumps”, Journal of
Delft University of Technology
Faculty of Civil Engineering
Water Management Department
Sanitary Engineering Section
E-mail: spa.duinmeijer@
rotterdam.nl
www.sanitaryengineering.tudelft.nl
Postal address:
P.O. BOX 5048
2600 GA Delft
Visiting address:
Stevinweg 1
2611 CN Delft
Building of Civil Engineering
Start date project: Oct 2014
Expected end date: Sep 2018
Key words:
Pump sump, waste water, floating
debris, experiments
Cooperation with other institutes:
Municipality of Rotterdam
Hydraulic Engineering, 2006.132, 1076 - 1085
American National Hydraulic Standards Institute (2012) American
National Standard for rotodynamic pumps for pump intake design. ANSI
9.8-2012. ISBN 978-880952-70-2
65
Individual Projects
Astrid Fischer
Decision Support System for controlling emerging
substances in the water cycle
Research objectives
1. Emerging substances in water
The aim of the project is to build, validate and demonstrate
a.Sources
a Decision Support System (DSS) that will help actors
within the water-cycle to make informed decisions on
how to control emerging substances in the water-cycle
system
the most effective and efficient way.
b. Are there adverse effects on human health, the
ecosystem or susceptible functions of the water
2. Possible mitigation measures
a. Choice of measure, eg. removal efficiencies and
Project outline
costs
Introduction
b. Location of the measure (if relevant)
Emerging substances in surface water are increasingly
c. Long term vs. short term solutions
giving concern to the public, regulators and users of
3. Future scenarios
this water as a drinking water source (Houtman 2010).
4. Research needs
However legislation both on a national and international
level is often running behind especially in the case of
The TAPES project focuses on the two first issues, due to
emerging substances, due to complex decision structures
the relatively short time span of the project of 2,5 years.
and the need for indisputable scientific evidence. Water
authorities and water companies struggle with the
Results
question where and how to combat these substances
To address the issues outlined above, the DSS will give
in the water cycle. As a part of the EU Interreg project
the user information on the source, pathway, chemical
TAPES (Transnational Action Programme on Emerging
characteristics
Substances) a novel Decision Support System (DSS)
substances and their mixtures, together with information
is being developed to deal with this issue. The specific
on the efficiency of water treatment technologies for
aim of the TAPES DSS is to focus on the management
drinking and wastewater. Also decentral technical and non-
of emerging compounds within the whole water cycle,
technical mitigation methods were included, as requested
to suggest mitigation methods also beyond technical
by a part of the stakeholders. To fulfil these requirements
solutions, make use of the enormous amount of
several parameters are included in the DSS; general
(scientific) information available, while being a simple and
substance information (description, physical/chemical
easy-to-access tool for the informed but not-expert user,
characteristics and legislation), hazard (toxicity), water
that does not require any particular training.
cycle entrance with the associated mitigation methods,
and toxicity of individual emerging
and if possible monitoring measurements to give a more
Approach
With a preliminary DSS as basis, interviews were carried
out with TAPES project partners representing different
actors within the water sector. i.e. a drinking water
utility, a wastewater utility, a water board, two research
institutes, and a water management organisation. The
interviews were recorded and analysed, the points raised
were clustered to the main issues for the interviewed
stakeholders representing decision makers within the
water cycle.
The main conclusion from the interviews was that there
is no struggle with a lack of information, the struggle is
how to decide which information is relevant. The main
issues mentioned are
66
accurate assessment of the toxicity (Figure 1).
Astrid Fischer
Figure 1. Diagram of information included in the DSS
Scientific relevance
The DSS aims to be the link between the scientific knowledge available
and the people that need to use this not always easily accessible
knowledge in their daily work to make better and more informed
decisions. As such it is not only scientifically relevant, but it is actively
making science relevant outside the scientific community.
Social relevance
When the DSS is completely developed and working adequately it will
lead to more informed decision-making throughout the whole water
cycle and a more effective and uniform way of managing emerging
Delft University of Technology
Faculty of Civil Engineering
Water Management Department
Sanitary Engineering Section
E-mail: [email protected]
www.sanitaryengineering.tudelft.nl
Postal address:
P.O. BOX 5048
2600 GA Delft
Visiting address:
Stevinweg 1
2611 CN Delft
Building of Civil Engineering
substances in the water cycle.
Start date project: Jan 2013
Expected end date: Jan 2018
Literature
Key words:
Emerging substances, water
treatment techniques, water cycle
Houtman C.J. (2010) Emerging contaminants in surface waters and
their relevance for the production of drinking water in Europe. J. Integr.
Environ. Sci. 7(4), 271-295.
Cooperation with other institutes:
KWR, Waternet, Waterschap
De Dommel, TZW, VITO, De
Watergroep, FHNW
67
Individual Projects
Katie Friedman
Metal-Impregnated Ceramic Water Filters for Point-of-Use
Water Treatment
Research objectives
The
The main goal of this research is to improve virus
disinfection studies to determine the disinfection kinetics
inactivation in POU household water treatment systems,
of silver and copper ions in different concentrations
specifically through the incorporation of metals such
and combinations for E. coli and MS2. These studies
as silver, copper, and iron into ceramic pot filters. The
will be conducted both in dark (designed to minimize
variables considered include form of the metals (ionic
light exposure) and light (solar simulator) conditions
or particle), concentration of the metals in the ceramic
to determine if the presence of light may affect and
matrix, and flow rate or contact time. The research will
potentially enhance the disinfection kinetics and potential
also investigate the role of leached metal ions in the
synergies.
research
also
includes
complementary
batch
effluent and characterize the potential added disinfection
benefits achieved during storage time in the effluent
Results
storage receptacle.
Combinations of copper and silver showed potential
synergistic benefits for the reduction of E. coli and copper
Project outline
demonstrated antiviral activity for batch disinfection
Introduction
studies conducted in dark conditions, and experiments
Ceramic water filters (CWFs) are a widely used Point-
with light exposure are to follow in November 2015. Initial
of-Use technology that utilizes a network of fine pores
results for filter experiments showed that filters with both
created by organic burnout material within ceramic media
copper and silver showed a potential synergistic effect
in order to remove pathogens. In addition, aqueous
for log10 reduction values of MS2 and that additional
solutions or suspensions of silver are typically applied
disinfection was achieved during overnight storage,
to the finished ceramic filter, adding additional microbial
highlighting an added benefit from contact time with
protection. Due to the presence of micropores, these
leached ions. In general, increasing metal concentrations
filters are able to remove most bacteria and parasites
achieved increasing E. coli log10 reduction values, but
based on size occlusion and to maintain this performance
this effect was not consistently observed for MS2. Flow
with the aid of silver. However, the filters are not very
rates varied based on filter type and may also play a
effective in reducing or inactivating viruses due to their
role in microbial reductions in combination with metal
significantly smaller size and different properties.
concentration.
Approach
Scientific relevance
Ceramic water filter disks with different concentrations,
This research was designed with the aim to address the
forms, and combinations of silver, copper, and iron
following knowledge gaps in the use of metals in ceramic
fired into the ceramic media were manufactured at the
water filtration:
FilterPure ceramic water filter manufacturing facility in
1) effective methods to inactivate or remove viruses by
the Dominican Republic. Filter disks are then tested for
CWFs
filtration efficacy using buffered test water spiked with
2) effectiveness of incorporation of alternative and/
E. coli and MS2 bacteriophage. Samples are analyzed
or complementary metals, such as iron or copper (with
to determine microbial reductions, and flow rates and
exception of iron oxide)
effluent metal ion concentrations are also monitored.
3) contribution of leached metal ions in effluent to
Samples are taken both directly from the filter as well
disinfection within the CWF system
as from the effluent collection receptacle after overnight
4) performance
storage.
properties of fired-in metals in CWFs
68
efficacy
and
chemical/physical
Katie Friedman
Social relevance
POU treatment systems such as CWFs play an important role in safe
water solutions, whether in the interim for emergency response
situations or the long-term for communities that have significant
logistical challenges to achieving community-level water treatment and
distribution. Improvements in efficacy can potentially help to reduce the
global burden of waterborne disease, helping to make more effective
POU treatments available to those without access to safe water.
Literature
Rayner, J. et al. (2013). Laboratory Investigation into the Effect of Silver
Application on the Bacterial Removal Efficacy of Filter Material for Use
on Locally Produced Ceramic Water Filters for Household Drinking Water
Treatment. ACS Sustainable Chem. Eng., 1, 737–745.
Van der Laan, H. et al. (2014). Bacteria and virus removal effectiveness
of ceramic pot filters with different silver applications in a long term
experiment. Water Research, 51, 47– 54.
Van Halem, D. (2006). Ceramic silver impregnated pot filters for
household drinking water treatment in developing countries. Master’s
thesis, TU Delft, Netherlands.
WHO (2011). Evaulating Household Water Treatment Options: Healthbased targets and microbiological performance specifications.
Delft University of Technology
Faculty of Civil Engineering
Water Management Department
Sanitary Engineering Section
E-mail: [email protected]
www.sanitaryengineering.tudelft.nl
Postal address:
P.O. BOX 5048
2600 GA Delft
Visiting address:
Stevinweg 1
2611 CN Delft
Building of Civil Engineering
Start date project: Nov 2014
Expected end date: March 2017
Key words:
Ceramic water filters, silver,
copper, HWTS, virus inactivation,
POU water treatment
Cooperation with other institutes:
University of North Carolina at
Chapel Hill (USA)
69
Individual projects
Victor Servando Garcia Rea
Phenolic compounds degradation in AnMBR under
mesophilic and thermophilic operation: BioXtremefollowing up.
Research objectives
An AnMBR can be simply defined as a biological treatment
The aim of this research is to analyze the biological
process operated without oxygen and using a membrane
degradation process of phenol, p-cresol, and resorcinol
to provide solid-liquid separation(Lin et al. 2013). In an
in anaerobic membrane bioreactors (AnMBR) under
AnMBR, biomass can be effectively retained inside the
mesophilic conditions and the degradation of phenol
reactor providing optimal conditions for organic matter
under thermophilic conditions.
degradation without any carry-over of suspended
This PhD project is part of the BioXtreme project, which
solids (SS). By incorporating membranes to anaerobic
its goal is to show the potential of AnMBR technology
wastewater treatment, superior effluent quality in terms
for the treatment of chemical wastewaters under
of chemical oxygen demand (COD), suspended solids and
extreme conditions. So, in this PhD research the extreme
pathogen counts can be achieved in comparison with
conditions are: 1) high toxicity, be given by the phenolic
conventional anaerobic processes, and a stable treatment
compounds and its mixture; 2) high temperature, given
performance can be obtained to meet stringent discharge
by the thermophilic (48-55 °C) operation.
standards(Ozgun et al. 2013)
Project outline
Approach
Introduction
3 AnMBRs will be used for the experimental approach.
Water is one of the most valuable resources not only
Different sources of anaerobic biomass will be used and
for the human society development but for all forms of
synthetic wastewater containing phenol and/or phenolic
life. Human population is growing and also the usage
compounds will be used as a model compound for the
and the demand of water, while in some locations of the
toxic degradation research.
earth (especially in the western society and industrialized
countries) there is an indiscriminate use of this resource,
The degradation of the phenol (an probably the other
other countries present a shortage of water.
two phenolic) compounds under anaerobic thermophilic
conditions will be assessed as well; although, as a
Rapid industrialization has resulted in the generation of
pioneer study in this area care should be taken due to the
large quantity of effluents (Shao et al. 2006; Ozgun et
blockages of the operation in high temperatures.
al. 2013), which include the major sources of industrial
wastewaters from food processing, pulp and paper,
Physicochemical studies of the biomass and of the
textile, chemical, pharmaceutical, petroleum tannery, and
permeate obtained from the reactor will be held regularly.
manufacturing industries(Lin et al. 2013) between others.
Molecular biology and methagenomic studies studies will
be performed to unravel the microbial population involved
This wastewaters present a challenge for the conventional
in the degradation process of the toxics.
biological treatment methods, because usually implies
characteristics like high organic strength and extreme
Scientific relevance
conditions(van Lier et al. 2001): high toxicity, high
This study will help to understand the degradation process
temperature, high salinity and very high or low pH values.
of chemical wastewaters in anaerobic conditions and the
Is in this niche in which the Bio-Xtreme project enters,
effect of AnMBRs in the process. Nowadays this is a quite
having the goal of develop thermophilic anaerobic
new technology so more research is need to be done in
membrane (AnMBR) treatment technology for wastewater
order to assess the AnMBR like the best technology for
with high concentrations of salt and aromatics, in order to
the treatment of this kind of effluents.
solve the urgent need for sustainable and cost effective
treatment of these types of wastewaters making them
suitable for reuse(van Lier 2013).
70
Victor Servando Garcia Rea
Social relevance
Every day tons of toxic wastewaters are generated and discharged
(a great percentage without treating) all over the world, which is a
major concern because of their environmental impact. If an adequate
performance of AnMBR is achieved, a breakthrough for the chemical
wastewater treatment will be delivered helping to reduce the water
footprint and presenting a very viable option for closing water cycles.
Literature
Lin, Hongjun, Wei Peng, Meijia Zhang, Jianrong Chen, Huachang Hong,
and Ye Zhang. 2013. ‘A review on anaerobic membrane bioreactors:
Applications, membrane fouling and future perspectives’, Desalination,
314: 169-88.
Ozgun, Hale, Recep Kaan Dereli, Mustafa Evren Ersahin, Cumali Kinaci,
Henri Spanjers, and Jules B. van Lier. 2013. ‘A review of anaerobic
membrane bioreactors for municipal wastewater treatment: Integration
options, limitations and expectations’, Separation and Purification
Technology, 118: 89-104.
Shao, Min, Xiaoyan Tang, Yuanhang Zhang, and Wenjun Li. 2006. ‘City
clusters in China: air and surface water pollution’, Frontiers in Ecology
and the Environment, 4: 353-61.
van Lier, J. B. 2013. “Wateretech 2013 Application template BioXtreme
Anaerobic wastewater treatment under extreme conditions.” In, 19.
Delft, The Netherands.: TU Delft.
van Lier, J. B., A. Tilche, B. K. Ahring, H. Macarie, R. Moletta, M.
Dohanyos, L. W. Pol, P. Lens, and W. Verstraete. 2001. ‘New perspectives
in anaerobic digestion’, Water Sci Technol, 43: 1-18.
Delft University of Technology
Faculty of Civil Engineering
Water Management Department
Sanitary Engineering Section
E-mail: V.S.garciarea@
tudelft.nl
Phone: +31 152787380
www.sanitaryengineering.tudelft.nl
Postal address:
P.O. BOX 5048
2600 GA Delft
Visiting address:
Stevinweg 1
2611 CN Delft
Building of Civil Engineering
Start date project: Feb 2016
Expected end date: Feb 2020
Key words:
BioXtreme, AnMBR, phenolics
degradation, extreme toxicity
71
Individual Projects
Marieke de Goede
Broadening and renewal of the Dutch drinking water
benchmark
Research objectives
▪▪
Benchmarking can slow down innovation: innovation
This study is initiated to develop a framework to broaden
means
and renew the Dutch drinking water benchmark. The
increases the risk that the results are lower than
benchmark can be broadened by adding new subjects
expected. Benchmarking rewards reproduction of the
to it. The idea is that adding new subjects will push
organizations to learn and improve on these subjects
exploring
of
the
unknown.
Innovation
known.
▪▪
The learning effect from the Dutch drinking water
leading to improvement of the drinking water supply
benchmark seems to be decreased. While productivity
sector. The research develops a framework that decides
grew between 2000 and 2008, currently the growth
on adding new themes and deleting “exhausted” themes.
stopped, as can be seen in Figure 1.
▪▪
Variations in performances between drinking water
Project outline
supply organizations have decreased. Because of
Introduction
small variation, there is less differentiation between
Benchmarking is a management instrument for performance
good and bad performance. This makes the impact
comparison. In the drinking water sector it serves two
and learning effect of the benchmark smaller (van
goals. On the one hand improvement of the performances
of the water supply companies and on the other hand it
Helden and Brouwer 2005).
▪▪
Participating in the benchmark became mandatory
is a form of accountability for the sector (ILT 2012). The
in 2012. When performance measurements become
drinking water benchmark is first executed over the year
mandatory the chances of undesired effects (i.e.
1997. Since then, the productivity of the drinking water
strategic behavior) increase. The measures become
supply sector has significantly improved (Dumaij and van
targets and as Goodhart’s law explains: ‘When a
Heezik 2012).
measure becomes a target, it ceases to be a good
measure’.
Approach
▪▪
The Dutch drinking water benchmark only has
First an evaluation of the current drinking water
attention for the short term, and does not focus on
benchmark is executed to get an overview of the effects
long term plans of organizations.
of the Dutch drinking water benchmark. This evaluation is
performed by literature research and interviews with the
Dutch drinking water companies. Based on this evaluation
a framework will be designed to make the benchmark fit
for the future.
Results
When the drinking water benchmark is made fit for the
future, with the use of the framework, the negative effects
of the current benchmark are expected to be solved:
▪▪
The current drinking water benchmark has two goals:
improvement and justification. If a benchmark serves
two goals, organizations can become too focused on
showing that there level of performance is sufficient
that the improvement objective is under pressure (de
Bruijn 2002).
72
Figure 1. Productivity index numbers of drinking water
Marieke de Goede
Further research plan
The goal to make the benchmark fit for the future requires that themes
that are benchmarked should be able to change, because the future
changes and some themes lose impact and get exhausted. Besides
future developments and consumer preferences, also “sudden events”
will be incorporated as in input variable. The research is framed along
six specific research questions:
▪▪
How can a benchmark be made fit for the future?
▪▪
How can consumer preferences be integrated in a benchmark?
▪▪
how can “sudden events” be translated into a benchmark?
▪▪
What should a framework – that integrates future changes and
“sudden event”, that decide on adding new themes and deleting
“exhausted” themes and that incorporate consumer preferences –
look like?
▪▪
What are the effects of application of the framework?
▪▪
How does the designed framework fits in the current governance
Delft University of Technology
Faculty of Civil Engineering
Water Management Department
Sanitary Engineering Section
E-mail: [email protected]
www.sanitaryengineering.tudelft.nl
structure of the Dutch water sector?
Social relevance
Improvement of the Dutch drinking water benchmark should lead
to improvement of the drinking water supply sector. Making the
benchmark fit for the future will lead to a situation where drinking
water organizations are learning from each other again. This is
expected to improve their performance on the subjects which fit with
the changed environment the drinking water companies operate in.
Good performance on these subjects is expected to improve the overall
performance of these organizations.
Literature
de Bruijn, H. (2002). Managing Performance in the Public Sector.
London, Routledge.
Dumaij, A. C. M. and A. A. S. van Heezik (2012). Productiviteitstrends
in de drinkwatersector - Een empirisch onderzoek naar het effect van
regulering op de productiviteitsontwikkeling tussen 1985 en 2010. Delft,
Postal address:
P.O. BOX 5048
2600 GA Delft
Visiting address:
Stevinweg 1
2611 CN Delft
Building of Civil Engineering
Start date project: Feb 2013
Expected end date: Feb 2017
Key words:
Drinking water benchmark,
risk management, assets
management, innovation,
sustainability, water cycle, future
orientation
Cooperation with other institutes:
VEWIN, Oasen, PWN, Waternet
TU Delft.
ILT (2012). Protocol prestatievergelijking drinkwaterbedrijven 2012.
Den Haag, Inspectie Leefomgevinng en Transport.
van
Helden,
J.
and
N.
Brouwer
(2005).
“Benchmarking
en
prestatieverbetering in de publieke sector - Ervaringen met de
bedrijfsvergelijking zuiveringsbeheer.” Maandblad voor accountancy en
bedrijfseconomie(6): 9.
73
Individual projects
Adrian Gonzalez Ortega
Maximisation of energy recovery from sewage sludge with
an innovative digestion process
Research objectives
1. Step 1: The influence of different sets of operational
The objective of the project is to analyse the non-degraded
parameters, such as temperature, exposure time and
fraction of waste activated sludge after pretreatment and
feed TS concentration, on biodegradability of WAS will be
anaerobic digestion, and to devise methods to improve
tested. WAS of different sewage treatment plants (high/
digestibility for achieving energy-neutrality at sewage
low loaded, bio-P activated sludge systems) will be used
treatment plants.
to determine the influence of the variation in composition.
Optimal conditions for these different WAS samples will
Project outline
be defined and energetically assessed.
Introduction
Waste activated sludge (WAS) is produced at 60-90 g (as
2. Step 2: In this part, the non-degraded fraction under
dry solids) per day per person-equivalent (Appels et al.
the different conditions studied in Step 1 will be identified.
2008) at sewage treatment plants (STPs). WAS consists
The WAS composition is not fixed and varies depending
mainly of microorganisms, exopolymers and inorganic
on the STP process configuration. Therefore, WAS
matter, and may contain pathogens, heavy metals and
treatment parameters will be customized, considering the
other contaminants. WAS, therefore, is a threat for both
different WAS compositions. Studies in pilot and full-scale
human and environmental health and needs to be disposed
facilities will be performed.
off safely. Costs for WAS disposal determines to a large
extent the economy of a sewage treatment plant. In the
3. Step 3: After application of thermal treatment, the
Netherlands, where incineration is the sole option, the total
recalcitrant organic parts of the sludge will be identified
costs are between 150-200 million euros per year.
and subjected to other treatment techniques, in order
to achieve their destruction. Finally, the net energy
Anaerobic digestion (AD) is a common method to stabilize
balance of the proposed pre-treatment will be assessed,
WAS prior to dewatering and final disposal, resulting in a
applying co-digestion of primary sludge and/or applying
volume reduction of 30-40% and in methane production.
thermophilic anaerobic digestion.
However, WAS digestion requires long solids residence
times (SRTs) of about 20-30 days and less than half of
Results
the theoretical organic matter conversion is achieved
Ongoing tests to assess the:
(Nielsen et al. 2011). To enhance WAS digestion, sludge
• impact
pre-treatment methods (e.g thermal, chemical) have been
pretreatment on specific methane production.
widely applied. Pretreatment-techniques usually increase
• potentials of the cation exchange capacity (CEC)
the WAS biodegradability by 10-15% (in absolute terms),
within WAS to increase its biodegradability.
of
TS
concentration
during
thermal
however it is not clear which parts are not converted during
digestion and even less is known about the exact cause of
Scientific relevance
the increased biodegradability by means of a pretreatment
Several studies have been published on pretreatments
nor about the net energy gain of WAS pre-treatment.
and their effect on WAS biodegradability. However, only
few researches had their focus on the analysis of the
Approach
non-degraded part after application of both pretreatment
Low temperature (<100 degrees Celcius) thermochemical
and AD. In order to release this recalcitrant fraction (and
pre-treatment is the main technology studied in this
thus improve the efficiency of AD) within the framework
project, as it results in increased biodegradability at
of energy-neutrality, it is required to know which
relatively low energy consumption. The research steps
components are not degraded with current techniques.
are:
74
Adrian Gonzalez Ortega
Social relevance
Expansion of the wastewater treatment infrastructure has resulted
in an increase in the effluent water quality, but also in an increase in
sludge production that will continue in the future (Appels et al. 2011).
Any improvement in AD efficiency will lead to a further reduction of
sludge for disposal (Devlin et al. 2011), resulting in less intensive use
of resources and even possibilities for increased resource recovery from
WAS.
Literature
Appels, L. et al., 2011. Peracetic acid oxidation as an alternative
pre-treatment for the anaerobic digestion of waste activated sludge.
Bioresource Technology, 102(5), pp.4124–4130. Available at: http://
dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2010.12.070.
Appels, L. et al., 2008. Principles and potential of the anaerobic
digestion of waste-activated sludge. Progress in Energy and Combustion
Science, 34(6), pp.755–781. Available at: http://www.sciencedirect.
com/science/article/pii/S0360128508000312 [Accessed July 11, 2014].
Devlin, D.C. et al., 2011. The effect of acid pretreatment on the
anaerobic digestion and dewatering of waste activated sludge.
Bioresource Technology, 102(5), pp.4076–4082. Available at: http://
dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2010.12.043.
Pilli, S. et al., 2011. Ultrasonic pretreatment of sludge: A review.
Ultrasonics Sonochemistry, 18(1), pp.1–18. Available at: http://dx.doi.
org/10.1016/j.ultsonch.2010.02.014.
Delft University of Technology
Faculty of Civil Engineering
Water Management Department
Sanitary Engineering Section
E-mail: j.a.gonzalezortega@
tudelft.nl
Phone: +31 15 2781916
www.sanitaryengineering.tudelft.nl
Postal address:
P.O. BOX 5048
2600 GA Delft
Visiting address:
Stevinweg 1
2611 CN Delft
Building of Civil Engineering
Start date project: Feb 2016
Expected end date: Feb 2020
Key words:
Waste Activated Sludge;
Thermochemical treatment;
anaerobic digestion; VS reduction;
methane production
Cooperation with other institutes:
Royal Haskoning DHV
75
Individual Projects
Bayardo Gonzalez Rodriguez
Arsenic Removal for Drinking Water Treatment in
Nicaraguan Rural Communities
Research objectives
Health etc). The second step consists in locating arsenic-
The aim of this research is to enhance fundamental
affected communities and determine As concentration, As
understanding of As(III) and As(V) removal
NF
speciation, As source, as well as measuring the chemical
membranes. These finding will be used to develop an
and physical composition of water. This baseline study
effective and affordable RO/NF treatment system driven
will allow for a smart design of experimental procedures
by Human and Solar power for the removal of arsenic in
for the laboratory experiments to be executed in the
groundwater for rural communities and small towns in
Netherlands.
by
Nicaragua.
Project outline
Scientific relevance
Nanofiltration (NF) membranes have proved to be reliable
Introduction
in removing arsenic species from water over a wide range
Water ingestion with high concentrations of Arsenic (As),
of operational conditions. Furthermore NF is a promising
leads to greater cancer risk than any other common
technology for arsenic removal since it requires less
water contaminant. (Smith AH et al, 2007). According
energy than traditional reverse osmosis membranes.
to a study published by Barragne-Bigot in 2004, in
However the biggest challenges ahead lie in applying the
Nicaragua approximately 55,700 people were ingesting
technologies in poor and rural communities. Therefore
water contaminated by arsenic (As). Most of those people
is a need for systematic investigation of the use of NF
lived in scattered small rural communities or were semi-
membranes for small scale systems.
concentrated in municipal and small towns. The number
of people who currently are ingesting water with arsenic
Social relevance
in rural Nicaraguan communities is unknown. A clean and
In Nicaragua the knowledge of arsenic removal systems
safe drinking water supply is a basic human right that is
comes from the research performed by local universities
being denied to poor and rural communities affected by
or NGOs working with water and sanitation. Despite the
arsenic poisoning and a limited access to water.
great efforts of the universities and NGOs, there is still
very little hands-on experience with arsenic removal. For
this reason, it can be said that this first and long-term
study is aimed at evaluating, adapting and developing
arsenic removal systems so they can be used at a local
level.
By combining scientific inquiry with a concern for
social welfare, this study will be useful as a document
of reference in universities, research centers on water
resources, NGOs and institutions working on water supply
projects or managing this service at a private or public
Figure 1. Municipalities of Nicaragua with water sources
where arsenic concentration exceeds the national regulatory
limit of arsenic in drinking water (10μg As/ l) as of 2011.
(Bundschuh J, et al, 2011)
level.
Approach
to arsenic problems in rural communities in Nicaragua,
In the first PhD year, the aim is to gather all the available
recently defined arsenic as a forgotten deadly threat.
information related to arsenic in Nicaragua. This
Therefore, this study will be of great help to understand
information is scattered in different institutions (e.g the
the real reach of the arsenic problem in Nicaragua.
Nicaraguan Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers, Ministry of
76
The Director of UNICEF in Nicaragua, Philippe BarragneBigot, who a few years ago led several research related
Bayardo Gonzalez Rodriguez
Literature
Altamirano
Espinoza M. Bundschuh J. Natural arsenic groundwater
contamination of the sedimentary aquifers of the southwestern Sébaco
valley, Nicaragua. In: Bundschuh J. Armienta MA Birkle P. Battacharya P,
Matschullat J, Mukherjee AB, editors, Natural arsenic in groundwater of
Latin America, Leiden, The Netherlands : CRC Press/Balkema Publisher
: 2009. P 109- 2002
Barragne P (2004). Contribución al estudio de cinco zonas contaminadas
naturalmente por arsénico en Nicaragua. UNICEF, Managua, Nicaragua.
Delft University of Technology
Faculty of Civil Engineering
Water Management Department
Sanitary Engineering Section
E-mail: b.j.gonzalezrodriguez@
tudelft.nl
www.sanitaryengineering.tudelft.nl
Postal address:
P.O. BOX 5048
2600 GA Delft
Visiting address:
Stevinweg 1
2611 CN Delft
Building of Civil Engineering
Start date project: Jun 2014
Expected end date: Jun 2018
Key words:
Arsenic, removal, groundwater,
nanofiltration , adpsortion,
zerovalent iron
Cooperation with other institutes:
PIENSA (Research Program,
National Studies and
Environmental Services),
Nicaragua, The National Water
Authority (ANA), Nicaragua
77
Individual Projects
Jink Gude
Understanding arsenic mobility for smart fixation during
drinking water treatment
Research objectives
Approach
▪▪
Understanding arsenic redox behavior and arsenic
The focus of the research will be to understand the natural
adsorption.
arsenic removal capacity of groundwater treatment plants
Developing a water quality model for arsenic removal
during (1) abstraction/mixing, (2) aeration, (3) short
during groundwater treatment.
storage, and (4) sand filtration.
▪▪
▪▪
Optimizing arsenic removal in groundwater treatment
plants by adjusting operational parameters and/or
adding natural groundwater components.
Project outline
Introduction
Arsenic removal is extensively researched because intake
of arsenic can lead to skin disease, cancer, kidney heart
failure and diabetes and paralysis. WHO guidelines on
arsenic are 10 µg/l, but drinking water companies in
Figure 1. Typical groundwater treatment set-up in the
Netherlands
the Netherlands recently set a new target value, arsenic
For this purpose, extensive measurements in 3 typical
concentrations smaller than 1 µg/L, to eliminate every
groundwater treatment plants were executed. The
health risk.
measurements included typical groundwater parameters,
Expensive and invasive methods for complete arsenic
but also arsenic speciation, analysis of filter sand coatings,
removal exist. However, more elegant solutions for
backwash water and supernatant water experiments. A
this concentration range are yet to be investigated for
graphical abstract of the findings is shown in Figure 2.
existing groundwater treatment plants. Current practices
The results of these measurements are published and
for arsenic removal include reverse osmosis, which has
unravel the major aspects and mechanisms of arsenic
excellent arsenic retention, but such an installation is
oxidation and adsorption during groundwater treatment.
expensive for the removal of few micrograms of arsenic.
The same is valid for building a polishing step that can be
applied by passing the water through adsorptive media or
ion-exchange resins. More realistic options are the use of
strong oxidants in combination with coagulants like ferric
chloride to adsorb all arsenic. However the use of these
chemicals must be accompanied with extensive safety
measures.
This research project will develop alternative solutions
for smart fixation of arsenic to concentrations below 1
µg/L without expensive installations and ‘dangerous’
chemicals. Preferably natural components will be added
Figure 2. Arsenic mobility during full-scale aeration and rapid
sand filtration
before or during treatment to minimize cost, making large
Results from extensive jar test with arsenic, iron and
adjustments to the treatment schemes obsolete and do
manganese are being interpreted. Subsequently batch
not compromise the stability of the groundwater.
reactors and column tests will be used to further
investigate reaction kinetics under controlled, isolated
conditions. Based on the results of the previous steps
a model for kinetic arsenic behavior during oxidation,
precipitation and adsorption reactions will be developed.
78
Jink Gude
Scientific relevance
Most detailed arsenic related studies are executed by geochemists and
are concerning arsenic processes on an infinite time scale in the soil.
In these studies the focus lies on equilibrium reactions, rather than
kinetics. Existing arsenic removal studies are focussed on removal of
moderate to high arsenic concentrations in groundwater containing
low iron. Virtually no research has been done on arsenic oxidation and
adsorption behavior at very low concentrations in a natural groundwater
matrix. The aim of this research project is to develop a model that will
predict arsenic oxidation, precipitation and adsorption processes during
groundwater treatment.
Social relevance
The best drinking water for a reasonable price is the ambition of
every drinking water company. Arsenic is a substance that even at
low concentrations is now considered for removal, but not at all cost.
By understanding the detailed mechanisms of arsenic removal at low
concentrations, we are developing new, elegant technologies to assure
safe water.
Delft University of Technology
Faculty of Civil Engineering
Water Management Department
Sanitary Engineering Section
E-mail: [email protected]
www.sanitaryengineering.tudelft.nl
Postal address:
P.O. BOX 5048
2600 GA Delft
Visiting address:
Stevinweg 1
2611 CN Delft
Building of Civil Engineering
Start date project: Jun 2014
Expected end date: Jun 2018
Key words:
Arsenic removal, low
concentrations
Cooperation with other institutes:
-
79
Individual Projects
Noor Gulamussen
Potentials of sewage water reclamation for industrial use in
Maputo, Mozambique
Research objectives
and application requirements that create an optimal
▪▪
Review reuse of water reclamation for industrial
balance between maximum use of all available water and
applications in sub-Saharan Africa.
minimum treatment costs.
▪▪
Identify water requirement for industries in Maputo.
Technological research will be designed based on the
▪▪
Develop appropriate technologies for wastewater
observations in the field and technological options that are
treatment and reuse in those industries.
available (and under research at TU Delft and UNESCO-
▪▪
Test the selected technologies.
▪▪
Evaluate
the
impact
of
IHE) and can be adapted to the local situation. Typically,
implementing
water
reclamation.
the technologies, such as low-cost membranes, biological
and crystallization processes, will be investigated in
the lab, before being tested in the field at pilot scale.
Project outline
Knowledge sharing with experts in the field is part of the
Introduction
methods.
Water is a critical natural resource that is becoming
progressively scarce mainly due to increasing demand
Results
as a result of high population, economic growth and
Enhanced fundamental knowledge on water reuse
climate change (Schewe et al., 2014; United Nations,
methodologies, by:
2015). Serious water shortages and stricter regulations
▪▪
on wastewater discharge increase the interest in water
reclamation worldwide (Rietveld, Norton-Brandão et al.
Obtaining knowledge on informal, and formal use of
alternative water sources in Maputo.
▪▪
Contributing to study of water reuse from an
2011). On the other hand, the potential for resource
integrated socio-technical perspective combined with
recovery from wastewater and sludge is largely untapped
formal and informal practices and understanding
and in developing countries only a small portion of
wastewater is used in a planned and safe manner, while
power dynamics.
▪▪
Producing required water quality for industrial reuse
the majority remains untreated or partially treated,
applications in terms of health risks, clogging, fouling,
and is more commonly used in the unregulated than
corrosion and scaling.
formal irrigation sector (Wichelns, Drechsel et al. 2015).
Compared to surface water, reclaimed wastewater can be
Scientific relevance
a more attractive source, because of low fluctuations of
The project will contribute on new approaches and
water quality and its abundant availability (Van Agtmaal,
technologies in planning and design of wastewater
de Boks et al. 2007). The planning for water reuse is
treatment systems in the context of sub-Saharan
crucial for sustainable water resource management as
countries by developing:
it can constitute an essential component of local efforts
▪▪
drivers.
(Wichelns, Drechsel et al. 2015). This project will identify
and evaluate technological and socio-economic options
▪▪
New technologies for sewer mining, re-using water
energy and nutrients on a profitable basis.
for water reclamation for industrial use in sub-Saharan
countries – the case of Maputo, Mozambique
Novel conceptual models for co-creative participation
on water reuse, that provides insight in end users’
to optimize water use and reduce the water shortage
▪▪
The concept of “water-fit-for-use” that will result
in a matrix tool linking raw water quality, required
Approach
water quality and possible (scalable) water treatment
In this project a mixed methods approach of qualitative
technologies.
and quantitative research and water cascading will be
used. Key element of water cascading is determining
combinations of water source qualities, water treatment
80
Noor Gulamussen
Social relevance
This approach will reduce the pressure on the limited water resources
and increase the total available water supply for domestic use. It will also
create driving forces for appropriate sanitation services. A direct impact
of this project will be the reduction of nutrients and other pollutants
entering waterways and the preservation of wetlands and sensitive
marine ecosystems, reducing also health risks in touristic areas.
Literature
Rietveld, L., et al. (2011). “Possibilities for reuse of treated domestic
wastewater in The Netherlands.” Water Science and Technology 64(7):
1540.
Schewe, J., et al. (2014). “Multimodel assessment of water scarcity
under climate change.” Proceedings of the National Academy of
Sciences 111(9): 3245-3250.
United Nations. (2015). Water for a sustainable world. World water
report
Van Agtmaal, J., et al. (2007). “Evaluation of feed water sources and
retrofitting of an Integrated Membrane System.” IWA, Antwerpen: 1.
Wichelns, D., et al. (2015). Wastewater: Economic Asset in an Urbanizing
World. Wastewater, Springer: 3-14.
Delft University of Technology
Faculty of Civil Engineering
Water Management Department
Sanitary Engineering Section
E-mail: [email protected]
www.sanitaryengineering.tudelft.nl
Postal address:
P.O. BOX 5048
2600 GA Delft
Visiting address:
Stevinweg 1
2611 CN Delft
Building of Civil Engineering
Start date project: May 2015
Expected end date: May 2019
Key words:
Water, reuse, industry,
wastewater treatment, water
reclamation
Cooperation with other institutes:
Eduardo Mondale University,
UNESCO IHE
81
Individual projects
Hongxiao Guo
Biomethane and alginate-like exo-polymers recovery from
sewage sludge by a two-phase plug-flow anaerobic digestion
system
Research objectives
ALEs
The overall research objectives of this study are:
commercially available alginate, which generally is
1. To obtain comprehensive understanding of key
extracted from seaweed, and has been detected in high
factors affecting hydrolysis rate, biomethane production
quantities in WAS, especially in aerobic granular sludge.
and alginate-like exo-polymers (ALEs) liberation, in a
Their susceptibility for degradation or partial conversion,
two-phase plug-flow anaerobic digestion (AD) system,
i.e. changes in molecular structure during anaerobic
and
digestion, is still unknown. Degradation or liberation of
2. To assess the optimized operational performance
ALEs during the different process phases of a multiple
in terms of maximized VS reduction, maximized bio-
stage AD system will be determined and optimized for
methane production, and highest possible ALEs recovery
product recovery.
from
WAS
have
similar
characteristics
as
in combination with the shortest possible HRT and lowest
energy input.
Approach
1. A multiple phase plug-flow AD system and a
Project outline
conventional CSTR will be operated in parallel for
Introduction
long-term operational experiments, in which different
Anaerobic digestion (AD) is generally accepted as one of
operational parameters will be assessed that will lead to
the most technically mature and cost-effective process
maximized process efficiency and product recovery.
for partially converting waste activated sludge (WAS)
2. Anaerobic degradation of the different fractions of
into biogas. In order to further enhance the digester
WAS, as well as ALE liberation and/or partial conversion
performance, reactor design will be re-evaluated and
will be studied in batch tests.
adjusted. Thus far, different configurations have been
3. A modified ALEs extraction method will be used,
used to digest WAS, including continuous-flow stirred-
which was developed by Lin et al. (2010).
tank reactors (CSTRs) and (multi-) phased AD systems.
Although the CSTR is widely used for degrading the
Scientific and Social relevance
organic fraction of WAS, the nature of the reactor design
A novel multiple-phase plug-flow AD system will be
forces diverse groups of bacteria to coexist within the
developed for increased WAS stabilization and biogas
same physical and chemical environment, contradicting
production, leading to reduced costs at sewage treatment
with the aim to optimise each different process step in
plants. In addition, the perceived system provides good
AD. In other words, long solids retention times (SRTs)
opportunities to research the dynamic changes of ALEs
are usually required during CSTR operation to balance
during excess sewage sludge anaerobic digestion.
hydrolytic conversions, acidogenesis and methanogenis
Based on the novel insights, their potential for industrial
in order to avoid fatty acid accumulation and ensure
applications will be evaluated. The overall findings of this
stable process operation. In contrast, in (two-) phased
research will contribute to convert sewage treatment
AD systems, WAS conversion is separated into a
plants into “energy and resource recovery plants”.
hydrolytic/acidogenic phase and a methanogenic phase,
which sometimes improved reactor stability and WAS
degradation efficiency (references needed!!!). However,
knowledge about the degradation of the different
organic fractions in WAS in the different phases of such
system and their relationship between optimal digester
performance and biomethane production is still unknown.
82
Hongxiao Guo
Literature
Pohland, F.G., Ghosh, S. 1971. Developments in anaerobic stabilization
of organic wastes-the two-phase concept. Environ Lett, 1(4), 255-66.
Lin, Y., de Kreuk, M., van Loosdrecht, M.C.M., Adin, A. 2010.
Characterization of alginate-like exopolysaccharides isolated from
aerobic granular sludge in pilot-plant. Water Research, 44(11), 33553364.
Maspolim, Y., Zhou, Y., Guo, C.H., Xiao, K.K., Ng, W.J. 2015. Comparison
of single-stage and two-phase anaerobic sludge digestion systems Performance and microbial community dynamics. Chemosphere, 140,
54-62.
Delft University of Technology
Faculty of Civil Engineering
Water Management Department
Sanitary Engineering Section
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: +31 682329482
www.sanitaryengineering.tudelft.nl
Postal address:
P.O. BOX 5048
2600 GA Delft
Visiting address:
Stevinweg 1
2611 CN Delft
Building of Civil Engineering
Start date project: Sept 2015
Expected end date: Sept 2019
Key words:
Anaerobic digestion, bioenergy,
resource recovery
Cooperation with other institutes:
Royal Haskoning DHV
83
Individual Projects
Juan Pablo Gutierrez
Suspended sediments in a highly turbid river: implications
for infiltration capacity during riverbank filtration
Research objectives
(Cauca River in Cali, Colombia) were used during the
The main goal of this study is to understand the
experiments).
mechanisms involved in the reduction of the infiltration
capacity during riverbank filtration (RBF) as result of
Results
clogging processes.
During the experiments, after 10 h a sudden flow drop
was observed when passing a 800 NTU turbid solution
Project outline
over the columns (Figure 2a). With the 90 NTU turbid
Introduction
solution the flow reduction occurred only after 70-80 h
RBF is a way of filtering surface water to be purified for use
(Figure 2b). Deep deposition of sediments did not occur
as drinking water through the banks of the river source,
when both turbid solutions passed the bed, indicating
using extraction wells located near to the water body in
that cake formation was the primary clogging mechanism.
order to ensure direct aquifer recharge. Using riverbeds
The formed cake layer, when subjected to 90 NTU was
and banks as filters implicates that RBF systems (like
lower (3 mm during eight days) than the one obtained at
other filters) are susceptible to some degree of clogging,
800 NTU (10 mm during three days), mainly due to the
since fine particles, suspended in the river water, can
lower sediment load, regardless of the difference in the
significantly alter the hydraulic conductivity of the bed
runtimes. This layer influences considerably the behavior
and limit aquifer recharge (Caldwell, 2006). Riverbed
of the flow rate.
clogging may occur on the surface or into the porous
media. External clogging corresponds to the cake build-
Cake clogging is preferred over deep bed clogging in RBF
up on the surface due to the deposition of suspended
systems, since the cake could be periodically cleaned
solids, reducing the permeability of the riverbed. The
by the river water flows. Deep clogging is not desired
cake formation depends on many factors, such as the
since it may be non-reversible, permanently negatively
particle size and concentration. Internal clogging befalls
influencing the hydraulic conductivity of the media as
when small particles enter the porous media. The cake
described by the experiences in the Netherlands.
layer, mainly formed by the deposition of sediments on
the riverbed surface, and the internal clogging must be
Scientific relevance
balanced by scouring of the riverbed in order for an RBF
This research will provide a better understanding of the
system to be sustainable.
mechanisms involved in the renewability of the infiltration
capacity in RBF systems, which may be extended to
Approach
stream systems where clogging and scouring processes
During 2015, clogging and turbidity removal experiments
are involved. Cross-flow velocity affects the deposition
were executed and consisted of: (1) conservative tracer
and resuspension of suspended solids in natural BF
injection in clean media, (2) turbidity solutions injection,
systems. Therefore, the practical application of this
and (3) conservative tracer injection in clogged media.
research to RBF systems is limited, since the experiments
These experiments were developed under different
were conducted under the absence of scouring forces.
turbidity levels and riverbed media sizes. The data
obtained will be used for the configuration of further
Social relevance
filtration – self-cleansing experiments.
The use of RBF has been limited due to perceived risks
of clogging during high sediment loads. Therefore, this
During laboratory-scale studies, two (2) cylindrical plexi-
research will offer information for engineers and decision-
glas columns (120 cm long and 13.5 cm ID) packed with
makers in order to assess properly the technology transfer
well-graded material (Figure 1) were used simultaneously
to places where highly turbid streams are found.
to test clogging during high and a low turbidity events.
Natural suspended sediments from a highly turbid river
84
Juan Pablo Gutierrez
Literature
Caldwell T. (2006). Presentation of data for factors significant to yield
from several riverbank filtration systems in the U.S. and Europe.
Proceedings of the NATO Advanced Research Workshop on Riverbank
Filtration Hydrology: Impacts on System Capacity and Water Quality,
Bratislava, Slovakia, September 2004, pp. 299-344.
Figure 1. Infiltration columns experiments conducted in Cali, Colombia,
using natural sediments from Cauca River
Delft University of Technology
Faculty of Civil Engineering
Water Management Department
Sanitary Engineering Section
E-mail: [email protected]
www.sanitaryengineering.tudelft.nl
Postal address:
P.O. BOX 5048
2600 GA Delft
Visiting address:
Stevinweg 1
2611 CN Delft
Building of Civil Engineering
Figure 2. Head loss and flow variation during experiments with well-graded
bed and natural suspended sediments into (a) 800 NTU and (b) 90 NTU
Start date project: Oct 2011
Expected end date: 2017
Key words:
Riverbank Filtration, Clogging,
Turbidity Peaks
Cooperation with other institutes:
Cinara Institute / Universidad del
Valle
85
Individual Projects
Amir Haidari
Visualization of hydraulic conditions inside the feed channel
of RO using PIV
Research objectives
Results
Comparison of the hydraulic conditions inside the empty and
Figure 1 illustrates the spatial variations of the velocity
spacer-filled channel is the main objective of this study.
averaged over time at the middle of spacer-filled channel
(Z2). Figure 8a shows the vector velocity map over the
Project outline
whole field of view, while the Figure 1b and Figure 1c
Introduction
respectively illustrate the cross section X(y= -2.41mm)
Desalination by Reverse Osmosis (RO) and Nanofiltration
and Y(x = 4.73mm) of vector velocity values for empty and
(NF) increases is the dominate desalination technology
spacer-filled channel. Figure 1a shows that the greatest
at the moment. DesalData reported that about 78.4% of
diversion of the vector velocity from the flow direction at Z2
contracted desalination capacity in 2015 was provided by
can be observed in the direct adjacent of the filaments at
the RO and NF. The takeover of desalination by RO is mainly
the downstream part of each mesh.
due to lower cost of RO compare to other desalination
Comparing Figure 1a with cross-section in the X-direction
techniques. That is while that the spiral wound modules
(Figure 1b) reveals that the lowest velocity occurs at the
of RO (SWMRO), by far, is the most applied configuration
nodes, while highest velocity values occur in the distance
of RO. The wider application of RO influenced the choice
between the nodes and the middle of mesh. The velocity
of the feed water as well. Historically, the first generation
values in the middle of the meshes, however, are slightly
of RO used for purification of seawater. With passing
lower than the average velocity. Lau et al. [39] achieved
of time, brackish water, wastewater and freshwater are
a comparable velocity map as Figure 1a in the middle of
also indirectly exposed to RO for purification. Application
the flow channel they used for a feed spacer of 1.0 mm at
of RO on freshwater is mainly increased due to increase
flow attract angle of 45o by using a computer model. When
of xenobiotics substances in surface freshwater as the
comparing Figure 1a with cross-sectional profile parallel to
consequence of presence of residual wastewater from
the flow (Figure 1c), the lowest velocity can be observed
industrial, agricultural and medical sections. However,
at the nodes, while the highest velocity can be detected
the only important change SWMRO have undergone was
directly at the downstream of the nodes. That is while at the
increasing of the thickness of their feed spacer, which
distance of about 25% toward each node from the center
results in ultralow pressure ROs (second generation). That is
of each mesh, the velocity remains more or less constant.
partly due to the fact that our understanding of membrane
process is limited [1, 2]. For instance, our undressing of
the temporal and spatial hydraulic conditions inside the feed
channel of SWMRO is incomplete. Our limited understanding
of hydraulic conditions of SWM is thanks to visualization by
computational models. Visualization by experimental models
was limited due to low resolution of available methods in the
past and difficulty of application of proper methods at the
moment.
Approach
Particle image velocimetry is an experimental visualization
method, which is used in this study to obtain information
about the temporal and spatial conditions inside the empty
and spacer-filled channel in the laboratory scale. Some of
these results are mentioned below.
86
Figure 1. For ease of visualization, the numbers of vectors in
Figure 1a are reduced from its original state
Amir Haidari
Scientific relevance
Succeeding in better understanding of the hydraulic conditions inside the
feed channel of RO leads us to the proper design of membrane modules
for each type of the feed water.
Social relevance
At the moment our drinking water companies provide top water quality.
This can be remains the same by applying the new trustworthy methods
such as RO as a barrier against all kinds of known and unknown pollutants.
Liturature
[1] W.G.J.v.d. Meer, Het drinkwaterbedrijf van de toekomst?, in, TU-Delft,
Delft University Of Technology, 2013.
[2] W.G.J. van der Meer, Membraanfiltratie : Presteren onder druk,
University of Twente, Enschede, the Netherlands, 2008, pp. 44.
Delft University of Technology
Faculty of Civil Engineering
Water Management Department
Sanitary Engineering Section
E-mail: [email protected]
www.sanitaryengineering.tudelft.nl
Postal address:
P.O. BOX 5048
2600 GA Delft
Visiting address:
Stevinweg 1
2611 CN Delft
Building of Civil Engineering
Start date project: Nov 2011
Expected end date: Nov 2015
Key words:
Feed Spacer, Fouling, Reverse
Osmosis, Visiualization
Cooperation with other institutes:
Vitens Water Company
87
Individual Projects
Geert-Jan van Heck
How to close the gap between the outcomes of the asset
management analyses and the decision-making process in
Waternet’s drinking water section?
Research objectives
Decision-making literature was explored, which will form
Develop an asset management model for effective decision-
together with the outcomes of the interviews the basis
making in Waternet’s drinking water division.
for the development of an improved asset management
framework. This framework will be applied in another case
Project outline
and adopted based on the results of this case.
Introduction
The complexity of decision-making for drinking water
Results
utilities is growing. Drinking water systems are growing
The results so far include an overview of asset management
fully automated, existing of several subsystems and objects
frameworks
with more sophisticated and interconnected loops. At the
framework for Waternet’s drinking water division [3] and
same time, a large part of the utilities’ infrastructure is
different case studies applying the latter framework [4-7].
world-wide
[1],
an
asset
management
aging, while the condition and the risk of failure are often
unknown. Furthermore, the environment and society in
Scientific relevance
which the utilities operate are changing and becoming
An improved the asset management process by incorporating
more demanding. The interaction between the drinking
relevant decision-making theory and learning from applying
water infrastructure and its densely occupied operational
asset management theory in practice.
environment is increasing, causing a rise of conflicting
goals. Also the utilities’ internal goals are becoming more
Social relevance
and more conflicting. Problems are becoming more confuse
The asset management model, which will be developed,
and ill-structured, and additionally decision-making has to
is supposed to increase transparency in decision-making
deal with uncertainties.
and contribute to delivering drinking water utilities’ goals at
lowest social costs.
Asset management provides methods for capital intensive
utilities to translate the required service level of an
Literature
organisation to operation, maintenance and investment
1. Heck, G.J. van. Asset Management Frameworks
activities for the assets. The goal of asset management is
for (drinking water) infrastructures around the world.
to provide present and future required service level in the
An (not exhaustive) overview of different initiatives and
most effective way. Although decision-making and asset
developments. Proceedings of International Conference on
management are aiming at the same goals, in practice the
Infrastructure Systems. Infra 2008. Building Networks for a
outcomes of asset management analyses and the outcomes
Brighter Future. Rotterdam. 10-12 November 2008.
of the decision-making processes in drinking water utilities
2. Heck, G.J. van. Implementing asset management in the
show sometimes significant differences.
first water cycle company of the Netherlands (Waternet).
Proceedings
of
IPWEA
International
Public
Works
Approach
Conference. Melbourne, Australia. 6-10 September 2009.
The research is aiming to answer the question: how to close
3. Heck. G.J. van. Waternet drinking water tactical planning
the gap between the outcomes of the asset management
process. Proceedings of the ICE-Municipal Engineer, Volume
analyses and the decision-making process? To answer the
163, Issue 4, December 2010, pages 247-256.
question the following steps are undertaken. Based on asset
4. Heck, G.J. van. Herder, P. Kuit, J. Condition Assessment
management literature an asset management framework
of Pre-stressed Concrete Water Mains. Proceedings of the
is developed for Waternet’s1 drinking water division. This
24th International Congress on Condition Monitoring and
framework is applied in different cases in Waternet and
Diagnostics Engineering Management. Stavanger, Norway.
decision-makers were interviewed to discover their opinions
30th May till 1st June, 2011.
about asset management implementation within Waternet.
5. van Heck, G. and Hillegers, S. (2012) Answering 5 Basic
88
Geert-Jan van Heck
Asset Management Questions for Pre-Stressed Concrete Water Transport
Mains. Pipelines 2012: pp. 1265-1278.
6. van Heck, G., Hillegers, S. and Haazebroek, I. (2012) Interaction
of Water Transport Pipelines with Their Surroundings and Third Party
Activities. Pipelines 2012: pp. 1233-1244.
7. Van Heck, G.J. and Twigt. F.A. Linking drinking water supply level
of service to RAM performance criteria of production and pumping
installations. Proceedings of Asset management Conference 2012, IET and
IAM. 27-28 November 2012. London.
1
Waternet is a water cycle utility taking care of wastewater, drinking water,
surface water, groundwater and safety behind dykes in Amsterdam and
surroundings
Delft University of Technology
Faculty of Civil Engineering
Water Management Department
Sanitary Engineering Section
E-mail: geertjan.van.heck@
waternet.nl
[email protected]
www.sanitaryengineering.tudelft.nl
Postal address:
P.O. BOX 5048
2600 GA Delft
Visiting address:
Stevinweg 1
2611 CN Delft
Building of Civil Engineering
Start date project: Jan 2008
Expected end date: 2017
Key words:
Asset management, decisionmaking
Cooperation with other institutes:
Waternet
89
Individual Projects
Alexander Hendriks
High-rate VFA production from industrial waste using the
granular sludge process
Research objectives
Figure 1 gives an overview of the reactor setup that is
For the production of bioplastics, polyhydroxyalkanoate
going to be used for this research.
(PHA) can be used as raw material. For efficient PHA
production, volatile fatty acids (VFAs) are needed, which
Results
can be obtained through anaerobic fermentation using
The project aims on elucidating typical process engineering
low-grade wastewater. Using granular sludge technology
related aspects of the process like the impact of solids
for the fermentation process could enhance conversion
retention time and operational variables. Figure 2 is an
efficiencies, reduce reactor size and will lead to biomass
example of the temperature and pH dependent growth
free, but VFA rich effluent. The application of granular
rate of Clostridium butyricum according to a Cardinal
sludge technology for VFA production of wastewater
growth model. Experiments will be conducted with
is however a largely unexplored research topic. Aim of
specific substrates and mixtures of substrates (artificial
this research is to develop a novel reactor technology
wastewater). Also the influence of (un)degradable solids
using different operational conditions and (mixtures of)
on the granule formation and VFA product spectrum will
substrates and study its effect on granule formation and
be investigated.
VFA product spectra.
Project outline
Scientific relevance
The application of the granular sludge technology for
Introduction
pre-acidification of wastewater is a largely unexplored
Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are biopolymers produced
research topic. This results of this research should
by many different bacteria as an intracellular carbon and
shed some light on the effects of different operational
energy reserve material. In response to the problems and
conditions and (mixtures of) substrates on granule
harmful effects of plastic wastes on the environment,
formation and VFA product spectra.
PHAs attract considerable attention as alternative for
petroleum based plastics because they are biodegradable
Social relevance
and made from renewable resources (Braunegg et al.,
As mankind we should shift to a more sustainable and
1998; Leaversuch, R., 1987). This research will focus
biobased society. VFA’s are a useful building block for
on the production of a VFA rich medium from effluent
products in this biobased society, as for bioplastics.
of agro- and food industries. This medium could be used
The results of this research will bring valorization of
hereafter for bioplastic production or utilised differently.
wastewater streams a step closer.
Approach
Literature
For efficient PHA production, the conversion of organic
Braunegg,
substrate into VFA should be maximized, the VFA
Polyhydroxyalkanoates, biopolyesters from renewable
composition should be controllable, production of
resources: physiological and engineering aspects. Journal
hydrogen and methane gas should be avoided, biomass
of Biotechnology 65 (2-3), 127-161.
concentrations in the bioreactor’s effluent should be
Johson, K., Jiang, Y., Kleerebezem, R., Muyzer, G., Van
minimized and the reactor should be as compact as
Loosdrecht, M.C.M., 2009. Enrichment of a mixed
possible to minimize investment costs. A possible way
bacterial culture with a high polyhydroxyalkanoate
to fulfill these objectives is by using a granular sludge
storage capacity. Biomacromolecules 10 (4), 670-676
process. The research will focus on granule formation,
Leaversuch, R., 1987. Industry weighs the need to make
stability and the effects of operational conditions, like
polymer degradable. Modified Plastics 64, 52-55
temperature and pH, and suspended solids as substrate
on granules VFA production and VFA spectra.
90
G.,
Lefebvre,
G.,
Genser,
K.F.,
1998.
Alexander Hendriks
Delft University of Technology
Faculty of Civil Engineering
Water Management Department
Sanitary Engineering Section
E-mail: [email protected]
www.sanitaryengineering.tudelft.nl
Postal address:
P.O. BOX 5048
2600 GA Delft
Figure 1. Reactor set-up
Visiting address:
Stevinweg 1
2611 CN Delft
Building of Civil Engineering
Start date project: Sep 2013
Expected end date: Sep 2017
Key words:
Volatile Fatty Acids, Anaerobic
Fermentation, Bioplastics,
Hydrogen
Cooperation with other institutes:
STW, Paques
Figure 2. Example of a fermentation pattern during a stable period
91
Individual Projects
Jingyi Hu
Micro-pollutant removal from domestic wastewater
treatment plant effluent by activated carbon
Research objectives
scale anthracite-sand filter was operated to immobilize
This thesis aims at clarifying the adsorption mechanisms,
PAC for micro-pollutant adsorption from the secondary
i.e. the adsorption competition between micro-pollutants
effluent of a WWTP.
and the bulk organic matter originated from wastewater
treatment plant (WWTP) effluents; and identifying the
Results
optimal application of activated carbon in the WWTP for
The PAC with the highest amount of micropores performed
efficient micro-pollutant removal. The following research
the best for micro-pollutant adsorption in a batch system
questions were raised:
where site competition was the main mechanism (Hu
▪▪
▪▪
▪▪
▪▪
What type of activated carbon is less subjected to
et al., 2014a). While the GAC, exhibiting a wider pore
adsorption competition?
size distribution (including micropores and mesopores),
Which fraction of the bulk organic matter contributes
was apt to the bulk organic matter preloading, reducing
most to the adsorption competition?
the micro-pollutant adsorption considerably (Hu et al.,
How are the physicochemical properties of the
2015c). In terms of the co-present organic matter, it was
target micro-pollutant related to the adsorption
discovered that the low molecular weight organics (Hu
competition?
et al., 2014a) and the hydrophobic organics (Hu, 2015)
Where to dose powdered activated carbon (PAC) in
represented the most competing components, mainly
the WWTP? How to dose the PAC to the tertiary filter
via site competition. During full-scale operation of a GAC
of a WWTP?
filter, the low molecular weight organics occupied the
micropores of GAC, rendering less adsorption sites for the
Project outline
target micro-pollutant (Hu et al., 2015b). The positively
Introduction
charged and hydrophobic micro pollutants were less
Activated carbon has been widely applied for surface
influenced when GAC was preloaded by the co-present
water treatment (Hu et al., 2014b), and is increasingly
bulk organic matter (Hu et al., 2015c).
being adopted for the advanced wastewater treatment,
particularly aiming at micro-pollutant removal. The
It was suggested to dose PAC in secondary effluent of a
adsorption ability of activated carbon for micro-pollutants
WWTP instead of primary effluent (e.g. in the activated
is compromised by the co-present organic matter, e.g.
sludge tank), due to less site competition derived from
the humic substances, polysaccharides, proteins, lipids,
the secondary effluent, which contains less low molecular
small acids etc, via adsorption competition. In practice,
weight organics (Hu, 2015). As an alternative option of
the approach of activated carbon application in the
dosing PAC in the secondary effluent, a novel approach
WWTP can determine its utilization efficiency. This work
to immobilizing PAC inside the WWTP tertiary filter
has been carried out to add more scientific and practical
demonstrated its feasibility and effectiveness. Specially,
insights on micro-pollutant elimination from the WWTP
a homogeneous distribution of PAC particles inside the
effluent by activated carbon adsorption.
filter bed offered a delayed micro-pollutant breakthrough
(Hu et al., 2015a).
Approach
Various PACs and granular activated carbons (GACs)
Scientific relevance
were used in batch and small-scale column experiments.
Although numerous studies have attempted to elucidate
WWTP effluent containing the co-present organic matter
the mechanisms of adsorption competition, there seems
was isolated by an anionic exchange resin (AER) and a
very few successful strategies that have been proposed in
nanofiltration membrane (NF), respectively, to analyze
practice to reduce adsorption competition. This research
the influence of different organic matter fractions. A
further clarifies the adsorption competition between
subset of pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs)
micro-pollutants and the organic matter originated
was selected as the main target micro-pollutants. A pilot-
from WWTP effluents. Furthermore, it demonstrates an
92
Jingyi Hu
economic and effective approach to enhancing the activated carbon
utilization in WWTP.
Societal relevance
Advanced wastewater treatment for micro-pollutant elimination is
becoming a necessity throughout Europe and the rest of the world.
This research provides practical solutions e.g. pre-treatment of the copresent organic matter, reuse of the spent GACs, and applying PAC in
a fixed-adsorber mode, for improving the removal of micro-pollutants
from WWTP effluents.
Literature
Hu, J., Aarts, A., Shang, R., Heijman, B., Rietveld, L., 2015a. Integrating
powdered activated carbon into a tertiary filter for micro-pollutant
removal from wastewater secondary effluent. In preparation.
Hu, J., Martin, A., Shang, R., Siegers, W., Cornelissen, E., Heijman, B.,
Rietveld, L., 2014a. Anionic exchange for NOM removal and the effects
on micropollutant adsorption competition on activated carbon. Sep.
Purif. Technol. 129, 25-31.
Hu, J., Shang, R., Deng, H., Heijman, S.G.J., Rietveld, L.C., 2014b. Effect
of PAC dosage in a pilot-scale PAC–MBR treating micro-polluted surface
water. Bioresour. Technol. 154, 290-296.
Hu, J., Shang, R., Heijman, B., Rietveld, L., 2015b. Reuse of spent
granular activated carbon for organic micro-pollutant removal from
treated wastewater. J. Environ. Manage. 160, 98-104.
Hu, J., Shang, R., Heijman, S.G.J., Rietveld, L.C., 2015c. Influence of
activated carbon preloading by EfOM fractions from treated wastewater
on adsorption of pharmaceutically active compounds. Chemosphere,
Under review.
Hu, J., Shang, R., Frolova, M., Heijman, B., Rietveld, L, 2015.
Pharmaceutical adsorption from the primary and secondary effluents
of a wastewater treatment plant by powdered activated carbon.
Desalination and Water Treatment, under minor revision.
Delft University of Technology
Faculty of Civil Engineering
Water Management Department
Sanitary Engineering Section
E-mail: [email protected]
www.sanitaryengineering.tudelft.nl
Postal address:
P.O. BOX 5048
2600 GA Delft
Visiting address:
Stevinweg 1
2611 CN Delft
Building of Civil Engineering
Start date project: Mar 2011
Expected end date: 2017
Key words:
Organic micro-pollutants,
activated carbon, wastewater
treatment plant, adsorption
competition, tertiary filter
Cooperation with other institutes:
-
93
Individual Projects
Nan Jiang
Zeolites as novel adsorbent in water treatment
Research objectives
while MFI type zeolites showed no obvious adsorption.
The objectives of the project are removing organic
BEA type zeolites had slightly better performance than
micropollutants with high-silica zeolites. The aim is to
MOR zeolites. In most cases, zeolite with higher SiO2/
ensure high water quality standards at lower operational
Al2O3 mole ratio showed higher adsorption capacity,
costs and at a lower environmental footprint compared to
since they are more hydrophobic.
activated carbon.
Adsorption of phenol: Phenol is a small and highly
Project outline
water-soluble compound. The capacity of all tested
Introductio
zeolites for phenol were below 5mg/g at the equilibrium
Currently, activated carbon filtration is the state-of-the-
concentration range 0-5mg/L. No significant relationship
art for the adsorption of organic micropollutants. High-
was observed between framework type, SiO2/Al2O3
silica zeolites can be an attractive alternative adsorbent
mole ratio of zeolites and adsorption capacity. MFI type
for activated carbon, as,
zeolites, the pore size of which are similar to the molecule
▪▪
Most NOM molecules are larger than the zeolite
size of phenol, did not show higher adsorption capacity
pores (<1 nm), and consequently will not compete
than other zeolites.
with targeted organic micro-pollutants or AOC for
▪▪
adsorption [Hung and Lin 2006].
Adsorption of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol: The adsorption
The adsorption is more effective with high-silica
experiments of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol is undergoing now.
zeolites than with activated carbon when there is a
close match in size between pollutant molecule and
Scientific relevance
zeolite pore[Ridder e.a. 2012].
Zeolites can be applied as a novel adsorbent to remove
a broad range of micropollutants. Their mechanism and
Approach
kinetics will be studied in detail. Adsorption and oxidation
▪▪
A broad set of pharmaceuticals is selected with
regeneration process can be combined to ensure the
variations in molecule charge, size and hydrophobicity.
long-term adsorption efficiency.
▪▪
▪▪
A series of commercial, high-silica zeolites are
selected based on a close fit with pharmaceuticals in
Literature
the selected set.
H.-W. Hung, T.-F. Lin, Adsorption of MTBE from
3 target organic compounds are selected in the
contaminated
test: phenol, 2,4,6-trichlorophenol and tricloson,
mordenite zeolite, J. Hazard. Mater., B, 135, 210-217,
with molecular weight 94, 197 and 289.54 g/mol,
2006.
respectively. Adsorption performance is related
D.J. de Ridder, J.Q.J.C. Verberk, S.G.J. Heijman, G.L. Amy,
to
J.C. van Dijk, Zeolites for nitrosamine and pharmaceutical
possible
adsorption
mechanisms
(close
fit,
hydrophobic interaction, charge interaction).
removal
from
water
by
carbonaceous
demineralised
and
resins
surface
and
water:
Mechanisms and efficacy. Separation and Purification
Results
Technology, 89, 71-11, 2012.
The data from experiments are analyzed by Langmuir
Zhang Y, Mancke RG, Sabelfeld M, Geissen S-U,
adsorption isotherm model. Most of the results fit
Adsorption of Trichlorophenol on Zeolite and Adsorbent
Langmuir models well by giving R2 value more than 0.9.
Regeneration with Ozone. Journal of Hazardous Material,
Adsorption of triclosan: Triclosan has the largest molecule
271, 178-184, 2014.
size among the 3 tested pharmaceuticals. The highest
adsorption capacity which is 370.37mg/g, was achieved
by FAU(500)(SiO2/Al2O3 mole ratio=500). FAU type
zeolites with largest pore size and BET surface area
displayed the highest adsorption capacity for triclosan,
94
Nan Jiang
Table 1. Basic properties of selected zeolites
Table 2. Langmuir isotherm parameters for adsorption of tricloson by FAU
type zeolites
Delft University of Technology
Faculty of Civil Engineering
Water Management Department
Sanitary Engineering Section
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: +31 15 2783539
www.sanitaryengineering.tudelft.nl
Postal address:
P.O. BOX 5048
2600 GA Delft
Visiting address:
Stevinweg 1
2611 CN Delft
Building of Civil Engineering
Start date project: Nov 2014
Expected end date: Oct 2018
Fig. 1. Results of phenol adsorption by high-silica zeolites
Key words:
Zeolites, micropollutants, AOC,
NOM, oxidation regeneration
Cooperation with other institutes:
Evides, PWN, Oasen, HWL
95
Individual Projects
Maarten Keuten
DIPool: Dutch Innovative Pool
Advanced UV-based technology for pool water treatment
Research objectives
Results
Reduction of chemical disinfectants in public swimming
The biofilm formation potential was studied at different
pools. This can be done by combining alternative
swimming pool conditions. Both chlorinated and non/
disinfection techniques with adapted water treatment in
chlorinated swimming pool water have low biofilm formation
a new pool water treatment concept including aspects
potential compared to tap water at 30°C (figure 2).
of hygienic control of pool visitors. The goal is to have
The use of biological filtration in both chlorinated and
chemical disinfectant free swimming pool water for public
non-chlorinated pool water treatment improves the
swimming pools.
removal of nitrogen containing pollutants, which can be
seen at the concentration of nitrate-n, which is more or
Project outline
less equal to the concentration of total nitrogen (figure
Introduction
The
main
disadvantage
3). On the absence of a biological filtration, nitrogen
of
chemically
disinfected
containing pollutants are remaining which may lead to
swimming pools is the formation of unwanted disinfection
the formation of nitrogen containing DBP.
by-products (DBPs). Reducing DBPs by abandoning
Hygienic behaviour of swimmers can be changed with the
chemical disinfectants introduces new challenges for
use of arguments. Pre-swim showering increased from
pool water treatment. The DIPool project investigates
25-28% during the experiment with the use of carefully
swimming pool water treatment without chemical
designed stickers (figure 4). The awareness on the
disinfectants to face these challenges. The biological
importance of hygienic behaviour among swimmers needs
stability of swimming pool water, pool water treatment
to be improved to reduce the release of anthropogenic
and the hygienic behaviour of swimmers was studied in
pollutants.
2014.
Approach
A pilot plant setup was used to focus on the pool water
treatment at chlorinated and non-chlorinated swimming
pool conditions (figure 1). The biofilm formation potential
was determined with the use of membrane fouling
simulators. Efficiency of treatment steps was also
determined. The hygienic behaviour of swimmers was
studied in cooperation with behavioural scientists from
Twente University.
Figure 2. Biofilm formation potential during chlorinated and
non-chlorinated experiments
Figure 3. Concentrations of NPOC, TN and nitrate-N during
chlorinated and non-chlorinated experiments
Figure 1. Experimental setup DIPool for biological stability
and treatment efficiency
96
Maarten Keuten
Figure 4. Sticker to improve hygienic behaviour of swimmers
Scientific relevance
Current pool water treatment relies on chemical disinfection. The
development of a pool water treatment with alternative disinfection
techniques is a new field of expertise. The influence of the dynamic
bathing load on the water quality must be kept in control. Creating
stable microbial pool water without the use of chemical disinfectants
can lead to new viewpoints for comparable water treatment processes.
Social relevance
Since the early ages bathing and swimming play an important role
in communities. The use of water basins changed over ages, while
swimming has always been a social activity. Complaints about “swimming
pool odour” and eye irritation are common reasons why nowadays some
people never visit public swimming pools. UV-Disinfected swimming
pools will provide healthy swimming without nuisance from disinfection
Delft University of Technology
Faculty of Civil Engineering and
Faculty of Applied Sciences
E-mail: [email protected] /
[email protected]
www.sanitaryengineering.tudelft.nl
Postal address:
P.O. BOX 5048
2600 GA Delft
Visiting address:
Stevinweg 1
2628 CN Delft
by-products.
Julianalaan 67
2628 BC Delf
Literature
Start date project:
End date project:
M.G.A. Keuten, M.C.F.M. Peters, H.A.M. Daanen, M.K. de Kreuk, L.C.
Rietveld, J.C. van Dijk Quantification of continual anthropogenic
pollutant release in swimming pools Water Research 53, (2014) p.259270.
M.G.A. Keuten, F.M. Schets, J.F. Schijven, J.Q.J.C. Verberk, J.C. van Dijk
Corrigendum to “Definition and quantification of initial anthropogenic
pollutant release in swimming pools” Water Research 49, (2014) p.484.
M.G.A. Keuten, F.M. Schets, J.F. Schijven, J.Q.J.C. Verberk, J.C. van Dijk
Definition and quantification of initial anthropogenic pollutant release in
swimming pools Water Research 46 (2012) p.3682-3692.
Jan 2009
2017
Key words:
Swimming pools, alternative
disinfection, disinfection
by-products, anthropogenic
pollutants, pool water treatment,
CFD, biofilm formation potential
Cooperation with other institutes:
Hellebrekers Technieken, Van
Remmen UV techniek, Akzonobel
Industrial Chemicals, Coram
International, Sportfondsen
Nederland
97
Individual Projects
Rian Kloosterman
Improving the effectiveness of assetmanagement of the
drinking water process
Research objectives
Approach
Vitens wants to know how they can integrate future
The research area is defined and divided into 3 research
uncertainties in their decisions of today. The investment
parts, corresponding with the three questions. The three
and operational decisions, or governance, concern all
research parts are subdivided into smaller parts.
the assets which are needed to produce drinking water.
This is called asset management of the drinking water
Results
infrastructure.
Two draft publications are submitted.
All the processes which are needed to manage
1) A better relation between innovation and public
the assets is the assetmanagement process. The
infrastructures; Drivers for successful innovation.
assetmanagement process is in a complex way influenced
2) Conflicting claims; Water provision in a world of
by a lot of stakeholders, physical conditions and technical
infrastructures
possibilities, a so called (drinking water) system.
Project outline
Scientific and social relevance
Assetmanagement is a young research field. Combining
The main question is to develop “rules” to handle future
scientific (institutional) theories in assetmanagement
uncertainties in the assetmanagement drinking water
theories for new assetmanagement questions is the
process.
scientific contribution.
To answer this question the following sub-questions have
to be answered:
Literature
1. Understanding and characterizing the system and the
PM
different components.
2. Understanding and describing the complexity of the
system in different environments
3. Developing “rules” to handle future uncertainties
To handle future uncertainties in the assetmanagement
drinking water process several theoretical concepts are
important: Common pool resources, Time dependency,
Uncertainty and Values.
98
Rian Kloosterman
Delft University of Technology
Faculty of Civil Engineering
Water Management Department
Sanitary Engineering Section
E-mail: [email protected]
www.sanitaryengineering.tudelft.nl
Postal address:
P.O. BOX 5048
2600 GA Delft
Visiting address:
Stevinweg 1
2611 CN Delft
Building of Civil Engineering
Start date project: May 2012
Expected end date: Oct 2017
Key words:
Strategic assetmanagement,
governanace, long term
uncertainty
Cooperation with other institutes:
PhD is a collaboration between
the faculty of CiTG and TBM
99
Individual Projects
Guido Kooijman
Application of flocculants in todays sewage treatment plant
Research objectives
Results
Effects of application of flocculants as chemically
Although pharmaceuticals are reported to sorp to colloids
enhanced primary treatment on a sewage treatment
in sewage to large extent, they could not be removed from
plant with a special focus on pharmaceutical removal,
wastewater by removing the colloids with flocculation.
anaerobic digestion and sludge dewatering.
We investigated the reason for this and it appeared that
pharmaceuticals do not sorp to small particulates (>0.1
Project outline
µm).
Introduction
Application of chemically enhanced pre-treatment (CEPT)
The sludge resulting from CEPT with flocculants appeared
is not widely used in the Netherlands. This is mainly
to be better degradable in anaerobic digestion (AD) with
because the critical COD/N ratio for denitrification will
higher degradation rates and higher biomethane potential
be negatively influenced by extensive pre-treatment.
(BMP) of the sludge. This was investigated and it was
However, with the perspective of a low COD/N tolerant
concluded that this was partially due to the flocculation
sewage treatment plant (STP) such as Nereda with
of more easily degradable material and partially due to
nitritation and Anammox (Winkler, Kleerebezem, & van
the reduced viscosity. Adding flocculants directly to the
Loosdrecht, 2012), CEPT is a concept that will regain
digester showed a higher digestion rate but a lower
attention in the future. Although CEPT is used already
Biomethane potential (BMP) due to irreversible binding of
since the ’30, in the Optimix project CEPT is evaluated
the substrate. This is shown the figure below.
as a solution for today’s problems. Micro pollutant
treatment,
sludge
dewaterability,
improved
biogas
anaerobic digestion as well as small footprint sewage
treatment plants (STPs) are considered in this project.
Approach
The consumption of pharmaceuticals has increased over
the last decades and is expected to further increase in the
future (Griens, 2010). The treatment of these compounds
in STPs is not complete and therefore pharmaceuticals
are accumulating in the environment. In literature,
pharmaceuticals are reported to sorb to large extent to
colloids. And since CEPT with flocculants enhances the
removal of colloids, a large share of pharmaceuticals
were expected to be concentrated in the primary
Also sludge dewatering is affected with the application
sludge, facilitating the treatment of these persistent
of CEPT with flocculants. Even after digestion the effects
compounds. Application of CEPT will also have an impact
of flocculants applied in the primary settler is well
on the subsequent STP treatment units. The anaerobic
maintained resulting in a particulates and a lower soluble
digestion (AD) may be affected and since flocculants are
protein content.
known to be poorly biodegradable in AD, the final sludge
dewatering might be favored by CEPT as well. CEPT were
Scientific relevance
used to flocculate raw sewage to create the samples for
This work gives more insight in the effects of flocculants
our laboratory experiments. Furthermore, experiments
on an anaerobic digester and opens the new perspective
with primary, secondary and digested sludges were
on pharmaceutical sorption in sewage.
performed to study the effects of CEPT dosage.
100
Guido Kooijman
Social relevance
The treatment plant of the future will allow for a lower COD/N ratio
and this will open the opportunity to remove as much as possible COD
from the wastewater as possible. Doing this with flocculants can have
several advantages such as small plant food print, higher biogas or VFA
production, lower aeration requirements and increased dewatering of
waste sludge.
Literature
Griens, A. M. G. F. (2010). Data en feiten 2010 - het jaar 2009 in cijfers.
Stichting Farmaceutische Kengetallen.
Winkler, M.-K. H., Kleerebezem, R., & van Loosdrecht, M. C. M. (2012).
Integration of anammox into the aerobic granular sludge process for
main stream wastewater treatment at ambient temperatures. Water
Research, 46(1), 136–44. doi:10.1016/j.watres.2011.10.034.
Delft University of Technology
Faculty of Civil Engineering
Water Management Department
Sanitary Engineering Section
E-mail: [email protected]
www.sanitaryengineering.tudelft.nl
Postal address:
P.O. BOX 5048
2600 GA Delft
Visiting address:
Stevinweg 1
2611 CN Delft
Building of Civil Engineering
Start date project: Jan 2011
Expected end date: 2017
Key words:
Anaerobic digestion, micro
pollutants, flocculants, sludge
dewatering
Cooperation with other institutes:
Hoogheemraadschap van Rijnland
Nalco B.V.
Het Waterlaboratorium
101
Individual Projects
Franca Kramer
Ceramic nanofiltration as the key step for sustainable wastewater
treatment with reclamation of water, energy and nutrients
Research objectives
Project outline
Where people live and work, wastewater is produced that
First, the interaction between the feed water and
has to be cleaned before discharge. Moreover, the quantity
the membrane surface will be investigated on lab
of clean and safe water is decreasing worldwide, as well
scale with artificial and real wastewater to obtain a
as our current nutrient sources like phosphate mines that
better understanding of the fouling behaviour in the
are depleting. The goal of this research project is to study
membranes. This knowledge will be useful for all the
a new concept of reclamation of water, nutrients and
next research objectives. Second, different membrane
energy from municipal wastewater. The concept consists
cleaning methods will be tested to obtain the best way
of a fine sieves to remove large particles followed by
to control fouling. Then, the water recovery and fluxes
a newly developed ceramic nanofiltration membrane.
of this filtration technique will be optimised to increase
The wastewater is expected to be concentrated with at
the efficiency, e.g. by using different stages of filtration.
least a factor 5, which results in a more than 80% water
Finally, a theoretical description of the ion retention
recovery. This water is polished with reverse osmosis to
behaviour in the membranes will be studied, using
make it suitable for industrial use, while the concentrate
transport mechanisms, ionic balances and experimental
from the ceramic membrane and the debris is fed to a
data to gain insight in the mechanisms of ceramic
digester to produce biogas, while nutrients from this flow
membrane filtration.
are recovered by precipitation (see alsofigure 1). From
lab and pilot scale, this innovative concept will be scaled
Scientific relevance
up to a demo plant in Stadshaven area in Rotterdam, the
Scientific knowledge on ceramic nanofiltration membranes
Netherlands, to provide high quality water to industries
is very limited especially in terms of wastewater treatment.
in that area.
This PhD research will lead to the understanding of the
ceramic nanofiltration and the driving forces of the
This PhD research focusses on ceramic nanofiltration,
filtration process. With this knowledge, the ceramic
the core of this concept. The research objectives are (i)
nanofiltration process can be designed to operate in the
understanding interaction between membrane and cake
most economical efficient way, considering the amount
layer formed by the retained suspended (and dissolved)
water produced and energy and chemical consumption.
matter, (ii) controlling the membrane fouling, and (iii)
optimising water recovery and fluxes.
Social relevance
Currently municipal wastewater is treated as a waste;
after collecting municipal wastewater in the sewer
system, and leading it through a wastewater treatment
plant, the water is discharged in the rivers. In this ceramic
nanofiltration concept municipal wastewater is used as a
resource for the reclamation of high quality water, energy
and nutrients. As our current reserves for fresh water,
energy, and nutrients (e.g. phosphate) are becoming
scarce, this concept will contribute to a more sustainable
Figure 1. New concept for reclamation of high quality water,
energy and nutrient from municipal wastewater using
ceramic nanofiltration
society.
This research is part of the RINEW (Rotterdam Innovative
Nutrients Energy Water) project, which is searching for
alternative concepts for the reclamation of municipal
wastewater from city areas and transfer it to valuable
products. RINEW is a collaboration between Evides
102
Franca Kramer
Industriewater, TU Delft, the City of Rotterdam, Hoogheemraadschap
van Delfland, Waterschap Hollandse Delta, and Clean Tech Delta.
Literature
Kramer, F.C., Shang, R., Heijman, S.G.J., Scherrenberg, S.M., van Lier,
J.B., Rietveld, L.C., 2015. Direct water reclamation from sewage using
ceramic tight ultra- and nanofiltration. Sep. Purif. Technol. 1–21.
Shang, R., Vuong, F., Hu, J., Li, S., Kemperman, A.J.B., Nijmeijer, K.,
Cornelissen, E.R., Heijman, S.G.J., Rietveld, L.C., 2015. Hydraulically
irreversible fouling on ceramic MF/UF membranes: Comparison of
fouling indices, foulant composition and irreversible pore narrowing.
Sep. Purif. Technol. 147, 303–310.
Shang, R., 2014. Ceramic Ultra- and Nanofiltration for Municipal
Wastewater Reuse. PhD Thesis.
Delft University of Technology
Faculty of Civil Engineering
Water Management Department
Sanitary Engineering Section
E-mail: [email protected]
www.sanitaryengineering.tudelft.nl
Postal address:
P.O. BOX 5048
2600 GA Delft
Visiting address:
Stevinweg 1
2611 CN Delft
Building of Civil Engineering
Start date project: Jun 2014
Expected end date: Jun 2018
Key words:
Ceramic Nanofiltration,
wastewater, demi water
production, sewer mining
Cooperation with other institutes:
Evides Industriewater
103
Individual projects
Niels van Linden
Project Description N2kWh – From pollutant to power
Research objectives
harmless N2 and water: no greenhouse gas emission.
The objective of this research is to develop an energy
This electrochemical process results in the production
positive system, including a solid oxide fuel cell, removing
of both electrical and thermal energy (Wojcik, Middleton
ammonia from low carbon, high nitrogen residual water
et al., 2003). SOFCs are considered to be high efficient
streams.
energy production systems, having an electrical efficiency
of approximately 50% and a total energy efficiency of 85
Project outline
– 95% (Larminie & Dicks, 2003).
Introduction
Ammonia (NH3) is world’s second most produced chemical
Approach
and is a vital resource for protein production. One of the
An SOFC has various fuel requirements, which do not
reasons NH3 becomes present in residual (waste) water
match to the composition of the residual water streams.
streams is protein degradation by organisms. NH3 is
Therefore, a suitable NH3 fuel must be produced from
regarded to be a pollutant for aqueous environments,
the residual streams. To this extent, a concentration step
because it potentially leads to algae blooming.
and a gas production step are required. The selection
of the most suitable techniques for these steps is key
In order to avoid environmental pollution, NH3 must be
for this research. After the selection, experiments will
removed from residual water streams, before the water
be conducted in order to optimize the performance of
is discharged to the aqueous environment. Current
the respective techniques. Simultaneously, a mass and
methods applied in waste water treatment plants (WWTP)
energy balance tool will be developed to evaluate various
consume significant amounts of energy. For example:
scenarios.
aeration (to facilitate NH3 removal by (de-)nitrification))
accounts for approximately 50-70% of the total energy
The produced electrical and thermal energy can internally
usage of a WWTP.
be used, in order to produce a suitable fuel from the
residual water streams. When the energy consumption
of the fuel production process is lower than the energy
production of the SOFC, an energy positive system to
remove NH3 from residual streams can be realized.
Results
Initial experiments with a SOFC on NH3 showed that 2.88
[kWh/kg-NH3] of electrical energy could be produced
when using a 10% w/w NH3 fuel.
Additionally, in exploring electrodialysis experiments, it
was shown that the migration of ionized NH3 required
0.40 – 0.65 [kWh/kg-NH3]. This performance indicator
can be used to determine the energy consumption for
ionized NH3 concentration.
This project focusses on the recovery of NH3 from
residual streams and subsequent processing of NH3 fuel
¬in a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC). In a SOFC, NH3 will
be cracked into nitrogen gas (N2) and hydrogen gas
(H2). The H2 is oxidized using oxygen gas (O2), which
is present in air. The exhaust gases of a SOFC contain
104
Niels van Linden
Scientific relevance
Multiple topics in this research will be of scientific relevance, such as
the mechanisms and energy optimization for concentration processes of
ionized NH3. The same holds for the production of a suitable NH3 fuel
for an SOFC out of concentrated NH3 residual streams. Additionally, the
performance of a SOFC on NH3 fuel produced from residual streams has
not be studied previously (according to current understanding).
Social relevance
The processing of NH3 in the described system addresses both the
production of clean energy and the treatment of residual water streams.
Since NH3 is no longer seen as pollutant, but as a compound carrying
energy, this might lead to a paradigm shift: from pollutant to power.
Considering NH3 as a suitable energy carrier as alternative for carbonbased compounds, adds to the promotion NH3 usage for residual
produced sustainable energy (from wind, sun, water, etc.) storage. The
energy reclamation of NH3 by means of a SOFC further strengthens
this idea.
Finally, the energy savings on the current techniques for NH3 removal
from residual streams might directly lead to financial consequences for
residual water treatment.
Delft University of Technology
Faculty of Civil Engineering
Water Management Department
Sanitary Engineering Section
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: +31 6 51260780
www.sanitaryengineering.tudelft.nl
Postal address:
P.O. BOX 5048
2600 GA Delft
Visiting address:
Stevinweg 1
2611 CN Delft
Building of Civil Engineering
Start date project: Apr 2016
Expected end date: Apr 2020
Key words:
Ammonia, SOFC, Electrodialysis,
Electrochemistry
Cooperation with other institutes:
KU Leuven
Literature
Larminie, J., & Dicks, A. (2003). Fuel Cell Systems Explained. Southern
Gate, Chichester: John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Wojcik, A., Middleton, H., Damopoulos, I., & Van herle, J. (2003).
Ammonia as a fuel in solid oxide fuel cells. Journal of Power
Sources, 118(1–2), 342-348. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S03787753(03)00083-1
105
Individual Projects
Antonio Manuel Moreno Rodenas
Propagation of uncertainties in integrated catchment
models
Research objectives
Approach
In the Eindhoven catchment, calibrated detailed water
This research has as main target to increment the current
quality models are available for the sewer, WWTP and
knowledge on catchment scale water quality modeling.
receiving waters, together with a simplified integrated
The objectives involve:
model (eg. in Langeveld et al., 2013). In addition, validated
monitoring data is available in all sub compartments.
▪▪
▪▪
▪▪
▪▪
Study how operational applications of integrated
This provides an excellent opportunity to assess the
catchment modeling affect the model structure
propagation of uncertainties in integrated models, as
definition.
monitoring data is available on the input (rainfall) and the
Evaluate the effects of spatiotemporal variability in
output (ammonia and dissolved oxygen concentration in
rainfall inputs on the model outcomes for dissolved
the receiving waters), as well as intermediate locations
oxygen/Ammonium quantification.
(CSOs, WWTP, influent).
Evaluate the trade off between model complexity and
information present in rainfall products.
This enables the influence of model structure uncertainty
Quantify how uncertainties propagate through the
transmission to be examined by comparing the uncertainty
different components of a simplified integrated
in the full and simplified models.
catchment model
Project outline
Scientific and social relevance
Watershed management under model-based decision
Introduction
making requires of a deeper knowledge of the uncertainty
The use of an Integrated Catchment Models (ICM)
produced in current water quality models, this project
is a common strategy to assess the compliance of
will try to provide a more complete identification of the
environmental requirements on water systems, to
production and transmission of it in each sub model part.
generate optimal decisions in infrastructure investment or
This can lead to a better understanding of the overall
acting as a valuable tool for policy makers. Unfortunately,
process and to be able to highlight the further research
due to the number and complexity of the linked processes
needs on data acquisition techniques features.
and the scarcity of monitoring data, the predictive
capability of these models is often compromised. It is
Social relevance
henceforth of importance to acknowledge the degree of
An incorrect investment plan can either overestimate or
uncertainty present in their responses. Allowing taking
underestimate the real needs of the physical system,
decisions from an informed perspective and avoiding
wasting social resources or not fulfilling the quality
“blind” confidence on the model outcomes.
requirements. With a finer assessment of the uncertainty
in model results, decision makers can select corrective
Large water systems at catchment scale are composed
measures and management practices under an objective
by several urban systems draining their waters along a
and informed perspective.
natural water body. Heavy storm events induce combined
sewer systems to overflow untreated wastewater at
different locations in the river. Those sub catchments are
located at distances beyond the decorrelation lengths of
many rainfall processes. Henceforth variability in time
and space of precipitation inputs influence the processes
in the system. It is still to assess what is the degree of
spatial and temporal discretization necessary to be able to
represent water quality dynamics in the receiving waters.
106
Antonio Manuel Moreno Rodenas
Literature
J.G. Langeveld, L. Benedetti, J. J. M. de Klein, I. Nopens, Y. Amerlinck,
A. van Nieuwenhuijzen, T. Flameling, O. van Zanten & S. Weijers (2013).
Impact-based integrated real-time control for improvement of the
Dommel River water quality. Urban Water Journal 10-5.
Delft University of Technology
Faculty of Civil Engineering
Water Management Department
Sanitary Engineering Section
E-mail: a.m.morenorodenas-1@
tudelft.nl
www.sanitaryengineering.tudelft.nl
Postal address:
P.O. BOX 5048
2600 GA Delft
Visiting address:
Stevinweg 1
2611 CN Delft
Building of Civil Engineering
Room 4.64
Start date project: Dec 2014
Expected end date: Dec 2018
Key words:
Uncertainty transmision,
integrated modeling, water
framework directive
Cooperation with other institutes:
University of Bradford, University
of Sheffield, University of
Bristol, Halcrow Group Limited,
Wageningen Universiteit, JustusLeibig-Universitaet Giessen,
Centre de Recherche Public Henri
Tudor, Eaewag: Swiss Federal
Institute of Aquatic Science and
Technology
107
Individual Projects
Julian Muñoz Sierra
BioXtreme – Anaerobic wastewater treatment under
extreme conditions
Research objectives
Approach
The aim of the study is to understand the bioconversion of
A selection of waste streams of interest is made, i.e. at those
model organic compounds (toxic/recalcitrant) existing in
industries where increased water efficiency is considered
industrial wastewaters streams under extreme conditions.
but hampered by the nature of the organic pollutants
The research is focused on the most suitable technology for
present. The treatability of the process water stream will
this purpose (i.e. anaerobic membrane bioreactors, AnMBrs)
be researched under controlled lab conditions and synthetic
to encourage reclamation of process waters for reuse.
wastewater making use of down-scaled reactor systems.
Attention is paid to the bioaugmentation of specific microbial
Relevant aspects of interests will be addressed such as
communities and their growth dynamics in highly filterable
biomass
sludge. An online control strategy will be proposed for the
of organic compounds, microbial population dynamics,
mitigation of membrane fouling within a long term operation
filterability, and fouling potentials. Trials will be conducted
of the AnMBRs, specially under thermophilic conditions.
with phenolic compounds. Phenol is a key intermediate in
retention/bio-augmentation,
conversion/toxicity
the anaerobic conversion of a wide variety of aromatics,
Project outline
and, therefore, is of particular interest. Anaerobic treatment
Introduction
of phenol-containing wastewater has been mostly carried
Industrial wastewaters generated in oil and chemical
out using granular reactors, and its application has been
industries are often characterized by extreme conditions
limited under mesophilic and ambient temperature making
such as the presence of refractory and hazardous chemical
the anaerobic degradation of phenolic compounds under
compounds, high salinity, high temperatures. Particularly
thermophilic condition a challenge for AnMBRs. The microbial
for these extreme types of wastewaters the conventional
community from the reactors will be analyzed using different
biological technologies have many limitations, but membrane
techniques.
assisted bio-treatment offers many advantages such as inreactor bio-augmentation of the required bacterial species
Experimental set-up
and maximized sludge retention times (SRT), ensuring high
The experiments are performed using three laboratory
metabolic conversion properties per unit of reactor volume.
scale anaerobic MBR reactors with an effective volume of
In case auto-immobilization or sludge granulation is difficult,
7°L, and using an ultra-filtration (UF) membrane modules.
application of membrane technology for pre-treating
The systems are equipped with feed, recycle and effluent
industrial process waters has several striking advantages:
pumps, pH and temperature sensors and a gas meters.
i) system compactness, allowing installation at or even
Biogas recirculation pumps are used to mix the liquor. The
inside the industry; ii) production of suspended solids free
temperature of the jacketed reactors is controlled at 35.0°
effluents, simplifying effluent upgrading techniques; iii) full
and 55.0° ± 0.8°C by thermostatic water baths. Currently,
retention of specific bacterial communities that are required
tubular PVDF membranes with 5.5 mm inner diameter and
for conversion of complex, recalcitrant and hazardous
0.64 m length are employed. The experimental system
compounds.
is connected to a computer running LabView software to
There is an urgent need for sustainable and cost effective
control all pumps and collect pH, temperature, pressures
treatment technology that can make this water suitable for
and biogas flow data on-line.
(re-)use. BioXtreme is aiming to deliver such a technology.
If industrial effluents are properly treated, pollution can be
prevented, and water produced can serve as an alternative
source for existing freshwater resources or industrial
processes.
Figure 1. Experimental set-up/Research keywords
108
Julian Muñoz Sierra
Scientific relevance
Extreme conditions in the process water and wastewater of the industrial
sector encourage the development of non-conventional biological treatment
solutions. The research will increase the understanding of how the complex
compounds are converted by the microorganisms, what is the influence
of different conditions on the biomass properties, microbial community
and functionality, and how the process is addressed within the technology
selected (AnMBR). Findings are compared with current technologies,
elucidating the added advantages of the developed extreme bioreactor
concept, including new process configurations and water reuse possibilities.
Impact
Enabling An-MBR application to a wide range of industrial processes with
the potential of water reuse.
Challenge
Finding the optimum operational condition for maximised bioconversion
under extreme conditions, without being limited by reduced membrane
Delft University of Technology
Faculty of Civil Engineering
Water Management Department
Sanitary Engineering Section
fluxes.
E-mail: [email protected]
www.sanitaryengineering.tudelft.nl
Social relevance
Postal address:
P.O. BOX 5048
2600 GA Delft
In the Netherlands, about 80% of the fresh water use is industrial use.
The research is focused on fundamental and applied research into the
wastewater treatment and reuse technologies for application in the industry
to compile know-how for optimizing the industrial water cycle and reducing
its water footprint. Research with the final aim in water recycling has the
potential to improve the effectiveness of the existing technologies and
invest in the future well-being of the world’s population.
Visiting address:
Stevinweg 1
2611 CN Delft
Building of Civil Engineering
Start date project: Dec 2012
Expected end date: Dec 2017
Literature
Dereli, R. K., M. E. Ersahin, et al. (2012). “Potentials of anaerobic
membrane bioreactors to overcome treatment limitations induced by
industrial wastewaters.” Bioresource Technology 122: 160-170
Jeison, D. (2007). Anaerobic membrane bioreactors for wastewater
treatment: Feasibility and potential applications. PhD thesis. Wageningen
University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
Kleerebezem, R. (1999). Anaerobic treatment of Phthalates: Microbial
and Technological aspects. PhD thesis. Wageningen University,
Key words:
An-MBR, aromatic compounds,
biodegradation, salinity,
thermophilic
Cooperation with other institutes:
Evides Industriewater, Paques,
TU Delft Environmental
Biotechnology section(EBT),
Wageningen University
Wageningen, The Netherlands
Lin, H., W. Gao, et al. (2012). “Membrane bioreactors for industrial
wastewater
treatment:
A
critical
review.”
Critical
Reviews
in
Environmental Science and Technology 42(7): 677-740.
Van Lier, J.B. 2008 High-rate anaerobic wastewater treatment:
Diversifying from end-of-the-pipe treatment to resource-oriented
conversion techniques, pp. 1137-1148.
109
Individual projects
Gabriela Paulus
Investigations on the Pre-valence and Transfer of AR/ARG
in Surface Water through MGEs and Investigations on the
Possible Ecotoxic Effects of Antibiotics
Research objectives
The work proposed in this document will generate knowledge
The research objectives are to (1) develop novel tools
that will help to decrease the risk of outcomes which might
for the detection and monitoring of AR and the transfer
be unpredictable by the current state of knowledge and
of AR/ARG in surface water bodies and to (2) apply
will help to elucidate how unbeneficial situations might be
innovative batteries of advanced tests for the evaluation
created and what their impact on human health might be.
of the effects of antibiotics and their metabolites in the
environment and on human health (3) conduct a risk
Approach
assessment supported by data obtained.
This will be done by employing different techniques in order
to 1) prove and monitor transfer of antibiotic resistance and
Project outline
antibiotic resistance genes in surface water to quantify the
Introduction
impact of anthropogenic activities on the environmental
Antibiotic resistance has been on the rise in recent years,
resistome and 2) expose potentially harmful effects antibiotic
increasing the risk of entering the “post-antibiotic era” .
resistance might have on human health. The methods which
Estimated expenses caused by antibiotic resistance range
will be employed to achieve this goal will be discussed in the
as high as 1.5 Billion Euros per year in Europe alone . The
present document.
estimated damage to human well-being and risk to society
cannot be monetarily captured but can be said to be one
of the most devastating effects of antibiotic resistance.
Antibiotic resistance genes can emerge and propagate
through different methods including horizontal gene transfer
. Environmental bacteria are likely to serve as a reservoir for
antibiotic resistance and antibiotic resistance genes which
could be transferred to clinically relevant bacterial strains in
surface water environments .
110
Gabriela Paulus
Scientific relevance
Scholars in the field have not yet adequately addressed the topic of
transfer of antibiotic resistance genes in the environment, as only a small
number of studies exist which trace the origin of antibiotic resistance
in and to environmental bacteria and their transfer to clinically relevant
bacterial strains
Social relevance
This gap of knowledge could result in disastrous outcomes for society,
especially in an environmental and economic context and, more
substantial, in the medical field.
Literature
Kåhrström, C. T. (2013). Entering a post-antibiotic era?. Nature Reviews
Microbiology, 11(3), 146.
ECDC/EMEA Joint Working Group. (2009). The bacterial challenge: time
to react. EMEA/576176, 13-42.
Wellington, E. M., Boxall, A. B., Cross, P., Feil, E. J., Gaze, W. H.,
Hawkey, P. M., Johnson-Rollings, A.S., Jones, D.L., Lee, N.M., Otten,
W. and Thomas, C. M. (2013). The role of the natural environment in
the emergence of antibiotic resistance in Gram-negative bacteria. The
Lancet infectious diseases, 13(2), 155-165.
Poirel, L., Rodriguez-Martinez, J. M., Mammeri, H., Liard, A., & Nordmann,
P. (2005). Origin of plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance determinant
QnrA. Antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy, 49(8), 3523-3525.
Nordmann, P., & Poirel, L. (2005). Emergence of plasmid-mediated
Delft University of Technology
Faculty of Civil Engineering
Water Management Department
Sanitary Engineering Section
E-mail: gabriela.paulus@
kwrwater.nl
Phone: +31 646186948
www.sanitaryengineering.tudelft.nl
Postal address:
P.O. BOX 5048
2600 GA Delft
Visiting address:
Stevinweg 1
2611 CN Delft
Building of Civil Engineering
resistance to quinolones in Enterobacteriaceae. Journal of Antimicrobial
Chemotherapy, 56(3), 463-469.
Poirel, L. Rodriguez-Martinez, J.M., Mammeri, H. Liard, A., & Nordman,
P. (2005). Origin of plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance determinant
QnrA. Antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy, 49(8), 3523-3525.
Start date project: Sep 2016
Expected end date: Sep 2020
Key words:
antibiotic resistance,
bioinformatics, mobile genetic
elements, toxicology
Cooperation with other institutes:
KWR Watercycle Research
Institute
111
Individual Projects
Celma Niquice
Technical aspects of reclaimed water treatment for
irrigation purposes in Maputo
Research objectives
addition, a literature review will be conducted to analyze
The aim of this project is to evaluate the technical
current practices for irrigation with reclaimed water in
aspects for water reclamation in Maputo and assess the
Sub-Saharan countries, to evaluate reclaimed water
potentials for water reclamation in Maputo for agriculture
potential for irrigation in Maputo. Moreover, laboratory
by analyzing current practices for irrigation with
analysis for the selected treatment technology according
reclaimed water in Sub-Saharan countries, evaluating
to local conditions will be conducted. Furthermore, field
reclaimed water potential for irrigation in Maputo,
work/pilot test to evaluate the impact of wastewater
selecting wastewater treatment technology and irrigation
treatment technologies in irrigation systems operation.
technique and evaluating the impact of wastewater
treatment technologies in irrigation systems operation.
Expected Results
The main expected results from this project is the
Project outline
Identification of experiences of water reclamation for
Introduction
water reuse in sub-Saharan region, the potential amount
Mozambique is facing water shortage: agricultural water
of wastewater that can be reclaimed in Maputo, the
uses accounts with around of 80% of total water uses
existing wastewater quality for potential agricultural
(DFID, 2003). From total available water flow only 46%
users, the selection of wastewater treatment technology
is produced in the country and projections indicate that
to be used water for irrigation purposes.
urban water demand will increase by about 40%, with
industrial use being expected to augment by about
Scientific relevance
65% (TWWW and GWP, 2013). Additionally, the storage
this project is expected to contribute to:
capacity is low and limits the expansion of agriculture,
▪▪
industries and the overall economic development of the
country. Furthermore, access to sanitation services both
Development of water reclamation solutions for
irrigation that can be applied to the local situation.
▪▪
in cities and rural areas, is deficient. Less than half of
Knowledge about local water quality available from
different sources.
population has improved sanitation systems, and only
limited amounts of wastewater, which, in some areas, is
Social relevance
unsafely reused in irrigation. Also in, Maputo, many of
From this research is expected that contribute to:
these issues can be identified with the situation being
▪▪
solution to address these issues is water reuse. Some
▪▪
▪▪
▪▪
Increasing the relevance of water reuse as means
of adding water to the water cycle guaranteeing the
2003) and contributes to urban development (Agodzo et
availability of water in Mozambique for irrigation.
al 2003). This study aims to evaluate the potentials for
water reuse for agricultural purposes in Maputo.
Building a realistic approach for water reclamation in
agriculture for Maputo.
contributes to addition of water source as well the addition
of nutrients for the crops increasing yields (Duran et al
Reducing the risks associated with untreated water
for irrigation purposes.
studies have pointed positive effects of water reuse in
agriculture, such as that adequate water reclamation
Reduction of pressure on freshwater resources by
using reclaimed water.
further exacerbated by population growth. A possible
▪▪
Influencing institutions and companies to change
their decisions making and contributing to sustainable
Approach
The research methodology will involve both quantitative
and qualitative analysis based on available primary and
secondary data obtained through direct observations,
direct interviews to individuals and field measurements. In
112
development of Mozambique.
Celma Niquice
Literature
Agodzo SK, Huibers FP, Chenini F, van Lier JB, Duran A. 2003 Use of
wastewater in irrigated agriculture. Country studies from Bolivia, Ghana
and Tunisia. Volume 2: Ghana. Wageningnen: - W4F- Wastewater ISBN
90-6754-704-2
Department for International Development (DFID) 2003 Handbook for
the assessment of water demand and use, United Kingdom consulted
in
05.01.2015
http://www.samsamwater.com/library/handbook_
catchment_water.pdf
Duran A, Moscoso O, Romero AM, Huibers FP, Agodzo SK, Chenini F, van
Lier JB. 2003 Use of wastewater in irrigated agriculture. Country studies
from Bolivia, Ghana and Tunisia. Volume 1: Bolivia. Wageningnen:W4F- Wastewater ISBN 90-6754-705-0]
The World We Want (TWWW) and Global water Partnership (GWP)
2013: National stakeholder consultation on Water: Supporting the post
2015 agenda: Stakeholder Thematic Consultation Report consulted
on
http://www.gwp.org/Global/About%20GWP/Publications/Reports/
Country%20Consultation%20Reports/Mozambique%20Final%20
National%20Consultation%20Report.pdf
Delft University of Technology
Faculty of Civil Engineering
Water Management Department
Sanitary Engineering Section
E-mail: [email protected]@
tudelft.nl
www.sanitaryengineering.tudelft.nl
Postal address:
P.O. BOX 5048
2600 GA Delft
Visiting address:
Stevinweg 1
2611 CN Delft
Building of Civil Engineering
Start date project: Jul 2015
Expected end date: Jul 2019
Key words:
Water reuse irrigation, waste
water treatment, Agriculture
water reclamation
Cooperation with other institutes:
UEM, UNESCO IHE
113
Individual Projects
Marjolein Peters
Biofilm growth on swimming pool materials
Research objectives
Within the DIPool project the overall goal is to develop
a chemical disinfectant free swimming pool. The
project consists of different sub-projects to study the
contamination of swimming pools by users, the risks of
chorine free swimming pools, prevention of biofilm growth
and the development of a water treatment system.
In the (sub)study described here, biofilm growth on
different swimming pool materials under non-chlorinated
swimming pool conditions was determined.
Project outline
Introduction
Biofilms occur in water environments as soon as
Figure 1. The set-up
microorganisms settle on and attach to a surface. In
Results
swimming pools biofilms are unwanted, since they can
The biofilm growth on the different materials was
shelter pathogens introducing a health risk and they feel
determined after 14 days of incubation, Figure 2. The
slimy. In the DIPool project a swimming pool without
lowest cATP concentration was found on polypropylene,
the use of chemical disinfectants is proposed. In this
indicating that this would be a good material to use in
concept microorganisms are able to survive in the pool
swimming pools. Highest cATP concentrations were found
and form biofilms. To prevent biofilm growth under (non-
for concrete and stainless steel and therefore they are not
chlorinated) swimming pool conditions, biofilm formation
preferred to use in a swimming pool.
on different swimming pool materials was studied. The
results can give insight in which material would be
preferred to use in (chlorine free) swimming pools.
Approach
Biofilms were grown on 11 different swimming pool
materials in a climate controlled set-up at 32˚C. A nonlimiting nutrient medium was used, containing mainly
urea and a concentration of total carbon of 95 mg/L and
total nitrogen of 199 mg/L.
The materials were placed at the bottom of a jar for
biofilm growth tests. 4 jars containing the same material
were connected in series, Figure 1. The average biofilm
Figure 2. The average biofilm growth after 14 days per pool
material. Errorbars present the standard error of the mean
of the 4 jars measured per lane
development on each material was determined with
intracellular ATP (cATP) measurements of the plates of
Scientific relevance
the 4 jars out of 1 lane.
Although the materials used in this research are swimming
pool materials, they are used outside swimming pools
as well in, for example, drinking water and waste water
pipelines and cooling towers. Therefore the results of this
research can be extrapolated to other fields and prevent
biofilm formation on surfaces where it is unwanted.
114
Marjolein Peters
Social relevance
Normally, chemical disinfection is used in swimming pools to ensure
microbiologic safe swimming pool water. However, the use of a chemical
disinfectant, like chlorine, produces also disinfection by-products (DBPs)
which are bad for human health. One way of lowering DBPs could be
done by not adding any disinfectants. Since microorganisms are not
disinfected, they might start growing in a biofilm which could also
shelter pathogens. It is therefore important to know which swimming
pool materials promote biofilm growth and which prevent it.
Literature
M.G.A. Keuten, M.C.F.M. Peters, H.A.M. Daanen, M.K. de Kreuk, L.C.
Rietveld, J.C. van Dijk. Quantification of continual anthropogenic
pollutants released in swimming pools. Water Research 53 (2014) pages
259 - 270.
Y. Bennani, M.C.F.M. Peters, P.W. Appel, L.C. Rietveld. Electrochemically
active biofilm and photoelectrocatalytic regeneration of the titanium
dioxide composite electrode for advanced oxidation in water treatment.
Electrochimica Acta http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.electacta.2015.09.101
Delft University of Technology
Faculty of Civil Engineering and
Faculty of Applied Sciences
E-mail: [email protected]
www.sanitaryengineering.tudelft.nl
Postal address:
P.O. BOX 5048
2600 GA Delft
Visiting address:
Stevinweg 1
2628 CN Delft
Julianalaan 67
2628 BC Delft
Start date project:
End date project:
Jul 2011
nov 2016
Key words:
Pool water treatment,
alternative disinfection, microbial
populations, chlorine
Cooperation with other institutes:
Hellebrekers Technieken, Van
Remmen UV Techniek, AkzoNobel
Coram International,
Sportfondsen Nederland, EFROGO, Agentschap NL
115
Individual Projects
Johan Post
Serviceability of lateral sewer connections and gully pots
Research objectives
The second phase aims to quantify the contribution
This research aims to identify relevant failure mechanisms
of failure mechanisms (e.g. roots, fat/grease etc.) by
for lateral (house) sewer connections as well as gully
interrogating failure databases. For gully pots a new
pots and to ascertain the interaction between these
data collection method is proposed where during repairs,
mechanisms and the state of the main sewer system.
information on the actual cause of failure is collected in a
Knowledge on this topic can aid to improve current sewer
more comprehensive way. By interrogating the database
management strategies in order to maximise the level of
of
service provided given the available budget.
information on the occurrence of blockages in privately
a
commercial drainage maintenance database,
owned lateral house connections is obtained.
Project outline
Introduction
A statistical approach is applied in the third phase in order
The performance of an urban drainage system is assessed
to ascertain relationships between system factors and the
based on the ability of the system to deliver a certain
occurrence of failure mechanisms. This will provide insight
service. This vital service encompasses, among others, the
in effect of management strategies and fundamental
drainage of wastewater and excess stormwater in order
design choices on the level of service provided.
to prevent public health issues and flooding. In order to
maintain the desired level of service at the lowest costs,
Results
maintenance and rehabilitation strategies developed by
Results presented in Figure 1, together with failure rates
local water authorities should aim to focus work on assets
reported for other sewer components by Ten Veldhuis et
that have a significant impact on the overall operational
al. (2009) show that these components have failure rates
condition of the system (Fenner 2000). Currently, only
exceeding hydraulic overloading by far. Therefore, the
the condition of components of the main sewer system
impact of lateral house connections on the serviceability
are taken into account in this process.
of sewer systems can be considered substantial.
Previous research has shown that the contribution of
lateral connections and gully pots transporting runoff
to the main sewer system on the serviceability of sewer
systems is significant (Ten Veldhuis and Clemens 2011,
Caradot et al. 2011). Yet, knowledge on how the current
condition of lateral house sewers affects the overall
level of service provided remains scarce. Moreover, it is
Figure 1. Failure rates for different components of the sewer
system
unclear how the probability of failure of lateral (house)
connections and gully pots is related to the state of the
The spatial distribution of failures is presented in Figure
main sewer system.
2. The red and green lines show areas with significantly
more and less failures. Identifying factors that may
Approach
explain the difference in failure rate are subject to future
This research is divided in three phases. The first phase
research.
is exploratory and entails the identification of relevant
failure mechanisms for the front end of the sewer system
and possible factors influencing the occurrence of these
failure mechanisms. The main sources of information are
semi-structured interviews with employees from the field
and a review of scientific literature.
116
Johan Post
Figure 2. Spatial distribution of lateral house connection failures
Scientific & social relevance
With respect to the performance of the sewer system, the front end is
generally assumed to perform as designed. This does not only mean that
there is a gap in scientific knowledge, but also suggest that most studies
concerned with the serviceability of sewer systems will overestimate the
actual level of service provided. Moreover, by improving management
strategies, the same level of service can be provided with a lower
budget.
Literature
Fenner, R.A. (2000) Approaches to sewer maintenance: a review. Urban
Water 2(4), 343-356.
Ten Veldhuis, J.A.E. and Clemens, F.H.L.R. (2011) The efficiency of
asset management strategies to reduce urban flood risk. Water Science
& Technology 64(6), 1317-1324.
Caradot, N., Granger, D., Chapgier, J., Cherqui, F. and Chocat, B. (2011)
Urban flood risk assessment using sewer flooding databases. Water
science and technology 64(4), 832-840.
Ten Veldhuis, J.A.E., Clemens, F.H.L.R. and van Gelder, P.H.A.J.M. (2009)
Fault tree analysis for urban flooding. Water science and technology:
a journal of the International Association on Water Pollution Research
59(8), 1621-1629.
Delft University of Technology
Faculty of Civil Engineering
Water Management Department
Sanitary Engineering Section
E-mail: [email protected]
www.sanitaryengineering.tudelft.nl
Postal address:
P.O. BOX 5048
2600 GA Delft
Visiting address:
Stevinweg 1
2611 CN Delft
Building of Civil Engineering
Start date project: Nov 2012
Expected end date: Nov 2016
Key words:
Sewer asset management,
serviceability, lateral connections,
gully pots
Cooperation with other institutes:
ARCADIS, Deltares, Gemeente
Almere, Gemeente Breda,
Gemeente ’s-Gravenhage,
Gemeente Utrecht,
Gemeentewerken Rotterdam,
GMB Rioleringstechnieken,
Grontmij, KWR Watercycle
Research Institute,
RoyalHaskoningDHV, Stichting
RIONED, STOWA, Tauw,
Vandervalk+degroot, Waternet,
Waterschap De Dommel,
Gemeente Arnhem, Evides en
Witteveen+Bos
117
Individual Projects
Adithya Thota Radhakrishnan
D-SHiT: Domestic Slurry Hydraulics in Transport systems
Research objectives
Approach
Focused on studying the transport aspects of domestic
The rheological characterisation of the slurries will be
slurries, the study aims at characterizing the slurries
done using a rotating viscometer resulting in a relation
with respect to its rheological behavior and building a
for shear stress for shear rate applied on the fluid. The
1-dimensional non-Newtonian multiphase flow model.
influence of solid concentration and temperature on the
This enables us to design efficient slurry transport
rheology will be determined. The experiments will be
systems for future sanitation concepts.
performed using slurry samples collected from a smallscale pilot project in Sneek (Leuwarden) running these
Project outline
sanitation concepts.
Introduction
New sanitation concepts (Fig. 1) stem from the need
Artificial slurry which mimics the rheological behaviour
for better nutrient recovery from domestic slurries and
of CDS will be used to perform the experiments in the
water management. Traditional sanitation concepts use
pipeline test loop. Initially the turbulent flow of the fluid
large amount of water, thereby making the slurries dilute.
will be studied and later the flow with gas. Using the data
Whereas, new sanitation concepts focus on reducing the
from experiments, a 1-dimensional transport model will
consumption of water and possess pressurized pipelines
be built to design the transport system. Assumptions that
to transport them. This reduction in the consumption of
reduce the complexity of the model will be validated using
water are generally attributed to the success of these
CFD.
new sanitation concepts, and investigations show that
these slurries can be treated more efficiently.
Results
The viscosity and yield stress of grinded kitchen waste
and brown water increase with concentration of total
solids present as seen in Fig. 2. This can be attributed
to the complex solid-solid and solid-liquid interaction. A
decrease in yield stress and viscosity can be observed
with the increase in temperature; due to the increase in
Figure 1. Schematic of a new sanitation concept
thermal activity.
Future domestic slurries are likely to contain a significant
fraction of grinded kitchen waste; with low water
consumption, it makes the slurry concentrated with solids
and therefore they exhibit non-Newtonian behavior.
A number of transportability issues for new sanitation
concepts arise, related to the dilution and multiphase
interaction.
The D-SHiT (Domestic Slurry Hydraulics in Transport
systems) project was initiated to address these issues of
Figure 2. (Left) Rheology of Grinded Kitchen Waste at 11%
and 6% solid concentration with Combined Herschel-Bulkley
model fit. (Right) Rheology of Brown Water at 1.8%, 3%
and 4% solid concentration with Sisko model fit
concentrated domestic slurry (CDS); for this the project is
The assumption that CDS can be modelled as a
divided into three parts.
homogenous single-phase fluid represented by its bulk
▪▪
Rheological
characterisation
of
non-Newtonian
viscosity and density is verified using CFD (Fig. 3). This
multiphase CDS
is done by mirroring the rheological experiment in CFD
▪▪
Transport experiments at the pipeline test loop
where the fluid is modelled as being homogenous and
▪▪
Developing a transport model for these slurries
comparing the results (Fig. 4).
118
Adithya Thota Radhakrishnan
Figure 3. CFD mirror of the
rheological experiment
Figure 4. Comparing the experiment
results (-) to that from CFD (x)
Social & Scientific relevance
In the industrialized world, flushing the toilet with large quantities of
water is a routine. In other parts of the world sanitation is not that
simple. Due to lack of infrastructure and water scarcity, around 2.5
billion people have no sufficient sanitation at their disposal. The new
sanitation concept overcomes the sanitation problems due to lack of
water resources. Moreover, the sanitation concept offers promising
results with respect to recovery of nutrients and production of energy
(bio-gas). All these benefits can be achieved in large scale if the whole
chain of new sanitation systems are economically competitive with the
common practise. Although all recent research on the new sanitation
concept focus on treatment processes and source separation, to benefit
from these concepts all aspects of sanitation systems including the
collection and transport need to be considered.
Delft University of Technology
Faculty of Civil Engineering
Water Management Department
Sanitary Engineering Section
E-mail: a.k.thotaradhakrishnan@
tudelft.nl
www.sanitaryengineering.tudelft.nl
Postal address:
P.O. BOX 5048
2600 GA Delft
Visiting address:
Stevinweg 1
2611 CN Delft
Building of Civil Engineering
Start date project: Oct 2014
Expected end date: Oct 2018
Key words:
Domestic slurries, rheology,
pressure loss, transport design,
hydraulics, CFD, non-Newtonian,
multiphase
Cooperation with other institutes:
Research is conducted within
the framework of a STW
project: Waternet, Rioned,
STOWA, Deltares, Waterschap
Zuiderzeeland, Grontmij, XYLEM
119
Individual Projects
Maja Taucer-Kapteijn
Screening municipal wastewater effluents and surface
water used for drinking water production for the presence
of ampicillin and vancomycin resistant enterococci
Research objectives
Approach
To study the occurrence of ampicillin resistant enterococci
A membrane filtration was used for the enumeration
(ARE) and vancomycin resistant enterococci (VRE) in
of enterococci using SBA and parallel methods with
WWTP effluents and surface water used for drinking
addition of 16 µg ml-1 ampicillin or addition of 16 µg ml-1
water production in the Netherlands applying Slanetz and
vancomycin for the enumeration of ARE and VRE. Species
Bartley agar (SBA) modified with 16 µg ml-1of ampicillin
found on the selective media were identified using MALDI-
or vancomycin.
TOF MS. E-test was used to determine MIC values for
vancomycin in the selection of ampicillin resistant isolates
Project outline
and PCR was applied to detect vanA or vanB gene in
Introduction
Enterococcus species are part of the natural intestinal flora
selected isolates.
of humans and animals. In immunocompromised persons,
Results
enterococci may become opportunistic pathogens and
Applying ampicillin medium high numbers (0.4x103 to
can cause infections (Jett et al., 1994). Ampicillin and
4.4x103 cfu L-1) were observed in WWTPs effluents and
vancomycin are important antibiotics in treatment of those
no ampicillin resistant isolates were found at intake
infections. However, some Enterococcus spp. strains are
locations. All ARE isolates (n = 1033) were identified as E.
no longer susceptible to one or both antibiotics and are
faecium. No enterococci, but Leuconostoc, Lactobacillus
known as ARE and VRE. Vancomycin intrinsically resistant
and Pediococcus genus were identified using vancomycin
species, do not pose the same infection control concerns
medium. None of the selected ampicillin resistant E.
as E. faecium or E. faecalis VRE, as their resistance is
faecium (AREfm) was vancomycin resistant or possessed
chromosomal rather than plasmid mediated (Griffin et al.,
vanA or vanB gene. AREfm isolates with elevated
2012). VanA and VanB are clinically the most important
vancomycin MICs were observed in all studied WWTP
genotypes and are most frequently found in E. faecium
effluents.
and E. faecalis (Cetinkaya et al., 2000).
Wastewater from WWTP’s is favourable environment,
Scientific relevance
consisting of variable mixtures of bacteria, nutrients and
The use of SBA modified with ampicillin or vancomycin
antimicrobial agents, for both survival and gene transfer,
has been shown to be suitable two-step screening
spreading resistant bacteria in both aquatic and terrestrial
method for clinically relevant enterococci in water.
environment (Iversen et al., 2004). Transfer of resistant
bacteria through contaminated surface water used for
Social relevance
irrigation or recreational water and the possible presence
Although, no ampicillin resistant strains were found in
of resistant bacteria in surface water used as a source
surface water used for drinking water production, further
for the production of drinking water might be of concern.
monitoring, which would allow to evaluate the numbers
and possible increase in antibiotic resistance levels in
enterococci and other clinically relevant micro-organisms
present especially in recreational waters is desirable.
120
Maja Taucer-Kapteijn
Literature
Jett B. D., Huycke M. M. and Gilmore M. S. (1994).Virulence of
Enterococci. Clinical Microbiology Reviews 7(4), 462-478.
Griffin, P.M., Price, G.R., Schooneveldt, J.M.,
Schlebusch, S., Tilse,
M.H., Urbanski, T., Hamilton, B., and Venter, D. 2012. Use of MatrixAssisted Laser Desorption Ionization–Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry
To Identify Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci and Investigate the
Epidemiology of an Outbreak. J Clin Microbiol. 2012 Sep; 50(9): 2918–
2931.
Cetinkaya
Y.et
al.,
Vancomycin-Resistant
Enterococci,
Clinical
Microbiology Reviews, 2000, volume 13, edition 4, p. 686 – 707.
Iversen, A., Kuhn, I., Rahman, M., Franklin, A., Burman, L.G., OlssonLiljequist, B., Torell, E., Mollby, R., 2004. Evidence for transmission
between humans and the environment of a nosocomial strain of
Enterococcus feacium. Environ. Microbiol. 6 (1), 55–61.
Delft University of Technology
Faculty of Civil Engineering
Water Management Department
Sanitary Engineering Section
E-mail: m.taucer-kapteijn@
tudelft.nl
www.sanitaryengineering.tudelft.nl
Postal address:
P.O. BOX 5048
2600 GA Delft
Visiting address:
Stevinweg 1
2611 CN Delft
Building of Civil Engineering
Start date project: Jan 2012
Expected end date: 2017
Key words:
The role and source tracking of
Enterococci als feacal indicator in
dune recharge area
Cooperation with other institutes:
Het Waterlaboratorium
121
Individual projects
Muhammad Risalat Rafiq
Water quality assessment of small-scale managed aquifer
recharge systems for drinking water provision in coastal
Bangladesh
Project outline
Introduction
A consortium of UNICEF, Department of Public Health
Sustainable drinking water supply is a major concern
(DPHE), Dhaka University (Department of Geology) and
issue for achieving millennium development goals. But
Acacia Water (Consultants, the Netherlands) built 20 pilot
it becomes a major challenge due to rapid population
MAR systems in Khulna-Satkhira-Bagerhat regions in
growth in urbanizing deltas. Groundwater and surface
2012. At present, a total of 99 sites have been constructed
water often become vulnerable to climatic change, over-
after initial successes. The NWO UDW DeltaMAR project
exploitation, and to some extent economic development.
investigates scientific knowledge caps in relation to the
This situation becomes worse in coastal regions of
self-propelling of MAR systems in the region. The project
Bangladesh. Groundwater is brackish to saline in many
includes 4 PhD projects concerning water quantity,
places and surface water availability is not sufficient in
water quality, governance, and hydrogeological research
the dry season.
questions.
To combat against above described scenario, MAR
Research objectives
(Managed Aquifer Recharge) is introduced as promising
In Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR), aerobic fresh
techniques in coastal areas of Bangladesh. A typical MAR
surface water is injected into anoxic brackish aquifers.
system consists of infiltration wells which recharge the
The research objective of this water quality PhD project
shallow aquifer during times of water abundance in the
(started January 2016) is to assess the hydrogeochemical
monsoon period. During the dry season when surface
changes (water quality improvements and deteriorations)
water recources dry up, the stored water is recovered
that could occur when surface water is stored in these
from a central well (Figure 1). Other advantages of MAR
aquifers. A focus issue is the potential mobilization of
systems include filtering of pathogens and availability
arsenic which has been observed at some sites.
of water sources being protected during cyclonic storm
surges that leads to flooding of the area.
Figure 1: Conceptualized diagram of Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) system
122
Muhammad Risalat Rafiq
Approach
a) Interpretation of existing data of the 99 MAR sites: interpretation
will be using python programming to define groups of sites with
similar geochemical behaviour. 4-6 representative sites in terms of
geochemistry will be identified for furter research.
b) Detailed research at these selected sites: push-pull test, sediment
incubation experiments, and complete hydrochemical monitoring will be
carried out to better assess sediment-water interactions. Understanding
sediment-water interactions will aid in further developing site specific
geochemical hypothesis especially for As (im)mobilization.
c) Hydrogeochemical reactive transport models will be developed and
tested with field data from the selected sites using PHREEQC software in
order to enable quantitative assessment of water quality changes during
MAR at specific locations.
Scientific relevance
This research will provide insights in arsenic mobilization and
immobilization reactions during MAR. With the developed geochemical
model site specific conditions can be identified than produce the best
water quality and low arsenic levels.
Social relevance
The DeltaMAR project aims to set the scientific framework and provide
(practical) knowledge to build many more of these MAR systems in
coastal Bangladesh and comparable delta settings.
Delft University of Technology
Faculty of Civil Engineering
Water Management Department
Sanitary Engineering Section
E-mail: [email protected]
www.sanitaryengineering.tudelft.nl
Postal address:
P.O. BOX 5048
2600 GA Delft
Visiting address:
Stevinweg 1
2611 CN Delft
Building of Civil Engineering
Start date project: Mar 2016
Expected end date: Mar 2020
123
Individual Projects
Steef de Valk
Enhanced Enzymatic Anaerobic Fermentation of Organic
Residues (EnzyFOR)
Research objectives
Aquatic
worms
that
flora is researched. Additionally, the changes in microbial
great
communities due to the activity of the worms will be
opportunities to investigate the way nature efficiently
researched. Furthermore an in-depth analysis will be
hydrolyses
made regarding the biodegradability of excess sludge and
complex
degrade
organic
sludge,
matter.
offer
The
aim
of
this research is to explain the increase of sludge
what part the worms consume of the sludge.
biodegradability, observed in worm predated excess
activated sludge. This research will give insight into
Results
ways to mimic the biological activity of these worms for
large scale processes in order to increase the valorisation
of waste streams by degradation of complex organic
substrates.
Project outline
Introduction
The activated sludge process is most used process to
remove organic carbon and other pollutants from waste
water. The organic fraction of waste water is aerobically
respired and partly converted into biomass. The surplus
biomass is a by-product of this process and is called
excess activated sludge. The main constituents of
activated sludge are biomass, organic matter and water.
In general, this sludge stream is partly converted in
Figure 1. Aspects of worm predation. Batch experiment with
(Worms) and without (Blank) worms. Activated sludge as
substrate, 12g/l Worms, DO> 5 mg/l, pH 7. 1: Total Suspended
Solids reduction. 2: Inorganic nutrient release. 3: Settleability:
Sludge Volume Index. 4: The difference in particle size between
blank and worms over the course of 2 days
biogas and partly processed e.g. incinerated.
The following was found in the presence of worms (figure
The major fraction of excess activated sludge consists
1): An 3 fold increase in sludge decay rate, the release
of complex organic matter, which could be utilized if
of inorganic nutrients namely nitrate and phosphate,
transformed into VFA precursors for use in (bio)-chemical
an increase in sCOD. Furthermore the solids reduction
industrial processes or biogas. Hereby increasing the
resulted in smaller particles and an improved settleability
valorisation of sludge and reducing the amount of sludge
of the processed sludge. Additionally, preliminary test
that has to be disposed of.
with worms treated with antibiotics, to suppress internal
bacterial activity (figure 2), revealed that there is a
It has been shown that the aquatic worms increases the
dependence on the intestinal bacteria for hydrolysis.
solids removal rate of excess sludge significantly. Worms
feed on complex bio matter present in sludge and by
hydrolyses convert this bio matter into VFA and simple
sugars. However the mechanisms in the intestines of the
worms are unknown.
Approach
The aquatic worm Tubefix tubefix
is used as model
organism. Worm predated sludge will be compared
to untreated sludge, both processed under the same
conditions.
Also a distinction between the hydrolytic
activity of the aquatic worms and the intestinal microbial
124
Figure 2. Preliminary results if the effect if antibiotic treated
worms on the hydrolysis of azocasein. Azocasein hydrolysis was
monitored by measuring the optical density of the Azo-dye that
is released upon hydrolysation of the azocasein
Steef de Valk
The bacterial community analysis of the worm process and the
biodegradability of excess sludge in the presence of worms is still
ongoing at the time of writing.
Scientific relevance
This project will give insight into the hydrolysis of complex organic
molecules. Developing a cost effective process for the degradation of
complex organics into VFA or biogas is in the scope of this research.
Social relevance
In order to achieve a sustainable bio-based society, we should be able
to transfer complex organic waste (e.g. excess sludge) into useable
products, such as VFAs. In order to reduce sludge disposal costs
and improve the utilization of complex organics, this project aims at
enhancing product formation from excess sludge. This would result
in a decrease in sludge disposal and an increase in the utilisation of
excess sludge.
Delft University of Technology
Faculty of Civil Engineering
Water Management Department
Sanitary Engineering Section
E-mail: [email protected]
www.sanitaryengineering.tudelft.nl
Postal address:
P.O. BOX 5048
2600 GA Delft
Visiting address:
Stevinweg 1
2611 CN Delft
Building of Civil Engineering
Start date project: Jan 2012
Expected end date: 2017
Key words:
Sludge reduction, Aquatic
Oligochaetes, Worms, Hydrolysis
Cooperation with other institutes:
DSM, Delfluent Services BV, Royal
Cosun, STOWA, STW, Tauw,
Wageningen UR
125
Individual Projects
Feifei Wang
The Fate of hydrogen peroxide and bromate as by-products
of AOP within MAR
Research objectives
▪▪
Approach
To investigate the reactions of H2O2 with various
To investigate the fate of H2O2, batch experiments were
biotic (bacteria/catalase in water and soil) and
performed to simulate MAR using slow sand filter sand
abiotic constituents (pure sand, organic matter and
with natural microbial communities and synthetic MAR
minerals).
water. 5mg/L H2O2 was dosed into different batch reactors
To evaluate the effect of H2O2 on bacterial population
containing different types of sand and water to compare
▪▪
and bacterial diversity.
decay rate of H2O2.
To study the feasibility of bromate removal within
To investigate the effects of carbon source and NO3-
MAR. Specifically, 1 the competition removal of
on BrO3- removal and the fate of BrO3- in MAR, batch
nitrate and bromate by anoxic bacteria; 2 carbon
and column experiments will be conducted. 60 μg/l
▪▪
▪▪
source consumption with depth.
BrO3- will be dosed into batch reactors with different
To assess bromate removal in reactor filling with H2O2
carbon sources and NO3- concentrations to compare
quench material.
BrO3- removal efficiency. 24 columns filled with natural
dune sand will simulate MAR to investigate anoxic and
Project outline
anaerobic bacterial degradation on BrO3-.
Introduction
The combination of advanced oxidation process (AOP)
Results
and managed aquifer recharge (MAR) is a potential
Figure 1 showed that bromate removal in control
system to remove more organic micro-pollutants during
group and AC group were quite similar under enough
drinking water treatment processes. Bromate formation
nitrate. After 28 days the average bromate remaining
has been observed to happen during ozonation of
concentration in control group and the acetate group
bromide containing water. The disinfection by-product,
were 39.66 µg/L and 44.33 μg/L. The bromate removal
bromate, is an issue to be considered since bromate has
percentage in these two groups on 28 days were 29.43%
been designated as carcinogenic to humans. To prevent
and 20.40% respectively.
bromate formation through O3 during UV, alternatively
H2O2 can be dosed, leaving residual H2O2 in the treated
water. The fate of H2O2 in aquatic system has been
investigated comprehensively, however an improved
understanding of the fate of H2O2, in terms of H2O2
decomposition mechanisms, during MAR is key to set the
maximum allowed H2O2 concentration in the infiltrated
water of MAR. There is a great potential in microbiological
bromate removal. Studies have shown that bio-reduction
of bromate occurs best under anoxic conditions since it
Figure 1. Bromate removal in AC group and control
is inhibited by oxygen. It can be carried out by various
bacterial strains A cheaper alternative was pointed out
Some researchers found bromate was reduced in
by Hijnen, namely the possibility of bromate reduction
a denitrifying bioreactor when nitrate was almost
in the anaerobic zone of deep bank filtration sites. Kuhnt
completely removed, which indicated that Nitrate would
investigated bromate removal in soil passage of a bank
be the preferred electron acceptor and bromate would
filtration site and had positive results under anoxic
be the terminal electron acceptor for anaerobic growth
conditions. However, no further research about bromate
[1, 2]. Some researchers found bromate reduction was
removal in MAR has been conducted.
achieved in the present of nitrate and results indicated
that DO was a competitor of bromate as an electron
acceptor while nitrate was not. For this reason, higher
126
Feifei Wang
bromate consumption would be expected when nitrate is completely
removed [3]. In one extra experiment the effect of nitrate depletion on
bromate removal will be studied.
Scientific relevance
An improved understanding of the fate of H2O2 within MAR is key
to set the maximum allowed H2O2 concentration in the infiltrated
water. The research on BrO3- fate in MAR is the precondition for
improving BrO3- removal efficiency. Investigation on bromate fate and
removal mechanism within MAR is valuable for developing a natural
microbiological bromate method.
Social relevance
For drinking water companies, an improved understanding of the fate
of H2O2 is useful to make an optimal H2O2 decomposition solution
before MAR by adding some kind of H2O2 decomposition catalyst and
the feasibility of BrO3- removal by denitrification biodegradation in
MAR would be a big discover as a new and cost-efficient BrO3- removal
Literature
[1] W.A.M. Hijnen, R. Jong, D. Van Der Kooij, Bromate removal in a
denitrifying bioreactor used in water treatment, Water research, 33
(1999) 1049-1053.
[2] C.G. Van Ginkel, A.M. Van Haperen, B. Van Der Togt, Reduction of
bromate to bromide coupled to acetate oxidation by anaerobic mixed
microbial cultures, Water research, 39 (2005) 59-64.
[3] J. Liu, J. Yu, D. Li, Y. Zhang, M. Yang, Reduction of bromate in
a biological activated carbon filter under high bulk dissolved oxygen
and
E-mail: [email protected]
www.sanitaryengineering.tudelft.nl
Postal address:
P.O. BOX 5048
2600 GA Delft
method.
conditions
Delft University of Technology
Faculty of Civil Engineering
Water Management Department
Sanitary Engineering Section
characterization
of
bromate-reducing
Biochemical Engineering Journal, 65 (2012) 44-50.
isolates,
Visiting address:
Stevinweg 1
2611 CN Delft
Building of Civil Engineering
Start date project: Nov 2012
Expected end date: 2017
Key words:
Drinking water, AOP, MAR, H2O2,
bromate
Cooperation with other institutes:
Dunea
127
Individual Projects
Peng Wei
Optimized Mixing for Enhanced Biomass Conversion Using
CFD Modeling of Multiphase Flow in Anaerobic Digester
Research objectives
implemented to determine the actual mixing performance
(1) In full-scale anaerobic digesters, the influence of
of the digesters.
specific key factors (rheology, temperature, mixing mode)
(3) Validation, including simulation referred to published
on mixing processes will be identified and quantified by
experimental results in lab-scale digesters [4], and the
CFD modelling and experimental validation.
tracer experiments in the full-scale tank.
(2) Obtaining an optimised reactor design for better
(4) The concentric rotational rheometer is utilised for
operational performance based on improved mixing and
measuring the sludge rheological properties, applying
hydrodynamics in practice.
different solid concentrations at varying temperature.
Project outline
Results
Introduction
A lab-scale reactor experiment from literature [4] was
Anaerobic digesters are commonly applied for the
successfully described by a CFD model choosing proper
stabilisation of excess sewage sludge, converting the
input parameters (Fig. 1). The impacts on velocity field
biodegradable organic matter into energy-rich biogas.
prediction from interphase force, bubble size, liquid
Effective conversion of the organic mass can only be
viscosity and scheme accuracy were well described and
accomplished when proper mixing of the digester
found to be important. Using parameter settings from the
content is warranted, maximising mass transfer between
simulation of the lab experiment, simulation in a full-scale
substrates
anaerobic
digester was implemented as well. Based on results of
digesters are generally implemented as continuous
rheological measurement, sludge from the digester in de
stirred tank reactors (CSTR) [1]. Nonetheless, full
Groote Lucht showed a typical non-Newtonian behaviour
scale treatment performances are sometimes below
(Fig. 2, shear-thinning with yield stress)
and
microorganisms.
Hence,
expectations: sludge stabilisation and gas production
are less than expected. Possibly, the actual full scale
mixing regime differs from the theoretical design [2].
In order to better understand the discrepancy between
full scale reactor performance and theoretical potentials,
enhanced insight in the actual mixing regime is of crucial
importance. Possibly, the full scale performance is limited
by short-circuiting or appearance of dead zones inside the
reactor [3].In the current research, we use computational
fluid dynamics (CFD) modelling as a numerical simulation
for solving fluid flows, in combination with extensive
rheological characterisation of waste activated sludge
(WAS), to identify imperfections in flow regimes in
anaerobic digesters aiming at a better digester design.
Approach
(1) CFD modelling implementation, mainly by package
ANSYS Workbench and Fluent, using non-Newtonian
fluid characteristics, gas-liquid phase and turbulence are
solved by specific models.
(2) The full-scale digester with gas mixing in WWTP
de Groote Lucht (Hoogheemraadschap van Delfland)
is selected for investigation. Tracer experiments will be
128
Fig. 1 The simulated and experimental[4] results of velocity
distribution at (A) local and (B) entire regions in laboratory scale
digester.
Peng Wei
Fig. 2 The rheogram of the waste activated sludge from WWTP de
Groot Lucht.
Scientific relevance
Most mixing studies have been carried out so far on laboratory scale
and pilot scale installations. Full-scale studies are limited to tracer
experiments, only returning an overall image of solid retention times.
The detailed mixing properties in current systems therefore need to be
unravelled to reach better performance of current digester systems.
Social relevance
Optimised operation and enhanced biomass conversion in practice
will result in more biogas from waste activated sludge. This leads to
more energy recovery from wastewater and less release of greenhouse
gases during digestate storage and transport. Modification and/or
improvement of the design of full-scale digesters will lead to a more
sustainable processing of residual organic streams.
Literature
Lindmark, J., et al., Effects of mixing on the result of anaerobic
digestion: Review. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2014.
40(0): p. 1030-1047.
Capela, I., et al., Hydrodynamic behaviour of a full-scale anaerobic
contact reactor using residence time distribution technique. Journal of
Chemical Technology & Biotechnology, 2009. 84(5): p. 716-724.
Wu, B., Advances in the use of CFD to characterize, design and optimize
Delft University of Technology
Faculty of Civil Engineering
Water Management Department
Sanitary Engineering Section
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: +31 152785457
www.sanitaryengineering.tudelft.nl
Postal address:
P.O. BOX 5048
2600 GA Delft
Visiting address:
Stevinweg 1
2611 CN Delft
Building of Civil Engineering
Start date project: Oct 2013
Expected end date: Oct 2017
Key words:
Anaerobic digestion, twophase flow, computational
fluid dynamics (CFD), mixing,
temperature, rheology
Cooperation with other institutes:
coupled to STOWA project
“Community of Practice -Menging
slibgisting”
bioenergy systems. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 2013.
93(0): p. 195-208.
Karim, K., et al., Flow pattern visualization of a simulated digester. Water
Research, 2004. 38(17): p. 3659-3670.
129
Individual Projects
Mostafa Zahmatkesh
Bioremediation of Humic compounds from water using
fungi
Research objectives
The objective of this research is to study the possibility
of removing humic compounds, namely humic acid (HA),
from wastewater by fungal treatment.
Project outline
Introduction
This project is part of a STW project entitled “Increasing
Figure 1. White rot fungi growing on Humic-agar plates,
degradation of humics would cause bleaching layers on agar
the utilization of organic waste and low value feeds
with the help of lignin degrading fungi”, in cooperation
In the next step, the selected strains were used to
with Wageningen University. The research in TU Delft
remove humic acid from wastewater. Results showed
is focused on using White Rot Fungi (WRF) to remove
that Trametes versicolor could remove around 40% of
recalcitrant compounds from wastewater. For the last three
the humic acid after 3 days and 90% after 15. Laccase
years the research was focused on humics as targeted
activity was correlating with color removal (Fig 2). Results
compounds for fungal treatment. Humic substances are
of the liquid chromatography revealed that mechanism of
natural organic substances, which are ubiquitous in the
humic removal by WRF is a combination of absorption (
environment, both aquatic and terrestrial. In nature, humic
by fungal mycelia) and degradation (by fungal enzymes).
substances are extremely resistant to biodegradation.
WRF constitute a physiological group comprising mostly
of basidiomycetous, and to a lesser extent, litterdecomposing fungi. WRF are the most abundant wood
degraders in nature, which possess the unique ability of
efficiently degrading lignin to CO2 [1]. Thanks to WRF nonspecific enzymes, they can also degrade other recalcitrant
compounds with molecular structure similar to lignin, like
azo dyes, poly aromatic hydrocarbons, and humics [2].
Figure 2. Left: Color removal (humic acid removal)
and enzyme activity, Right: Results of Size exclusion
chromatography
Lignin Peroxidase, Manganese Peroxidase, Laccase and
versatile peroxidases are the major extracellular enzymes
Based on the previous results of jar tests, a sequential
produced by white rot fungi, which are responsible for
batch fungal reactor was applied to treat HA-containing
degradation of recalcitrant compounds [3].
wastewater. Three batches were done and each batch
lasted 3 weeks. Results are shown in Table 1.
Approach
Prescreening of several strains of WRF has been done in
agar plates to evaluate their ability to grow and bleach
humic acid. Selected strains tested in liquid phase, and
based on results of the jar tests, a 7 Lit fungal reactor
was designed to treat wastewater containing humic acid.
Results
Four strains of WRF were selected after prescreening in
humic-agar plates for their ability to grow and bleach the
humic acid (Fig 1).
130
Figure 3. Left: Fungal reactor (Beginning), middle: Fungal
reactor (end of first batch), Filtered samples at the
beginning and end of the batch
Mostafa Zahmatkesh
Table 1. Results of the sequential fungal reactor (Decolorization
represents the removal of humic acids)
Scientific relevance
Humic compounds can limit the bacterial growth in digesters, cause
fouling in membrane units and also reduce the quality of the effluent due
to their color. Therefore, removal of humic compounds in wastewater
will increase the efficiency of wastewater treatment plants.
Social relevance
Removal of recalcitrant or hardly degradable compounds would increase
the efficiency of the wastewater treatment plants, which results in a
cleaner and healthier environment, which benefit all living species in it,
namely humans.
1. A. Hataka, “biodegradation of lignin,” in Lignin, Humic Substances
and Coal, Martin Hofrichter and A. Steinbüchel, Eds. Weinheim,
Germany: Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 2005, pp. 129–179.
2. M. Tišma, B. Zelić, and Đ. Vasić-rački, “White-rot fungi in phenols,
dyes and other xenobiotics treatment – a brief review,” vol. 2, pp. 34–
47, 2010.
Sánchez,
“Lignocellulosic
residues:
biodegradation
and
bioconversion by fungi.,” Biotechnol. Adv., vol. 27, no. 2, pp. 185– 94,
Jan. 2009.
Email: [email protected]
www.sanitaryengineering.tudelft.nl
Postal address:
P.O. BOX 5048
2600 GA Delft
Literature
3.C.
Delft University of Technology
Faculty of Civil Engineering
Water Management Department
Sanitary Engineering Section
Visiting address:
Stevinweg 1
2611 CN Delft
Building of Civil Engineering
Start date project: May 2012
Expected end date: 2017
Key words:
Humic acid, Bioremediation,
Wastewater treatment, Fungi
Cooperation with other institutes:
Wageningen University
131
Individual Projects
Ljiljana Zlatanovic
Drinking water quality in domestic drinking water systems
Research objectives
Demand, an End Use Model. Every tap point is fitted
The main aim of this research was to determine the key
with a flow sensor and a temperature probe. Before every
factors that affect quality of drinking water in domestic
stagnation experiment, water was flushed through the
drinking water systems (DDWSs) while detailed objectives
system by opening the solenoid valves for 10 minutes,
of the study were as follows.
at a flow rate between 20 - 30 L/min. After flushing the
▪▪
To assess the temporal influence on water quality of
pipes, samples of fresh water were collected. Then, water
fresh water in DDWSs
was allowed to stagnate in the plumbing rig for 40 min,
To evaluate microbial quality of stagnant water in
4 hours, 10 hours, 24 hours, 48 hours, 96 hours and 168
DDWSs
hours, After every stagnation interval water samples (i.e.
▪▪
stagnant water) was taken for further analysis.
Project outline
Introduction
Results
DDWSs which include plumbing between water meters
Adenosine tri-phosphate (ATP) is the major energy
and consumer taps, represent the final stage of a
currency
drinking water supply process. In distribution systems,
concentrations over 10ong/L are considered high, while
water temperature and water residence time are often
ATP concentrations below 1ong/L are regarded as low in
regarded as surrogate parameters for water quality.
drinking water distributed without persistent residual. As
Long residence time, which may vary from 2 to 30 days,
shown Figure 1, microbial activity in drinking water during
depending on the population size, is reported to promote
winter (ATP~1ong/L) can be considered low. In summer,
microbial growth in distribution networks. When it comes
however, the ATP concentrations in fresh water samples
to DDWSs, water can further stagnate in pipes for hours,
were found to be somewhat elevated (average ~5ong/L)
days or even weeks before being consumed. The drinking
and could be related to greater microbial activity in the
water temperature is known to affect the chemical and
drinking water samples. A significant difference was
microbiological processes within the distribution phase.
also found in total number of intact cells between the
In The Netherlands, water temperature in the distribution
winter and summer experiments, i.e. during the winter
systems varies from a few degrees Celsius in the winter
experiments considerably lower intact cell concentrations
months to about 20°C in the summer. In DDWSs,
were measured in fresh drinking water samples (average
on the other hand, the drinking water temperature
~0.45x105ocell/mL), compared to the cell concentration
is pretty stable throughout a year and is equal to the
in summer water samples (average ~1.45x105 ocell/mL).
molecule
of
all
living
organisms.
ATP
room temperature (considering the fact that water in
DDWSs is used at varying frequencies, often with long
During the winter experiments, as presented in Figure 2,
intermissions). Therefore, it is possible that the quality
stagnation obviously promoted microbial re-growth, as on
of drinking water can further change in DDWSs under
average 2-fold increase in intact cell concentration was
favourable conditions.
measured after water stagnation of 10 to 168 hours. In
the summer experiments, stagnation resulted in a linear
Approach
reduction in intact cell counts, i.e. 5-fold reduction in cell
A full scale DDWS was built in the water laboratory located
concentration after 168 hours was observed.
in the building of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, TU
Delft. The design of the experimental plumbing rig was
Scientific relevance
done according to a plan of a 2 storey house (Typical
In 2006, growth of opportunistic pathogens in DDWSs
Dutch House). In order to simulate realistic drinking
was recognized as a high priority research area by
water consumption at the household level, the test rig
National Research Council, since the ability of pathogens
comprises 11 solenoid valves (tap points), which are
to amplify is greatly favoured by an increase in water
configured to run automatically according to the one
temperature,
year demand patterns generated by SIMulation of water
stagnation time. Still, the scientific knowledge about the
132
available
nutrients
and
long
water
Ljiljana Zlatanovic
impact of DDWSs on water quality is very limited. This project will lead
to a better understanding of the factors affecting the quality of drinking
water within DDWSs.
Figure 1. Left: ATP levels in fresh water during winter and summer
stagnation experiments. Right: Number of intact cells in fresh water during
winter and summer stagnation experiments. Number of water samples = 21
Delft University of Technology
Faculty of Civil Engineering
Water Management Department
Sanitary Engineering Section
E-mail: [email protected]
www.sanitaryengineering.tudelft.nl
Figure 2. ICC levels in water samples during winter (left) and summer
(right) stagnation experiments
Postal address:
P.O. BOX 5048
2600 GA Delft
Social relevance
Visiting address:
Stevinweg 1
2611 CN Delft
Building of Civil Engineering
High quality and microbially safe drinking water is essential for human
health. Despite significant advances in drinking water treatment
technologies, well treated water is not necessarily reaching consumer’s
tap, as water quality might deteriorate in the distribution systems. A
better understanding of the factors governing deterioration of water
quality within DDWSs can help designing an effective control strategy
that will ensure safe drinking water at the consumers’ tap.
Literature
Blokker, E.J.M., Vreeburg, J.H.G. and van Dijk, J.C. (2010) Simulating
Residential Water Demand with a Stochastic End-Use Model. Journal of
Water Resources Planning and Management-Asce 136(1), 19-26.
Start date project: Dec 2011
Expected end date: 2017
Key words:
Water quality, premise plumbing,
fire sprinkler systems
Cooperation with other institutes:
Bam techniek, Brandweer
Haaglanden, VSH, Dunea,
Waternet, PWN and Vitens
Lautenschlager, K., Boon, N., Wang, Y., Egli, T. and Hammes, F. (2010)
Overnight stagnation of drinking water in household taps induces microbial
growth and changes in community composition. Water Research 44(17),
4868-4877.
Lehtola, M.J., Miettinen, I.T., Hirvonen, A., Vartiainen, T. and Martikainen,
P.J. (2007) Estimates of microbial quality and concentration of copper in
distributed drinking water are highly dependent on sampling strategy.
International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health 210(6), 725732.
van der Wielen, P.W.J.J. and van der Kooij, D. (2010) Effect of water
composition, distance and season on the adenosine triphosphate
concentration in unchlorinated drinking water in the Netherlands. Water
Research 44(17), 4860-4867.
133
Individual Projects
André Arsénio (Postdoc)
Sustainable freshwater supply in urbanizing Maputo,
Mozambique
Introduction
Maputo, and other Deltas cities in developing countries,
suffers from freshwater shortage, improper sanitation,
limited access to safe drinking water and reuse of
untreated wastewater. In fact, despite the good work
done in the country regarding water supply and sanitation
since the independency from the colonial power in 1975,
there is still a long road ahead. In the country more than
50% of the population still lacks access to an improved
water source (WHO, 2013) and according to UNECA
(2013), Mozambique has demonstrated a “slow rate of
progress” regarding access to safe drinking water and
basic sanitation, with TAC (2014) predicting that the
Figure 1. Detail of the material flow diagram for nitrogen in
the city of Maputo. The arrows indicate the mass flow (tonne/
year) between different sub-systems
goals for both indicators will only be reached after 2025
instead of 2015.
Research objectives and approach
This project aims at developing centralized and decentralized wastewater reuse systems to supply farmers
and industries. In this way it will be possible to alleviate
the pressure on the already strained freshwater sources
that supply the city, reduce risks associated with unsafe
reuse wastewater while generating revenue. The project
is divided into two branches, a technical, responsibility
of TU Delft, and a social, responsibility of UNESCO-IHE.
Results
Figure 2. If you wish to get more information about the
project please this scan QR-code. Alternatively surf to
https://sustainablewatermz.weblog.tudelft.nl/
Throughout 2015 we quantified the flows of nitrogen
Scientific relevance
and water in the city (Fig. 1). The conclusions have been
The project will provide fundamental knowledge on
presented to local authorities and will support their future
informal use of alternative water sources in delta areas;
decisions regarding projected city developments. We
it will also allow studying water reuse from an integrated
were also involved in a city-wide survey to more than
socio-technical perspective combined with formal and
1,200 households together with WSP of World Bank in
informal practices and understanding power dynamics.
Maputo. During the survey we enquired about practices
Simultaneously it will be possible to develop new
of emptying on-site sanitation systems. These results
technologies for “sewer mining”, re-using water, energy
will help understanding how to remove fecal sludge can
and nutrients on a profitable basis. Finally, the project
be removed from the domestic environment and how to
aims at helping to implement policies for sustainable
appropriately treated it while generating revenue. For an
development of freshwater supply on large and small
overview of all the work done, check updated information
scale, making use of innovative combinations of (N)
or download our reports please scan the QR-code (Fig. 2)
GOs and private operators and proposing alternative
ways of management and operation of centralised and
de-centralised systems for reuse making it attractive and
profitable for both managers and consumers.
134
André Arsénio
Social relevance
One of the projects objectives is improving the current situation
regarding water and sanitation in Maputo and improve the lives of
its inhabitants. This will be done through capacity building and by
providing a platform where novel approaches to water management can
be discussed. Ideally, the technologies, tools and models developed for
Maputo can be implemented in other Mozambican cities and elsewhere
and help improving the lives of millions of people.
Literature
TAC. (2014). Monitoring progress towards the Millennium Development
Goals.
UNECA. (2013). Assessing progress in Africa towards the Millennium
Development Goals.
WHO. (2013). Progress on sanitation and drinking-water – 2013 Update.
WSP. (2014). Characterization of the Sanitation Sector in Maputo (in
Portuguese).
Delft University of Technology
Faculty of Civil Engineering
Water Management Department
Sanitary Engineering Section
E-mail: a.marquesarsenio@
tudelft.nl
www.sanitaryengineering.tudelft.nl
Postal address:
P.O. BOX 5048
2600 GA Delft
Visiting address:
Stevinweg 1
2611 CN Delft
Building of Civil Engineering
Start date project: Feb 2014
Expected end date: Feb 2019
Key words:
Water reuse, wastewater
treatment, digestion, sewer
mining, governance, ecosan,
fecal sludge management,
sustainability
Cooperation with other institutes:
UNESCO-IHE, Erasmus
University, Universidade Eduardo
Mondlane (Mozambique), FIPAG,
VitensEvidesInternational, Royal
HaskoningDHV, DNA, CRA,
Municipality of Maputo, WSUP,
WSP, Pamodzi
135
Individual Projects
Mathieu Lepot (Postdoc)
QUICS: An European project on integrated modeling
Research objectives
Scientific and social relevance
QUICS is a European project, which started a year ago.
For this project, scientific and social relevance are the
Some details of the project can be found here. Within
same: to provide guidelines. Scientists and practitioners
QUICS, I focus on practices that may affect data quality
can use these expected guidelines to improve their
in hydrology. The main goal is to write some guidelines in
existing or new systems, in order to get good data for
order to improve data quality.
subsequent uses.
Project outline
Introduction
Based on past experience of the Urban Drainage group
and my own (master, PhD thesis and a first Post-Doc in
Lyon), a wide range of practices from the design of a
monitoring station till the data validation/storage has
been identified. Except for some specific issues (such
as interpolation methods), the “good” methods are well
known, but not always applied.
Approach
In order to know what are other researchers and
practitioners doing, a dynamic survey has been written
and spread through different network. It is a multi-steps
survey, dealing with several aspects: design of monitoring
station, building, verification, calibration, use, data
collection, validation and storage. Based on the survey
results, past and/or shared experiences, the methods will
be ranked from “bad” to “good” in order to draw some
useful guidelines for subsequent works.
For interpolation methods, a literature review has been
done.
Results
Despite some effort in spreading the survey and probably
due to the required time to answer to the survey (~ 1
hour), there were not so many answers (33 in total).
This is enough to sort the method, but not to draw a
state of the art of practices in Europa. The results will be
processed soon.
A review paper dealing with interpolation methods
is under review. This paper aims to be a critic and
introductive review to such methods, in order to help
end-users to choose the best interpolation method for
their purposes.
136
Mathieu Lepot
Delft University of Technology
Faculty of Civil Engineering
Water Management Department
Sanitary Engineering Section
E-mail: [email protected]
www.sanitaryengineering.tudelft.nl
Postal address:
P.O. BOX 5048
2600 GA Delft
Visiting address:
Stevinweg 1
2611 CN Delft
Building of Civil Engineering
Start date project: Sep 2014
Expected end date: Aug 2016
Key words:
Data quality, practice
Cooperation with other institutes:
-
137
Individual Projects
Maria Lousada Ferreira (Postdoc)
“On-line control tool of AnMBR fouling based on
filterability measurements and flux enhancers additions”BestF2 project
Research objectives
samples. Weekly samples of anaerobic sludge are being
The aim of the BestF2 project “Bio-methane production
collected at the Harnaschpolder (HNP) WWTP, transported
from urban organic matter” is to build a demo-scale
to the TUD Water Lab and submitted to filterability
AnMBR in Spain, which is energy neutral and produces
measurements and other physical-chemical parameters.
water for reclamation purposes, demonstrating AnMBR
New operational parameters and new cleaning procedures
technology for municipal wastewater.
adapted to anaerobic sludge are being tested. In parallel,
comprehensive tests with flux enhancers are being
The TUD goal, within the BestF2 project, is to develop
performed to determine optimal dosages and simplified
an on-line fouling control tool for Anaerobic Membrane
selection procedures, which can be implemented on
Bioreactors (AnMBR). The control tool should accurately
site to rapidly identify the best flux enhancer according
measure fouling of any AnMBR installation, and if needed
to the local wastewater characteristics. The preliminary
according to the obtained fouling measurement results,
tests, comprising filterability and flux enhancers results,
add a suitable flux enhancer to minimize fouling.
will provide an operational task list, which will be further
tested at AnMBR pilots and demo-scale installations.
Project outline
Campaign measurements are being planned for the UK
Introduction
and Spain, to test both the on-line DFCm measurement
Aerobic MBRs produce high quality and largely disinfected
and flux enhancers additions. The following step
water, further designated as permeate, which is particularly
will be the control strategy development and on-line
suitable for water reuse. Anaerobic technologies provide
implementation.
the biological conversion of wastewater contaminants
in the absence of an oxygen source, simultaneously
Results
producing methane-rich biogas. Approximately 1kwh
To adapt the DFCm to the measurement of anaerobic
(fossil energy), per kg of chemical oxygen demand
samples, means to define new operational settings for
(COD) removed, is saved when anaerobic treatment is
sludge filtration and an adapted cleaning procedure. In
used instead of activated sludge systems [1]. AnMBRs
particular, by operational settings we refer to flux (L h
combine the advantages of aerobic MBRs with anaerobic
-1m-2) and cross-flow velocity (ms-1) in the membrane
technologies, producing permeate free of solids and rich
loop of the DFCm installation. Figure 1 shows the
in ammonia and orthophosphate, particularly suitable to
development with time of the ∆R20 parameter, i.e. the
agriculture fertilization. Nevertheless, the wide-spread
additional resistance obtained when a volume of 20 L m-2
of AnMBR technology, following the foot-steps of the
of permeate is obtained, by applying a flux of 60 L h-1m-2
aerobic MBR systems, has been particularly hampered by
and a cross-flow of either 1 or 1.5 ms-1, obtained with
the problem of membrane fouling. Nowadays, the applied
the weekly anaerobic samples collected at HNP WWTP.
fluxes in AnMBRs are 3 to 4 times lower than in MBRs.
The goal of the weekly measurements is both to tune the
Therefore, fouling reduction strategies are particularly
DFCm operational settings and to identify the range of
required to increase sustainability and overall application
variation of the filterability results.
of AnMBR technology.
Approach
The TUD developed a tool to unequivocally measure fouling
in aerobic MBRs, the Delft Filtration Characterization
method (DFCm), which measures filterability as the
sludge fouling potential [2,3]. The DFCm installation
has been updated and adapted to measure anaerobic
138
Maria Lousada Ferreira
Figure 1- Development of the ∆R20 parameter with time, when a flux of 60
Lh1m-2 and a cross-flow of either 1 or 1.5 ms-1 is applied, in the weekly
anaerobic samples collected at HNP WWTP.
Scientific relevance
The accurate and standard measurement of the fouling potential of
AnMBR sludge, allows the following: firstly a fair comparison between
the sludge filterability of different AnMBRs installation, secondly the
identification of the operational practices and designs producing sludge
with the best possible filterability, thirdly an effective on-line monitoring
tool to reduce fouling by linking the filterability results to flux enhancers
additions.
Social relevance
According to the World Health Organization, by 2025 half of the world’s
population will be living in fresh water stressed areas. To minimize the
problem, unconventional water sources, such as wastewater, are being
increasingly considered as water source. Water reclamation relies on
membrane technology to assure compliance with the reuse criteria.
However, membrane technologies require high capital and operational
costs. Therefore, there is the need to develop potentially sustainable
membrane wastewater treatment technologies, such as AnMBRs, able
Delft University of Technology
Faculty of Civil Engineering
Water Management Department
Sanitary Engineering Section
E-mail: m.lousadaferreira@
[email protected]
www.sanitaryengineering.tudelft.nl
Postal address:
P.O. BOX 5048
2600 GA Delft
Visiting address:
Stevinweg 1
2611 CN Delft
Building of Civil Engineering
Start date project: Feb 2015
Expected end date: Jan 2018
Key words:
AnMBR, Fouling, Filterability
Cooperation with other institutes:
Aqualia, Spain, University of
Southampton UK
to overcome technical and economic barriers and allowing overall
application of water reclamation from wastewater.
Literature
van Lier et al. (2015) Celebrating 40 years anaerobic sludge bed reactors
for industrial wastewater treatment, Reviews in Environmental Science
and Bio/technology 14(4), 681-702.
Evenblij H., Geilvoet S., van der Graaf J. H. J. M. and van der Roest H.
F. (2005). Filtration characterisation for assessing MBR performance:
three cases compared. Desalination 178, 115-24.
Lousada-Ferreira M., Krzeminski P., Geilvoet S., Moreau A., Gil J. A.,
Evenblij H., van Lier J. B. and van der Graaf J. H. J. M. (2014). Filtration
Characterization Method as Tool to Assess Membrane Bioreactor Sludge
Filterability-The Delft Experience. Membranes 4(2), 227-42.
139
Individual projects
Annemarie Mink (Postdoc)
Mobile crowd participation as innovative methodology for
water research
Research objectives
increasing connectivity through mobiles phones (Tran et
▪▪
Develop and apply MCP as an integrated research
al., 2015), and in particular smart phones, the end user
tool for water supply in the local context through
can be involved in research and monitoring (Silvertown,
behavioral adaptation and end-user participation.
2009). MCP tools rely on mobile phone applications
▪▪
(apps), which are a novelty in water research. Mobile
Project outline
phone coverage has increased rapidly over the past
Urbanization of deltas puts a severe stress on availability
decade in Bangladesh, with 80% having a mobile phone
of clean, safe drinking water and therefore threatens
in urban areas (GSMA, 2014) and 8% being a smart
the lives of millions, mostly affecting the poorest. Water
phone (GSMA, 2013). MCP technology allows real-time
supply
Delta
monitoring and also facilitates a dialogue with the end-
(GBM Delta) in India and Bangladesh is predominantly
user. In this research, the intention is to develop a mobile
organized through the use of scattered household hand-
phone application, which can be utilized to monitor water
pumps, where the water safety is un-controlled, leading to
supply and quality of the SPWS system.
in
the
Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna
contaminant exposure. Centralized water supply through
Small-scale Piped Water Supply (SPWS; IRC, 1981,
Approach
Ahmed, 2002, Trifunovic, 2002, WHO, 2005) offers crucial
Interviews at urban laboratories and literature review to
advantages over other technological interventions, as it
identify generic and context specific boundary
targets the safest source in the area, provides a degree
conditions for MCP. The app development will be an
of centralization (<100 households) for water quality
iterative process in short sprints with extensive field
control and treatment, provides in-house or courtyard tap
testing: a continuous cycle of requirements specification,
connections, which are socially-economically desirable,
development, user testing, requirements specification,
and limits the number of (re-)contamination events
development, user testing etc. A team of user experience
between water collection and consumption.
design students will perform the end-user testing and
develop wire-frames. These will be input for the app
Stakeholder interaction and participation leads to a
developers.
thorough understanding of the social, technical and
economic factors that play a role in the region. End-
Results
users determine the (changing) water demand and can
Practical results: Each functionality will be programmed,
guarantee rootedness in the local context. According to
tested and improved upon separately, to in the end come
Dreibelbis et al., 2013, the success of interventions to
up with one final application ready to use in the field.
improve water, sanitation and hygiene practices ultimately
Scientific results: generic and context specific boundary
rests on the ability to foster and maintain behaviour
conditions for MCP which are empirically validated.
change. To improve the accessibility, applicability,
acceptance and adoption of the SPWS system, the
Scientific relevance
end-users and other stakeholders should be included
Mobile phone applications (apps) are a novelty in water
(Donaldson 2009; Nakata and Weidner 2012; Prahalad
research, and by this project its relevance for evaluating
2012; Robertson and Simonsen 2012; Wilkinson and De
and monitoring SPWS systems will be determined, and
Angeli 2014). To involve the potential users in research
generic and context specific boundary conditions for MCP
and monitoring of the water supply system, Mobile Crowd
will be established.
Participation (MCP) can be deployed.
Social relevance
Access to mobile services in the developing world has
The results of this study can be used by governments,
outpaced the rate at which much of the population
NGOs working in SPWS projects in Bangladesh or other
is gaining access to basic services such as electricity,
urbanizing delta areas.
sanitation, and banking (GSMA, 2013). With the
140
Annemarie Mink (Postdoc)
Literature
Literature
• Ahmed, F. (2002). Alternative Water Supply Options for Arsenic
Affected Areas of Bangladesh. Dhaka, Bangladesh: ITN-Bangladesh.
• Chowdhury, N.T., 2010. Water management in Bangladesh: an
analytical review. Water Policy 12: 32–51
•
Donaldson, Krista M. 2009. “The Future of Design for Development:
Three Questions.” Review of. Information Technologies & International
Development 5 (4):97-100.
•
Dreibelbis, P., et al. (2013) The Integrated Behavioural Model for
Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene: a systematic review of behavioural
models and a framework for designing and evaluating behaviour change
interventions in infrastructure-restricted settings. BMC Public Health
2013, 13:1015.
•
GSMA Intelligence (2013) Scaling Mobile for Development, August
2013
• GSMA (2014) Analysis Country Overview: Bangladesh, August
2014. Groupe Speciale Mobile Association
• International Reference Centre (1981) Small community water
supplies: Technology of small water supply systems in developing
countries. Rijswijk, The Netherland: International Reference Centre.
•
Nakata, Cheryl, and Kelly Weidner. 2012. “Enhancing New Product
Adoption at the Base of the Pyramid: A Contextualized Model.” Review
of. Journal of Product Innovation Management 29 (1):21-32. doi:
10.1111/j.1540-5885.2011.00876.x.
•
Prahalad, Coimbatore. 2012. “Bottom of the Pyramid as a Source
of Breakthrough Innovations.” Review of. Journal of Product Innovation
Management 29 (1):6-12. doi: 10.1111/j.1540-5885.2011.00874.x.
• Robertson, Toni, and Jesper Simonsen. 2012. “Challenges and
opportunities in contemporary participatory design.” Review of. Design
Issues 28 (3):3-9.
• Silvertown, J. (2009). A new dawn for citizen science. Trends in
ecology & evolution, 24(9), 467-471.
•
Tran, M. C., Labrique, A. B., Mehra, S., Ali, H., Shaikh, S., Mitra, M.,
... & West Jr, K. (2015). Analyzing the Mobile “Digital Divide”: Changing
Determinants of Household Phone Ownership Over Time in Rural
Bangladesh. JMIR mHealth and uHealth, 3(1), e24.
Delft University of Technology
Faculty of Civil Engineering
Water Management Department
Sanitary Engineering Section
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: +31 613161335
www.sanitaryengineering.tudelft.nl
Postal address:
P.O. BOX 5048
2600 GA Delft
Visiting address:
Stevinweg 1
2611 CN Delft
Building of Civil Engineering
Start date project: Jun 2016
Expected end date: Nov 2018
Key words:
Mobile Crowd Participation,
End-User Interaction, Small-scale
Piped Water Supply
Cooperation with other institutes:
AN College Patna India, Dhaka
University Bangladesh, National
Institute of Design Ahmedabad
India, Industrial Design
Engineering TU Delft
• Trifunovic, N. (2002). Small community water supplies: Water
distribution. Delft, The Netherlands: International Reference Centre.
• WHO (2005). Rehabilitating small-scale piped water distribution
systems. Geneva, Switzerland: WHO Press.
•
Wilkinson, Christopher R, and Antonella De Angeli. 2014. “Applying
user centred and participatory design approaches to commercial product
development.” Review of. Design Studies 35 (6):614-31.
141
Individual Projects
Marjet Oosterkamp (Postdoc)
Microbial community analysis of anaerobic bioreactors
treating extreme wastewater
Research objectives
Approach
The microbial community of anaerobic membrane
Samples from bioreactors treating wastewater with
bioreactors and an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor
various concentrations of phenol and salt and under
treating (synthetic) industrial wastewater containing
mesophilic as well as thermophilic conditions will be
various concentrations of phenol and salt and under
studied using molecular techniques such as DNA isolation,
mesophilic as well as thermophilic conditions (BioXtreme)
polymerase chain reaction and denaturing gradient gel
will be analyzed. The first objective is to provide detailed
electrophoresis. Furthermore we will use high throughput
characterization of the microbial community composition
deep-sequencing techniques (Illumina MiSeq, Figure 1) to
of the anaerobic bioreactors. This will allow us to identify
characterize in more detail the bacteria and archaea that
which microorganisms are important under the different
are present. Advanced bioinformatics tools, such as QIIME
conditions. In this regard, we will also focus on the effect
and the R environment, will allow us to get information
of bioaugmentation as well as differences in community
of community composition as well as diversity. To address
composition of the bulk and cake layer on the membrane.
the functions of the community in the bioreactors in more
The second objective is to identify functional metabolic
detail, more advanced omics techniques such as RNAseq
pathways employed by the variety of microorganisms
and proteomics will be used. Furthermore, single-genome
in the anaerobic bioreactors under different conditions,
sequencing and isolation of key microorganisms from
which will increase understanding of metabolic pathways
the bioreactors can provide more information about the
involved and aids selection of microorganisms for a
properties and possible functions of a single bacterial or
designed minimal microbial community necessary for
archaeal strain present in the bioreactors. Based on the
treating extreme wastewater.
information obtained from community as well as strain
studies, a selection of microorganisms can be combined
Project outline
and their optimal performance in the bioreactors can be
Introduction
tested.
Anaerobic digestion is important for wastewater treatment
and combines reduction of waste and pollutants with
energy production. Furthermore, compared to aerobic
treatment, the costs of operation and sludge handling
are low. The upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor
is a very successful system that is widely applied for
anaerobic digestion. The use of the membrane bioreactor
technology has been well established in aerobic treatment.
More recently, the advantages of this technique and
of anaerobic digestion have been combined into the
anaerobic
membrane
bioreactor.
Excellent
effluent
quality, low sludge production, total biomass retention
and hence bioaugmentation of specialized bacteria, and
net energy production are among the advantages of the
anaerobic membrane bioreactor technology. To ensure
optimal performance, a more fine-grained insight in the
composition and functionality of microbial communities
of bioreactors is important. This insight will also allow us
to develop a designed microbial community that can be
applied for optimal anaerobic digestion.
142
Figure 1. Overview of the Illumina sequencing workflow
Marjet Oosterkamp
Scientific relevance
This research will lead to novel insights in microbial communities
treating wastewater containing phenol and under high saline and
mesophilic as well as thermophilic conditions. We will identify (novel)
microbial specialists involved in this process, which will increase our
understanding of optimal anaerobic digestion of extreme wastewater
and also of the mechanisms of bioaugmentation of specialists in
membrane bioreactors. More detailed research of these microorganisms
increases our understanding of pollutant degradation at a molecular
level.
Social relevance
Insight in microbial communities of anaerobic bioreactors and
development of communities that are able to perform optimally will
enhance the treatment of waste and wastewater. Improvement of
extreme wastewater treatment will lead to more environmental-friendly
industry as it will not only reduce the release of industrial pollutants, but
also increase green energy production.
Literature
1. Lin H, Peng W, Zhang M et al. 2013, A review on anaerobic
membrane bioreactors: Applications, membrane fouling and future
perspectives. Desalination 314: 169-188.
2. Dereli RK, Ersahin ME, Ozgun H et al. 2012, Potentials of anaerobic
membrane bioreactors to overcome treatment limitations induced by
industrial wastewaters. Bioresour Technol 122: 160-170.
Delft University of Technology
Faculty of Civil Engineering
Water Management Department
Sanitary Engineering Section
E-mail: [email protected]
www.sanitaryengineering.tudelft.nl
Postal address:
P.O. BOX 5048
2600 GA Delft
Visiting address:
Stevinweg 1
2611 CN Delft
Building of Civil Engineering
Start date project: Jul 2015
Expected end date: Jul 2017
Key words:
Microbial community analysis,
next generation sequencing,
anaerobic digestion,
bioaugmentation, AnMBR, UASB,
aromatic compounds, salinity,
mesophilic, thermophilic
Cooperation with other institutes:
Environmental Biotechnology
TU Delft, Evides Energiewater,
Paques, Wageningen University
143
Individual Projects
Ran Shang (Postdoc)
ceramic nanofiltration as the key step for sustainable
wastewater treatment with reclamation of water, energy
and nutrients
Research objectives
This research is part of the RINEW (Rotterdam
-
Innovative Nutrients Energy Water) project, which is
To optimize the ceramic nanofiltration process for
domestic wastewater filtration
searching for alternative concepts for the reclamation
-
of municipal wastewater from city areas and transfer
To develop effective cleaning methods for the ceramic
nanofiltration membranes filtrating wastewater.
it to valuable products. RINEW is a collaboration
- To investigate a new route to prepare ceramic
between Evides Industriewater, the City of Rotterdam,
nanofiltration
Hoogheemraadschap van Delfland, Waterschap Hollandse
(NF)
membranes
with
homogeneous
micropores, high organic and P rejection and yet high
Delta, and Clean Tech Delta.
water flux.
-
To study the performance of the new NF membranes
during sewer mining application.
Recent results show that an advanced deposition
technique is feasible route to synthesize tight ceramic NF
membranes with high water permeability. The deposition
Project description
was applied on a commercial ceramic NF membrane
Sewer mining using a commercially available ceramic
with 450 Da, in order to narrow its pore aperture. The
nanofiltration membrane (450 Da cut-off) has been
synthesized tight ceramic NF membranes had a molecular
previously studied by direct nanofiltration of sewage 1.
weight cut-off (MWCO) ranging from 260 to 380 Da. Yet,
The aim of sewer mining is to concentrate COD (chemical
they maintained high water permeability at 11-16 L m-2
oxygen demand) and/or phosphate from the sewage
h-1 bar-1, which is notably higher than the commercial
so that energy and nutrients can be reclaimed in an
tight polymeric NF and traditional sol-gel-made tight
anaerobic digester (Fig. 1).
ceramic NF membranes.
Figure 1 PEG rejection (a) and modelled active pore size distribution (b) of the pristine (substrate) membranes and the
synthesized membranes.
Zeolites as novel adsorbent in water treatment
Research objectives
Project description
▪▪
To investigate the efficiency of high silica zeolites (of
Activated carbon is typically used to remove organic
various pore size and Si/Al ratios) for adsorption of the
micropollutants from contaminated water, but during this
organic micropollutants (OMPs) and the assimilable
process, natural organic matter (NOM) present in the
organic carbon (AOC) from drinking water.
water competes with adsorption sites and may restrict
To study the competitive adsorption between the
pore access. Both these effects reduce the filtration time
natural organic matters and the OMPs or AOC.
until regeneration, and during regeneration, energy is
To investigate if the zeolites can be effectively
wasted on removing NOM. Zeolites have pore sizes that
regenerated by in-situ oxidation.
are too small for NOM to enter, and initial lab tests have
▪▪
▪▪
144
Ran Shang
already shown that equilibrium adsorption of organic micropollutants on
ZSM5 zeolite was similar with or without the presence of NOM 2.
The research focus will be on understanding what molecule and zeolite
properties affect adsorption (both equilibrium and kinetics). Based on
this, combinations of zeolites will be selected and agglomerated to
granules. The adsorption capacities of these granules for a broad range
of organic micropollutants and AOC will then be tested.
The regeneration of saturated zeolites will also be investigated. Since
zeolites are chemically inert, oxidative techniques can be used for
their regeneration. These techniques are envisioned to be more costeffective than the current thermal regeneration used for activated
carbon regeneration.
Delft University of Technology
Faculty of Civil Engineering
Water Management Department
Sanitary Engineering Section
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: +31 152783539
www.sanitaryengineering.tudelft.nl
Postal address:
P.O. BOX 5048
2600 GA Delft
Figure 2. Scanning electron microscope image of FAU type zeolite with
a Si/Al ratio of 500
Literature
Shang, R. Ceramic ultra- and nanofiltration for municipal wastewater
reuse. Delft University of Technology, Delft, 2014.
de Ridder, D. J. Adsorption of organic micropollutants onto activated
carbon and zeolites. Delft University of Technology, 2012.
Visiting address:
Stevinweg 1
2611 CN Delft
Building of Civil Engineering
Start date project: May 2014
Expected end date: May 2017
Key words:
Ceramic NF, Sewer mining,
Zeolite, Adsorption
Cooperation with other institutes:
STW, Evides, Logisticon
145
Individual Projects
Matthieu Spekkers (Postdoc)
Collecting rainstorm damage data through household
Research objective
Data are collected by means of a telephone and online
The objective of this project was to develop and test
survey. A total of around 350 surveys were completed in a
a new questionnaire to assess rainstorm damage to
period of 4 months. The newly collected data can be used
residential buildings.
for the development and validation of damage estimation
models. Preliminary results show that a considerable
Project outline
part of the damage was caused by leaking roofs and
Rainstorms cause considerable damage to residential
facades. Moreover, this case study shows that 25% of the
buildings worldwide, such as flooded basements and
respondents did not claim their damage, although they
ground floors and leaking roofs. To effectively take
have a property and content insurance.
precautionary measures, an understanding of the nature
and causes of rainstorm damage is required; however,
Scientific relevance
this is hampered by the lack of empirical damage data
Results that are relevant for science:
from real-life examples.
•
A new international questionnaire for the collection
of rainstorm damage data.
For this reason, we have, in collaboration with the
• A new research database on rainstorm damage to
German Research Centre for Geosciences, developed a
residential buildings.
questionnaire to assess rainstorm damage to residential
buildings. The new questionnaire contains question items
Social relevance
related to the damage a household experienced and the
• Damage data and damage models have a high
local circumstances under which the damage occurred.
potential of providing valuable information to households,
Contextual variables that are covered by the questionnaire
water authorities, insurers and meteorologists to support
include hazard and building information and preparedness
damage prevention and reduction.
and precaution indicators. The questionnaire is developed
•In
using international standards, allowing the questionnaire
waterproofing their houses can benefit from information
to be applied to other European countries/cities in the
on the efficiency of precautionary measures and the
future.
potential damage reduction.
Using the new questionnaire, we have carried out a
household survey among rain-affected households in the
city of Amsterdam (i.e. neighbourhood Oud-West). The
city of Amsterdam was severely hit by an extreme rain
event on 28 July 2014, and there was a clear need to
gain more insights into the vulnerability of the city. Data
collection took place within the Impact project “Samen
met verzekeraars naar een regenbestendige stad”; a
collaboration between Waternet, TU Delft and Achmea
insurance group.
146
particular,
homeowners
who
consider
Matthieu Spekkers
Delft University of Technology
Faculty of Civil Engineering
Water Management Department
Sanitary Engineering Section
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: +31 152788578
www.sanitaryengineering.tudelft.nl
Postal address:
P.O. BOX 5048
2600 GA Delft
Visiting address:
Stevinweg 1
2611 CN Delft
Building of Civil Engineering
Start date project: Mar 2015
Expected end date: Mar 2017
Key words:
Telephone interviews, rainstorm
damage data, damage modelling
Cooperation with other institutes:
GFZ Potsdam, Waternet,
Amsterdam Rainproof
147
Individual Projects
Xuedong Zhang (Postdoc)
Online VFA monitoring in an anaerobic leaching process
using a mid-infrared spectroscopy based sensor
Research objectives
applied to develop calibration models for the sensor.
OPTI-VFA is a two-year European project mainly aiming to
develop low-cost industrial sensors for online monitoring
Approach
volatile fatty acids (VFA) in anaerobic digestion reactors
The FT-MIRS system (Figure 1, Left) consists of a Bruker
(http://www.opti-vfa.eu). The aim of this study is
Matrix FT-MIRS (spectral range: 5.2-17 µm (600-1900
twofold: first, to develop an acceptable calibration model
cm-1) and an ATR fiber sensor (diamond-ATR probe, 2
for a sensor based on Fourier transformed middle infrared
bounces reflection) from Art Photonics. Spiking VFAs into
spectroscopy (FT-MIR) to predict total VFA and individual
effluent and leachate of an AD process was carried out
VFAs in anaerobic digestion (AD) process; second, to
(Figure 1, Right).
validate the performance of the OPTIVFA sensor in a
large number of batch tests (off-process measurements),
real-time monitoring VFAs of a lab-scale AD reactor and in
a leaching process of a full-scale biogas plant.
Project outline
Introduction
Anaerobic digestion is considered a relatively simple
Figure 1. The FT-MIRS system and the digester (Left) and
the procedure of spiking and measurements (Right)
biological approach to achieve sludge stabilization and
Results
recover bioenergy from organic residues. However,
In this study, to develop the calibration models for the
many full-scale digesters are operated under suboptimal
OPTIVFA sensor, 3 calibration approaches were tested:
conditions because of a lack of reliable on-line data to
traditional PLS regression, parsimonious calibration
efficiently control the process. Variations in substrate
model, and direct SMF calibration method based on the
characteristics and changes in organic loading rate can
efficient use of prior spectroscopic information on the
lead to unstable performance of anaerobic reactors,
target signal and on the unwanted spectral noises. The
possibly resulting in the accumulation of fatty acids and
3 calibration approaches gave very similar predictions
even failure of the process. The mechanism of reactor
in terms of calibration fit: the RMSEC and RMSEP
perturbation is only limitedly investigated due to a lack
values were very close to each other. However, there
of real time VFA monitoring systems as VFAs are also
is a positive offset in the total VFA predictions for the
considered good indicators for digester performance.
datasets, which can be caused by systematic bias and
In addition, another driving force to develop the online
can be compensated using an offset into the calibration
monitoring systems is the increasing attention to recover
models. However, each of the calibration methods has
resources such as VFAs from waste streams.
their advantages and disadvantages. A PLS regression
Fourier transformed near/middle infrared spectroscopy
model is simple to construct, but when the PLS regression
has been broadly applied in food processing industry and
model is built with an observational dataset the dataset
pharmaceutical industry. This technology has been proven
size shall be large enough to eliminate the chance
to be potentially used as an alternative for online VFA
correlations. The parsimonious calibration model reduces
monitoring for anaerobic digesters. However, variations in
the number of regression coefficients to a minimum,
substrates and operational conditions of digesters result
therefore reducing the needed size of training dataset.
in substantial differences in characteristics of digestates.
Furthermore, the calibration model is insensitive to
Thus, a reliable online VFA monitoring system needs
the spectral interferences that occur outside the few
a robust and accurate calibration model. In this study,
spectral regions used in the model. The small number of
traditional PLS regression, a parsimonious calibration
explanatory variables decreases the ability of the model
model based on four wavelength regions, and direct
to compensate for certain complex spectral interferences
spectral matched filter (SMF) calibration method were
which occur also in the chosen spectral channels. The
148
Xuedong Zhang
SMF method makes efficient use of measurable spectroscopic prior
information that forms the basis of the training dataset. Identifying
and measuring the most important signal and the interferences/noises
sources is the main difficulty of the SMF calibration method, i.e., high
level of spectroscopic expertise and industrial process are needed.
Figure 2 shows the predictions of the OTIVFA sensor in an anaerobic
leaching process, and the comparisons between the predictions and the
GC-VFA reference values. The results indicate that the sensor was able
to follow the trends of total VFA and acetic acid in the process. However,
for total VFA, there is a clear difference between the predictions and
the GC measurements. The calibration model for total VFA can be
compensated by using an offset as aforementioned. The OTPIVFA
sensor seems to be able to follow the trend of propionic acid as well.
However, the predictions are still not satisfactory. It is likely because
of the relatively lower concentration of propionic acid in the process,
compared to acetic acid. The predictions of propionic acid in the process
would be better if the concentration was higher. In short, the online
VFA monitoring system is capable of detecting the dynamic profile of
some VFAs species and total VFA in the AD process, and probably would
be very conducive to steering VFA production in AD processes and
obtaining the desired VFA spectra. However, the further improvement of
the calibration models for more VFA species still needs to be carried out.
Delft University of Technology
Faculty of Civil Engineering
Water Management Department
Sanitary Engineering Section
E-mail: [email protected]
www.sanitaryengineering.tudelft.nl
Postal address:
P.O. BOX 5048
2600 GA Delft
Visiting address:
Stevinweg 1
2611 CN Delft
Building of Civil Engineering
Start date project: Sep 2013
Expected end date: 2017
Key words:
Anaerobic digestion, online VFA
monitoring sensor, middle infrared
spectroscopy, biogas production,
and VFA production
Figure 2. In-process predictions of VFAs using the OPTIVFA sensor and the
off-process analyses by GC in a cycle of a lab-scale leaching process
Scientific relevance
OPTIVFA project will develop a reliable VFA monitoring system based
on middle infrared spectroscopy. The system will be conducive to
Cooperation with other institutes:
Maris projects (Netherlands),
Attero (Netherlands),
VTT(Finland), CEIT(Spain), Rikola
(Finland), Optomesures (France),
MTT (Finland ), Multantiv
(Finland), and MSI (Spain)
understand the dynamic profile of individual VFA, and then better
decipher the fermentation process, finally resulting in effective control
strategies to optimize biogas or VFA production from organic residues.
Social relevance
Optimal operation of AD reactors treating organic waste contributes
to reduce the investment in AD plant due to post-treatment units.
Eventually, OPTIVFA project will be helpful in achieving a more
sustainable society, that is: efficient use of all organic residues and
reduction of waste emissions.
149
150
Annual report 2016
Education
151
Education
WaterLab
The Waterlab: where education and research meet
The department is proud of its unique laboratory facilities
System, Flat-sheet cross-flow module for arsenate
in the WaterLab. The WaterLab is a research and education
removal.
lab providing an unique infrastructure for experimental
research. We support numerous and very different kinds
In the WaterLab we also often see proof-of-concept
of permanent practical set-ups and research experiments,
experiments with novel sensors or set-ups, not seldom
of course bounded by the safety regulations.
build using huge amounts of industrial Duc tape.
Examples are smart-roofs for dynamic water storage on
The WaterLab hosts permanent experimental set-ups
flat roofs using small-weirs or developing temperature
for education: a gas-transfer cascade, filtration columns,
sensing using glass optical fibres. After intense testing in
bubble aeration column, the online nanofiltration, specific
the laboratory, the set-ups, sensors or reactors are taken
ultrafiltration resistance, sand columns for soil hydrology
to a real-life test.
tests and a reverse osmose filtration setup.
The WaterLab facilitates MSc and PhD students with the
The WaterLab of our department is managed by two
experiments of wastewater treatment in a ML-I certified
enthusiastic lab technicians, Armand Middeldorp and
laboratory. Here we study the recovery of energy,
Mohammed Jafar. They provide the training for analytical
biochemicals and water from the sewer or industrial
equipment. They provide support for designing and
effluent, with special focus on the hydrolysis processes,
building experiments, safeguarding our high safety and
granular biomass and Anaerobic Membrane Bioreactors
environmental standards, purchasing equipment and
(AnMBR).
consumables.
In the open lab area of the WaterLab, the drinkwater
Our Water Laboratory is not a ‘standard’ analytical lab,
treatment and experiments are located which are
but it does possess plenty high end analytical equipment
not bounded by special safety regulations. Here we
like GC, HPLC, IC, Automatic biomethane potential test
see experimental set-ups like DFCm- Delft Filtration
system (AMPTS), TOC analyser, particle counter and PSD
Characterization method, Aquatic worms bioreactor to
system, Solar simulator, isotope analyser and soon to be
study biodegradability of sludge, Ceramic Nanofiltration
available an ICP MS.
membrane installation, Ceramic water filter columns
for the removal of phages, Drinking Water Distribution
152
WaterLab
A small drinking water distribution network of grey PVC pipes is built to mimic the real distribution network situation.
Photo by TU Delft/Frank Auperlé
The DIPool project of Marjolein Peters and Maarten Keuten looks at how the formation of harmful disinfection by-products can be
counteracted. Photo by TU Delft/Frank Auperlé
153
Education
Study trip Dispuut Watermanagement
Ethiopia
On the third of July 2016, 16 students of the student
association Watermanagement of the TU Delft started
their journey through Ethiopia. The students were
accompanied by three staff members of the department,
Prof. Huub Savenije, Prof. Nick van de Giesen and Dr. Lisa
Scholten. During the trip the students visited the cities
Addis Ababa, Bahir Dar, Lalibela, Adama and Ziway and
their surroundings. In total the trip lasted three weeks and
was an unforgettable experience for all the participants.
Day 3:Visit to ENTRO and the Dutch Embassy
After an exciting first day in Addis Ababa, we’re even more
excited the morning with the first visits on the program!
Starting with a visit to ENTRO, the Eastern Nile Technical
Regional Office from the Nile Basin Initiative (NBI), which
was followed by a visit to the Dutch Embassy in the
afternoon. At ENTRO we learned about the NBI, which is
an intergovernmental partnership and the first institution
for the Nile basin with all countries in the basin included.
Day 4: First try to visit the university
As the Nile has a long history of different agreements
Even though we saw the Ethiopian students walking in,
concerning the water resources division between the
the guards were without remorse: we could not enter the
countries, the NBI is the first with a shared vision and
Engineering faculty of the University of Addis Ababa. Due
strategy program. After an interesting presentation we
to the Eid al-Fitr (end of ramadan feast), the university
continued our journey through Addis Ababa by a short
was closed, even the professor with whom we made an
visit to the famous Merkato, which is known as the
appointment could not get us in. A pity, but luckily we
largest open-air market of Africa. Driving around in a
could reschedule the visit for the next day and we had
bus in such a crowded place isn’t easy, so after twenty
some free time instead.
minutes driving with only getting ahead 500 meters, we
Some of us went to the National Museum, and with a group
decided to get out of the bus to find lunch and nice cup of
I went to the big campus of the University. Once more,
Ethiopian coffee. With renewed energy we were ready for
the guards immediately stopped us. “it’s closed”. Again,
our visit to the Dutch Embassy, and while we thought the
we saw many Ethiopians entering. We still don’t know
day couldn’t get better, Professor Huub Savenije joined us
what changed, but from one second to the other they did
during the visit at the Embassy. The Embassy is located on
let us through the gates. The campus consists of a big
the western outskirts of Addis Ababa and is designed by
park and some very nice buildings. One of them used to
the Dutch Architect Dick van Gameren, who is a professor
be the palace of Haile Selassi himself. We walked around
at the TU Delft. Although we got a nice presentation
and got into some nice conversations with students that
and guided tour, it was a small disappointment for us
also happened to study engineering. We drank coffee,
as Water Managers when we learned that water is not
or should say, participated in a coffee ceremony, in a
on the action program of the Embassy of Ethiopia! After
small but cosy coffee hut. To get our lunch, we looked
the visit, bus driver Esayas dropped us of near the hotel
for the students’ cafeteria and we stumbled upon a large
at a nice Ethiopian bar where we started the night with
group of cheering students, waiting for the doors of the
tea (and maybe some beers later on). Our study trip to
cafeteria to open. In Ethiopia the Summer holidays had
Ethiopia definitely started today!
started as well. Surprisingly, people even started running
in once the doors of the cafetria opened.
154
Study trip Dispuut Watermanagement
It happened to be a special meal due to the Eid al-Fitr.
July 8th, at 0:00 in the Lounge Bar in Addis. Club H20,
Unfortunately, we were not allowed to join.
where we had come from before, was too quiet and St.
Yellow caps, safety glasses, safety suit and earplugs.
George’s medicine had yet to pulverize our inhibitions
Our outfit during the afternoon excursion to the one and
before we would dare the dance off with the local
only Heineken factory in Addis Ababa. Marc, a Dutch
privileged. When returning an hour later, only to find the
Delft alumni, and now production manager of the three
dance floor still empty, we decided to teach the observers
year old factory in Addis Ababa hosted us. To enter the
something of our own culture after having already
Ethiopian market, Heineken introduced a new Ethiopian
learned so much of theirs. The next morning the YEP-ers
brand named Walia and the success is “unbelievable”,
Jelmer and Annelies from Belgian engineering contractor
1.2 million hectolitre of beer was sold during the first
DENYS showed us the process of designing and executing
year. Durin g our visit we also received a presentation
the construction of the major new sewerage network
by Royal Haskoning, which helped building the brewery.
in Addis. They fascinated us with information ranging
The visit to the factory was intriguing: the bottles going
from the concept, blue print mark-ups to the digging of
through the different phases of the process can hardly
tunnels under bridges for the pipelines, to their personal
not hypnotize you. Unfortunately the factory bar was
experiences being expatriated to Ethiopia as well as
closed, so no beer for us. Luckily we could make up for
working in the environment of a rapidly developing
this during our free evening.
country. This was then followed up by a visit to Dr.
Melesse Temesgen who showed us his innovation on the
Aybar BBM. This plough requires less than half the energy
to use and creates broad bed furrows that much more
efficiently regulate the water balance for crops in both
extremely dry conditions through water conservation, as
well as wet areas through drainage - depending how it
is applied. This day was a day of inspiration, where we
truly came to realize how individual people can make a
tremendous difference to a society and a nation by taking
the initiative, being proactive and by applying their well
Day 6: The sewage of Addis Ababa
developed skills in engineering.
Blood red walls spotted with mini-portraits of Vladimir
Putin, a mist of shisha smoke and a group of pale faranjis
(foreigners) dancing to the great Ethiopian thump. This
stark contrast of colors marks the technical beginning of
155
Education
Study trip Dispuut Watermanagement
Day 9/10: Fieldwork
Even though the first two days in Bahir Dar were rather
relaxed, Monday morning it was time to get back to work,
fieldwork more specifically. After a short walk from the
Blue Nile Hotel to Bahir Dar University, we arrived at the
Institute of Technology. For a moment we thought the
banner congratulating the “class of 2008” hadn’t been
updated for a while, but then we remembered it is actually
2008 at the moment in Ethiopia. At the University we met
Dr. Seifu Tilahun, who had been the Dean of the university
until a couple of days before. Also, we were introduced
to two of his PhD students currently doing research on
gully erosion in Ethiopia, the topic of our fieldwork. Later,
Prof. Dr. Tammo Steenhuis gave us a short introduction
on soil erosion preparing us for the fieldwork. Tammo
Steenhuis, Dutch, but working at Cornell University,
was the promoter of Nick van de Giesen and has been
working on soil erosion in Ethiopia for many years now.
Having enjoyed lunch with the now well-known Ethiopian
injera, we started working on the plans for the fieldwork,
collecting equipment and materials and getting ready for
the field. Around 2 p.m., or wait, 8 o’clock in Ethiopian
sunlight hours, we left the university by bus to set-up
the measuring equipment in the field so that we could
have a quick start the next morning. However, never
expect everything to go according to plans in Ethiopia.
One hour away from Bahir Dar heavy rain caused traffic
jam on the small, muddy and bumpy road. The traffic
jam allowed us to leave the bus to see some gullies along
the road and for some of us to run to the top of a hill to
oversee the amazing landscape. However, by the time the
traffic started moving again it was too late to continue
to the fields and we decided to return to Bahir Dar.
The next day we left the hotel early and got to the sight
on time. The students were divided in groups and we
all set out to investigate what causes gully formation
in the Ethiopian Highlands. Sometimes accompanied
by the local children herding their animals in the fields.
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Study trip Dispuut Watermanagement
Day 18: Sugar cane for lunch
Day 18: Lake Ziway
Waking up in a hotel that looked like an old castle filled
Leaving the sugarcane plantation behind, we made
with a mixture of medieval and oriental style furniture,
our way to Lake Ziway, which hosts most of Ethiopia’s
a visit to a sugar cane plantation in Adama was on the
booming, flower exporting industries. The Netherlands
programme. After a warm welcome in the office we first
being a flower country itself, it comes to no surprise that
visited the pumping station of the irrigation system of
even in Ziway we find a handful of Dutch agriculturalists
the plantation. On the wall in the pumping station we
busy making a living for themselves and their hundreds
found a sign “Werkspoor N.V. Amsterdam” the trademark
of employees. Growing on no less than 38 hectares, AQ-
of the Koninklijke Nederlandsche Fabriek van Werktuigen
roses produces a variety of different kinds of roses for
en Spoorwegmateriaal, a Dutch company building
the massive flower auction in Aalsmeer, The Netherlands.
machinery from the 50’s. A Dutch company originally
Lake Ziway’s pristine waters, the Ethiopian sunshine and
established the plantation back in 1953. With the arrival
the hardworking employees together with the Dutch
of the communist DERG government in 1974, the Dutch
expertise in horticulture and company management,
left the country and the sugar cane plantation was
make the perfect recipe for AQ’S quality products.
nationalized. All Dutch equipment was still in use until
Although, we only spent a short-time walking around on
a couple of years ago. Now the old Dutch factory has
the companies grounds, we could find little evidence to
been replaced by a new one, mainly build with Indian
reaffirm Zembla’s, a critical Dutch television program,
made machinery. Besides signs from the Netherlands and
accusations of unsafe working conditions and horrible
India, some Japanese influence appeared on the walls in
environmental impacts of the rose industry on the water
the form of phrases like “Heart is the life to body: Kaizen
balance or quality of the lake. Of course, research would
is the life to industry” and “What is your Kaizen today?”
have to be done to say this with any certainty but the
The business mind in this plantation became even more
impression we got was very different to the report of
clear when we were told that the sugar cane plantation
Zembla. Remarkable was also that next to every toilet
currently was 6000 ha large and the plan was to expand
free condoms were made available and that the nurse was
to 12000 ha. Driving around the plantation we noticed
helping someone with family planning at the moment we
how big that actually is! Apparently some of us had been
dropped by the company’s medical clinic. Most impressed
too long away from their calculators as they started a
were we, however, by the artificial swamp wastewater
back of envelop calculation while driving around in the
treatment facility. The wastewater would in sequence
fields, how much water is needed to grow a kg of cane
pass by different ponds each filled with a different kind
sugar? We were told it required about 1700 m3 water
of water plant. These would in turn remove different
per ha per month, with sugar cane growing in cycles of
kind of pollutants before the water was discharged into a
17 months, so each harvest about 30 000 m3 water per
larger pond with fish, before then being discharged into
hectare. Each hectare leading to 150 tons of cane, which
the open water. We then returned to our resort to take
exists for about 11% of sugar, resulted in about 1800 L
a dive in the pool while it was raining, reflecting on all
water per kg sugar. Being back home now, Google tells
the great things we learned about water and business in
me that this is quite close to the estimations of UN Water
developing countries.
of 1500 L per kg cane sugar. Well done, Jacco!
Returning to the hotel with pieces of sugar cane still
between our teeth, we had the chance to meet, Debebe,
who works for the Awash Basis Authority, he told us about
the cooperation of the Waterboard Zuiderzeeland and
Unie van Waterschappen with the Awash Basin Authority.
Main focus points in the Awash Basin are water scarcity,
floods, water pollution, and land degradation. It was very
interesting to hear his stories.
157
Education
Marc van Eekeren Reisfonds
Marc van Eekeren Reisfonds
Uit respect voor de bijdrage die Marc van Eekeren aan
bijwonen van een congres/studiereis).
de watersector heeft geleverd en geïnspireerd door zijn
Het fonds had in 2015 een redelijke omvang (ongeveer €
passie voor het vak en zijn drive om de Nederlandse water
10.000 per jaar) en de resultaten waren erg positief. Zie
sector internationaal te verbreden en te laten inspireren,
hiervoor de enthousiaste reisverslagen van de studenten.
is een fonds opgericht om Bachelor studenten van de TU
Het Marc van Eekeren Reisfonds is onderdeel van
Delft te motiveren en te ondersteunen om internationaal
een campagne Bachelor studenten van de TU Delft te
ervaring op te doen binnen de watersector: het Marc van
interesseren in de watersector en uiteindelijk te binden
Eekeren Reisfonds.
en te werven voor de Mastertrack Watermanagement van
de opleiding Civiele Techniek en Geowetenschappen.
De TU Delft zet het Marc van Eekeren Reisfonds in als
belangrijk strategisch middel om talentvolle Bachelor
studenten aan de sector te binden.
Het
reisfonds
biedt
de
Bachelor
studenten
de
mogelijkheid om binnen de Bachelor studie een reis
gesubsidieerd te krijgen, welke onderdeel vormt van een
watergerelateerde
158
ervaring (stage/afstudeeropdracht/
[email protected]
Marc van Eekeren Reisfonds
Addressing the issues with the non-operating sewerage
pumps in Maputo
Proposing environmentally sustainable improvements
During the winter of 2015/2016 we had the opportunity
deal with the wastewater of the new building: treatment
to do a study on the sewage system of Maputo,
by septic tank and drain into the ground afterwards. The
Mozambique. It was an experience we will never forget.
University agreed with this solution although they knew
We learned a lot about Mozambique and about the
that this is not a solution on long term.
(waste)water system over there. First of all we would
like to thank the Marc van Eekeren travel fund for their
Jesse Salet and Hidde Schijfsma
contribution to our project. We would also like to thank
Luuk Rietveld, André Marques Arsénio, Nelson Matsinhe
and Noor Jehan Gulamussen for their support during our
project.
The goal of our research was to analyze the issues of the
municipal sewerage system of Maputo. The pumps are
not operating for over eight years and at the moment all
the wastewater (that is normally pumped to the WWTP)
is now discharged into the bay. This causes extra pressure
to the already heavily polluted bay of Maputo. Our goal
was to find out the issue behind the non-operating pumps
and investigate how the system can be restored or even
improved to operate in a more sustainable way.
To gather all the necessary information people who know
about the sewerage system in Maputo were consulted,
and visual inspections have been done. With the gathered
information we could conclude what the issues were
behind the non-operating pumps. The problem had to do
with an electrical meltdown which occurred in 2008. After
this AIAS (governmental organization responsible for
drinking water, sanitation and wastewater in Mozambique)
was founded in 2009 and they replaced the pumps in
2013. We have reviewed the new pumps to see if they are
suited for this particular situation and we concluded they
are fine. In the time that the pumps did not operate and
there was no pressure on the pressure line, the University
of Eduardo Mondlane (UEM) connected the sewage line
of a new building to the pressure line. AIAS discovered
this when they wanted to test the pumps. The connection
has already been removed, but the pressure line is not
properly repaired. This pipeline should be repaired as
soon as possible. The company that constructed the new
building at the UEM-campus came up with a solution to
159
Education
Marc van Eekeren Reisfonds
PDAM Tirtawening Kota Bandung
Improving the water treatment processes
Since we are both internationally oriented, we wanted
with a whopping 60% just by changing the dosage of
to give our bachelor thesis an extra dimension by doing
coagulant.
the research abroad. We were lucky enough to receive
the Mark van Eekeren fund and realize our plans. Our
Most problems that cause the poor water quality
final choice fell on Indonesia, a country far away from
are simply fixed by properly operating the plant and
the Netherlands where life is quite different from life back
maintaining the equipment. This means that no big
home. We were forced to adjust to living in a different
investments are needed for the new part of the treatment
country with a different culture. This was not always easy,
plant to produce water of good quality. Instead, the staff
but in the end we feel enriched with new experiences that
should be educated on how to operate the plant properly.
we will carry with us for the rest of our lives.
At the end of the project we presented and discussed our
For our thesis we travelled to Bandung, the capital
findings to the director and staff of the water treatment
of West-Java. The centrally located water treatment
plant. Everybody is very happy with the results and we
plant PDAM Tirtawening Kota Bandung is currently not
hope that we have contributed to the improvement of
operating optimally. The treatment steps are not able to
PDAM Tirtawening Kota Bandung. We are very grateful
treat the water properly, resulting in too high turbidities
that we were able to travel across the planet to have
in the system and in the effluent. Since the budget for
this invaluable experience. We can wholeheartedly
upgrading is limited, solutions should ideally be effective
recommend doing a project abroad to anyone who is
and cheap. The water treatment plant consists of two
interested.
parts, an old part built in 1958 and a new part added in
Nicael Jooste & Bas Holman
1989. Our research was focused on the new part. The
goal of our research was to improve the water treatment
processes at PDAM Tirtawening Kota Bandung by
evaluating the current process steps of the new part and
improving upon them by applying simple adaptations.
After multiple visual inspections in the first week it became
apparent that the cause of the treatment inefficiency is
not caused by a single large malfunction, but rather by
a number of small problems. Due to poor maintenance
nearly all metering equipment is malfunctioning or
broken. Treatment processes are operated by instincts,
guesstimation and trial and error. Jar tests are carried out
by external high school students who have no knowledge
on the matter, resulting in incorrect coagulant dosages
and subsequently poor flocculation and sedimentation.
Plastic is found throughout the system. The list of
seemingly marginal problems goes on and on.
After pinpointing multiple problems, base turbidity
measurements were taken for one week throughout
the plant. Multiple adaptations were researched and
introduced to the system, which improved the removal
of turbidity. It was found that turbidity levels decreased
160
Marc van Eekeren Reisfonds
Soil Passage Water Purification
A conceptual design for Jiaxing, China
To write a thesis is a great experience on its own but
dumplings and drink a few Tsingtaos. After this we took
additional to the normal procedure, we got the experience
the high speed train back to Beijing and stayed one more
of travelling to China. Doing a project on the other side
week in the Hutongs, were we worked hard to finish our
of the world with such a great culture, that leads to cross
thesis.
sectional learning experiences. It was without doubt the
most meaningful period of our bachelor curriculum. We
We would really like to thank the Marc van Eekeren fonds
did not only learn a lot about the subject of our thesis,
for making this possible. It gave us a once in a lifetime
we were also able to meet many interesting people.
experience and great friendships. It was really swang!
We met professors of the water section in Beijing, phD
students, contractors and engineers that were all very
Servaas Kievits and Vibeke van der Bilt
warm in welcoming us into their country. We were able
see the real action during our visits to the different water
treatment plants and got to know a little bit more about
international cooperation and especially the Chinese way
of engineering.
From the moment we arrived in China, it was a rollercoaster of experiences.
The first days we were still
insecure about everything , but excited to start. The
professors told us more about the complexity of our
subject and everything we needed to know. From that
day on our motto was: work hard, play hard. We spend a
lot of hours in the library or in cafes working on the thesis
during the week. We worked from early in the morning,
mostly until midnight. That was our way of getting
the most out of the experience, because than we had
plenty of time in the weekends to enjoy China. Another
philosophy of ours was: ‘Learning a new Chinese word
every day, and making a new friend every day’. This way
we really pushed each other to meet new people and to
get to learn more about the Chinese culture. One friend
of us which we got to know via another friend was an
extreme hiker. He took us to a forbidden section of the
Great Wall. This was absolutely the most impressive day
of our trip. We hiked hours in the wilderness to reach
the Great Wall, and once we were there it was all left
alone. Parts were all gone or overgrown, but with all the
equipment we brought we were able to walk the Great
Wall a few kilometers. Except for this experience, we also
traveled to Chengdu, the city of the Jasmin tea, hotpots,
eating rabbit heads and of course the center of the
Pandas. Here we were also able to visit a drinking water
treatment plant to learn more about their perspective on
the subject. Finally we travelled to Shanghai to eat fried
161
Education
Marc van Eekeren Reisfonds
Innovative rainfall measurement devices in tropical regions
A comparative data analysis for Yangon and Bago, Myanmar
Due to the fact that Myanmar is a rapidly developing
Results showed that rain intensities of the tipping bucket
country, a good understanding of the precipitation
and the manual rain gauges corresponded quite well,
systems is becoming increasingly important. Last year the
while the Delft-disdrometer results were very different.
opportunity to do my Bachelor Thesis in Myanmar arose.
This indicated that the calibration of the Delft-disdrometer
Performing water related studies abroad has piqued my
was not performed correctly. Recalibration was therefore
interest since the start of my bachelor. During the monsoon
performed using tipping bucket rain intensity results.
period there are regular floods in Myanmar. To address this
problem, it is necessary to study the hydrological cycle. In
Rain forecasts in Myanmar are currently limited to the
my research, I studied the rain which is very important for
amount of showers per day in a large area. The desire
designing a proper sewer system. The main focus of my
to improve the temporal and spatial resolution of these
Bachelor Thesis was comparing the measurement results
forecasts is understandable. It is however, quite challenging
of different rain devices. Furthermore, satellite precipitation
to improve the quality in a developing country such as
measurements were compared to ground based disdrometer
Myanmar. The use of satellite imagery could provide a cheap
measurements.
solution to improve the rain forecasting system in Myanmar.
The results of Global Precipitation Measurement results
When I arrived in Myanmar, the country was celebrating
was therefore compared to two disdrometers; the Delft-
Thingyan. This is the Burmese New year, which ends in a
disdrometer and the Thies LPM. The dropsize distribution
five-day water festival. On every street in Yangon people
and the rain intensity were the two main parameters for
were partying and buckets were continuously filled with
comparing results of these three devices.
water. These buckets were subsequently emptied above
everyone that joined these festivities. I was not spared of
Firstly, theoretical dropsize distributions were compared to
course, seeing a foreigner was a reason to even increase
measurement results of the GPM and the two disdrometers.
the rate at which buckets were filled and emptied. In the
Both the GPM and the Thies LPM resulted directly in
city centre a large waterfestival was organized. Water was
a theoretically correct dropsize distribution (DSD). A
being pumped out of Inya Lake and was used to spray
theoretically sound DSD was also obtained with the results
dancing visitors using a large garden hose. I came to
of the Delft-disdrometer. In order to obtain this DSD an
Myanmar to assess the rain intensities in this country, but
additional step had to be performed, due to the fact that
this extreme amount of human induced precipitation was
the Delft-disdrometer is not capable of measuring droplets
not something I expected to happen the first day of my
smaller than 1 mm.
arrival. After the water festival, I was less lucky with the
Secondly, it was concluded that the DSD of the GPM was
amount of precipitation however, the rainy season started
very similar to measurements of the Thies LPM, in contraty
extremely late this year.
to the measured rain intensity. Unfortunately it was not
possible to compare Delft-disdrometer measurements to
After processing the first cultural shocks it was time
GPM data due to the lack of simultaneous occurrences of
to start with my research. Three types of precipitating
rain events and GPM flyover.
measurement devices had to be installed at the Yangon
Dorien Honingh
Technical University (YTU) in Yangon and at the Irrigration
Technology Centre (ITC) in Bago. Installing these devices
should be a relatively simple task, but I have experienced
that even the smallest things can result in very long delays
in Myanmar. After writing various letters and having multiple
conversations at both institutes, the tipping buckets, Delftdisdrometer and the manual rain gauges were placed.
162
Completed MSc theses 2016
Arsenic oxidation and removal with Manganese oxides in
Introduction
Main results
The actual European Union (EU) guidelines for allowed
In the three experiment groups it is resulted that:
concentration of arsenic (As) in drinking water fix a
1. With lower concentration of purer MnO2 materials, maximum of 10 μg/L. However, this limit is expected to
oxidation of As(III) to As(V) was the main process involving
become more stringent: the recommended health related
As.
limitation from the US Natural Resources Defense Council
2. As removal in presence of MnO2 material was is below 1 μg/L.
enhanced by addition of Fe(II) to the system. However,
the addition of Fe(II) inhibited As(III) oxidation by MnO2.
Problem definition
This inhibition is avoided in experiments with delayed
In Dutch ground water treatment plants, the produced
addition of Fe(II), when the As(III) oxidation step is
drinking water is already far below the EU guidelines due
completed.
to As removal during sand filtration. On the sand grains,
3. The MnO2 in the column was active in the oxidation
Manganese dioxide (MnO2) is present. MnO2 is able to
processes of As and Fe. When the free surface MnO2 grains
oxidize As(III) to As(V). This is advantageous because
is still largely available, the resulting As concentration was
As(III), usually the prevalent specie in groundwater, is
lower than 5 μg/L. Afterwards, when more grain surface
uncharged and more difficult to remove. On the other
is occupied by Fe and other compounds, As removal
hand, negatively charged As(V) molecules can be easier
decreased.
removed by positively charged iron (Fe) (hydro)oxides in
filters.
Main conclusions and recommendations
Fe inhibits As(III) oxidation by MnO2, but it is also
The oxidation of As(III) to As(V) during filtration
responsible for As removal. The inhibition processes
of groundwater in presence of MnO2 needs to be
suggested by the results are competitive oxidation and
understood in order to improve this process by adjusting
surface passivation. The relative importance of these
the operational parameters of treatment plants.
two processes should be studied further. Regarding the
operational parameters, tests with a broader pH range
Research
can be performed. Moreover, the influence of filter
My research focused on the processes of As(III) oxidation
bacteria has to be considered as well.
to As(V) by MnO2 at neutral or slightly alkaline pH. I
also took into consideration the role of (oxidizing) Fe
Student: I. Caltran
as inhibitor in As(III) oxidation and as remover of As. I
Committee: Prof. Dr. Ir. L.C.Rietveld,
performed laboratory three groups of experiments at the
Dr. Ir. D.van Halem,
TU Delft Waterlab and at the treatment plant of Vitens in
Ir. Jink Gude,
Loosdrecht:
Prof. Dr. P.J.Stuijfzand, 1.
Ir. F.Schoonenberg (Vitens)
Jar tests using demineralized water with low concentration of As(III) and powders containing MnO2
2.
Jar tests using demineralized water with low concentration of As(III), powder containing MnO2 and
oxidizing Fe(II).
3.
Column tests using groundwater after aeration with
As and Fe, and fresh grains containing MnO2
163
Education
Completed MSc theses 2016
Sodium chloride recovery from brines for reuse purposes in
zero liquid discharge
Introduction
Research
In the application of the Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD)
This research focussed on the production of a high
strategy, no liquid waste streams leave the waste water
purity NaCl stream, either solid or dissolved, as the ZLD
treatment plant (WWTP). In this strategy, all water is
WWTP is able to finally produce solid NaCl. The research
recovered for reuse from concentrated saline water
question was: “What is/are the most suitable intervention
streams: brines. ZLD is an interesting strategy in case
technique(s) contributing to produce high purity NaCl in
of fresh water scarcity, brine discharge regulations (both
the ZLD WWTP?”
are often related) and the availability of waste heat and is
To this extend, nanofiltration, electrodialysis and ion
therefore mostly applied in industry.
exchange were experimentally tested to their potential
to isolate dissolved NaCl (separate NaCl from the
Problem definition
contaminants). Additionally, a solid purification technique
In the strategy of an actual full-scale ZLD WWTP the focus
(SALEX) was tested as alternative to produce high purity
lies on high quality water production, which is recovered
solid NaCl by post-treatment.
from reverse osmosis brine. After full water recovery of
this stream, a solid residual stream is produced, consisting
of mixed solids. Currently the mixed solids are landfilled.
The bulk of these solids consists of sodium chloride
(NaCl), which has great potential to be reused when it
is of high purity. To this extent, the purity of the NaCl
must be improved, because in the mixed solids various
contaminants are found: organic matter, silica and iron.
164
Completed MSc theses 2016
Results
Of the three tested water treatment techniques,
electrodialysis and ion exchange proved to produce a high
purity dissolved NaCl stream, in terms of organic matter,
but did not meet the silica quality restrictions. Results
of iron content in the NaCl appeared to be unreliable,
caused by major concentration differences between the
bulk elements (sodium and chloride) and iron during
analysis.
The SALEX technique proved to produce a high purity
solid NaCl, meeting the quality restrictions for both
organic matter and silica in solid NaCl.
Conclusions and recommendations
The isolation of NaCl in dissolved state appeared to
depend on the specific characteristics of the various
dissolved contaminants. Certain constituents have similar
characteristics as NaCl and are therefore not separated
from the dissolved NaCl. Therefore, no water treatment
technique was able to produce a dissolved NaCl stream
with a purity high enough to be reused.
SALEX proved to be able to extract the contaminants from
the mixed solids and did produce a solid NaCl stream
with sufficiently high purity to be reused. Therefore, for
this situation, it is recommended to implement SALEX in
the ZLD WWTP, in order to also recover NaCl for reuse
purposes.
Student: Niels van Linden
Committee: Prof. Dr. Ir. L.C. Rietveld,
Prof. Dr. Ir. G.J. Witkamp, Dr. Ir. H. Spanjers,
Dr. Ir. S.G.J. Heijman,
Dr. Ir. R. Shang,
G. Stockinger MSc.
(Shell Global Solution International B.V.)
165
Education
Completed MSc theses 2016
Overview of all completed MSc theses
NameSubject
Janneke Moors: Model-based leak localization in small water supply networks
John Laurence Esguerra: A life cycle analysis of the technical costs and social costs for the provision of sanitation services in Maputo, Mozambique
Kjell Wansleeben: Spatial consequences of circular water systems
Vanida Salgado Ismodes – Bromate removal by chemical reduction using iron (II)
Nathalie van Veen Possibilities for rooftop rainwater harvesting for off-grid households - Case study: Serang, Indonesia
Stefanie Stubbé: The Fate of Phosphate in Full-scale Aerobic Granular Sludge Systems
Niels van Linden: Sodium chloride recovery from brines for reuse purposes in zero liquid discharge
Frans Willem Hamer: Calcium carbonate precipitation during subsurface injection of RO-brine: The effect on the hydraulic conductivity
Irene Caltran: Arsenic oxidation and removal with Manganese oxides in filters
Joanne Haveman: Effect of drilling fluid contamination by zinc ions on drilling fluid rheological behaviour
Abel Heinsbroek: Calcium Hydroxide as Precipitative Antiscalant for Nanofiltration
166
Completed BSc theses 2016
Overview of all completed Watermanagement BSc theses
NameSubject
Samet Agca Anaerobic Membrane Bioractors Coen Hulsebosch Nicaragua Jochem Roubos Nicaragua Jef Vleugels Het gebruik van natuur in de drinkwatervoorziening Stan Vernimmen Het gebruik van natuur in de drinkwatervoorziening Lennart Dekker Reverse osmosis
Thomas Vos Virusverwijdering door potfilters Laura van der Hucht Verwijdering van organische micro-verontreiniging Gerben Postema Project Bangladesh Wilson Haaijen Water in Maputo, Mozambique
Sara Essam Drinking water Nile River
Nathaniel Rasmioen
Influence of flow velocity on thermal energy recovery
Toan Nguyen Sustainable water management in the CiTG building
Karen Silvius De stedelijke watercyclus in Amsterdam
Bas Holman Water treatment in Bandung
Nicael Jooste Water treatment in Bandung
Jesse Salet Water in Maputo, Mozambique
Hidde Schijfsma Water in Maputo, Mozambique
Teun Doggenaar De stedelijke watercyclus in Amsterdam
Tom Damen Asbest in de rioolwaterzuiveringsinstallatie
Carmen Liu De waterkwaliteit voor beton
Noor Holland Is het water uit de Hoge Venen in de Ardennen drinkbaar?
Yoram Houtsma Is het water uit de Hoge Venen in de Ardennen drinkbaar?
Tom Remijn Marmerfilters bij waterzuiveringsbedrijven in Nederland
Auke Tempel Amsterdam/De stedelijke watercyclus in de SWEDES city index Holland
Berend Eldonk, van Comparison of two water treatment simulator platforms
Ainoa Areso Rossi Handpump membrane filtration for developing countries
Ruben Doggen Arseenverwijdering uit water
Emma Croiset van Uchelen Afvalwater in India
Pim Versteeg Hydrorock
D’tasha Demmerer Anaerobic Membrane Bioreactors
Vibeke Bilt, van der Water in China
Karel Hof Waterkwaliteit in Bandung, Indonesië
Marijn Rooij, de Realtime zwemmen in Amsterdam
167
Education
Online Education
MOOCs
It was back in 2007 that our section, as one of the pioneers
that help to build a community for the learners, where
of this university, offered its first courses on water treatment
professors and teaching assistants actively participate in
as OpenCourseWare (OCW). OCW is a free and open digital
forum discussions. Today, the TU Delft has reached over one
publication of high quality university-level educational
million enrolments in its 36 MOOCs in the field of science,
material. OCW is openly licensed, accessible to anyone and
design and engineering. Hundreds of thousands of learners
anytime via the internet. A more recent and much more
from all around the world are now able to gain access to
appealing form is a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC). A
the knowledge and expertise of the TU Delft through open
MOOC is a free online course aiming at large-scale interactive
online courses.
participation and open access via the web. In addition to
traditional course materials such as videos, readings, and
problem sets. MOOCs provide interactive user-forums
168
Online Education
WaterX series
At the Sanitary Engineering department we have two
the learner has successfully completed the online course.
MOOCs running, namely “Drinking Water Treatment” and
During the last run, almost 400 learners bought a verified
“Treatment of Urban Sewage”. We even won an award for
certificate. Together with the MOOC “Water & Climate” from
them! During the last run in March 2016, more than 25.000
the Water Resources section, the three MOOCs form the
learners from more than 180 countries enrolled for these
WaterX series. When a learner successfully completes all
online courses. When finishing the course, learners can buy
three MOOCs, he will receive the XSeries Certificate, which
a verified certificate. A verified certificate can provide proof
is a true achievement!
for an employer, school, or other institution that
169
Education
Online Education
Blended learning
Therefore the course has a strong practical approach;
Because of the availability of the MOOC material, campus
participants can apply the learning material into their
education has changed into a more blended way of teaching.
working environment and get personal feedback from the
The knowledge clips, tutorials and quiz questions that were
professors. Combining academics and action! For example,
developed for online education purposes are now being
in the ProfEd about Nereda technology, participants can
used by our own campus students as additional educational
learn how to integrate this technology in their existing
material. Campus students are sometimes required to have
system. They’re assisted by consultants from Royal
read the material before attending the lecture, so that
Haskoning DHV, who are partner in this ProfEd. Developing
the lecturer can actively interact with the students during
one ProfEd would be just plain, that’s why the section is
the lecture in a so-called “flip the class room” approach.
creating another two more! One is about “Membrane
This new way of teaching has shown that not only the
Filtration” and the other covers “Anaerobic Treatment”. As
inscriptions to these courses but also the passing rates have
the course teams strive to give the learners the best online
increased remarkably.
learning experience, they stretch all their potentials, like
filming on a Marine ship. Feeling enthusiastic? All three will
New developments: ProfEd
go live during the upcoming year, so stay tuned.
As the university promotes lifelong learning, our section has
come up with a new product: the ProfEd! This is a short and
More information & registration
intensive course for working professionals. The ProfEd is an
For the look and feel of our MOOCs go to edX and participate!
online education product for which learners have to pay, in
For an overview of all online education activities at the TU
contrary to the MOOCs. Learners also receive more personal
Delft, please visit the online learning website. The online
guidance from the course team and the team works actively
courses of our Mastertrack can be found on the website of
together with (water)companies in creating the course.
our department.
170
Online Education
ProfEd membrane filtration
Reliable access to fresh water is one of the fundamental
The course divided into seven weeks and each week
pillars on which a society is built. However, only a tiny
has its own theme. First, the course provides general
fraction of planet’s water is directly readily available as
information about the RO, its principle, and calculation
freshwater [1, 2]. The shortage of potable water, as
methods (Week 01). Then, it will focus on the applications
consequence of population growth, current consumption
of the RO on different type of water: seawater (Week
patterns and climate changing, will be a major problem in
02), Brackish water (Week 03), and fresh surface water
the coming decades and will have the same social impact
(Week 05) and the main problems of using RO with this
as that of increased energy prices [3-6]. Groundwater is
type of water: concentration polarization and scaling
by far the most abundant and readily available source
(week 04) and biofouling (week05). Finally, some design
of freshwater [2]. When used for drinking water, fresh
consideration will be explained (Week 07).
groundwater sources are preferred to other readily
freshwater sources because of the absence of pathogens.
Each week consist of several knowledge clips, quiz
However, regions with sustainable fresh groundwater
questions, and homework. Knowledge clips are about the
resources are shrinking by the day, throughout the world.
theoretical matters, practical matters, or an excursion to a
A solution to this problem is the use of saline water to
membrane based treatment plant. Excursions are planned
produce drinking water. Among different desalination
to a seawater RO on a ship (Karel Doorman ship), a
techniques, Reverse Osmosis (RO) has become an
brackish water RO (Oasen water company), and industrial
attractive solution for water shortage. The purified
water RO treatment plant (Evides water company). Home
water from RO can be used in drinking water, dialysis,
works are also very diverse. For example, the participant
power generation, pharmaceuticals and medical devices,
has to do an online measurement by the provided
manufacturing of semiconductors, and paper, sugar
animated simulation (week 04) or making his own SWM
and beverage industry as well as concentrating and
modules by using colored papers and glue (week 06).
reclamation of wastewater [1-10]. Therefore, knowing
the RO-technologies is important for a significant number
of people with the diverse educational background.
Therefore, the sanitary engineering department of Delft
University of Technology developed an online about the
RO membrane to offer busy, working professionals all
over the world a flexible, convenient way to strengthen
and enhance their professional skills, increase their value
as employees, and advance themselves to a higher
position or earn a higher salary.
The online membrane professional education focuses
particularly on the Spiral-wound membrane (SWM)
configuration because that is predominately applied in NF
and RO.
171
172
Annual report 2016
Publications
173
Publications
Publications
Doctoral dissertation
Bruins, J. (2016) Manganese removal from groundwater: Role of biological and physico-chemical autocatalytic processes.
TUD Technische Universiteit Delft.
Ghasimi, S. M. D. (2016) Bio-methanation of fine sieved fraction sequestered from raw municipal sewage. TUD Technische
Universiteit Delft.
Peters, M. (2016, 25 November) Microbiology in swimming pools: UV-based treatment versus chlorination. TUD Technische
Universiteit Delft.
Post, J. (2016) A statistical approach to guide the management of the anterior part of the sewer system. TUD Technische
Universiteit Delft.
Sanchez Torres, L. (2016, 28 April) Upflow gravel filtration for multiple uses. TUD Technische Universiteit Delft.
Stanic, N. (2016) Assessment methods for structural and hydraulic properties of concrete sewer pipes. TUD Technische
Universiteit Delft.
Sánchez Guillén, J. A. (2016) Autotrophic Nitrogen Removal from Low Concentrated Effluents: Study of system configurations
and operational features for post-treatment of anaerobic effluents. TUD Technische Universiteit Delft.
van Riel, W. (2016, 6 July) On decision-making for sewer replacement. TUD Technische Universiteit Delft.
Journal refereed papers
Agtas, M., Ersahin, M. E., Ozgun, H. & Koyuncu, I. 2016 In : Separation Science and Technology (Philadelphia). p. 1-10 10
p. Impact of module design on the performance of membrane bioreactors treating municipal wastewater
Agudelo-Vera, C., Blokker, M., Vreeburg, J., Vogelaar, H., Hillegers, S. & van der Hoek, J. P. 7 Apr 2016 In : Journal of Water
Resources Planning and Management. 142, 8, p. 1 - 11 11 p., 05016003. Testing the robustness of two water distribution
system layouts under changing drinking water demand
Alidai, A. & Pothof, I. W. M. 2016 In : Desalination and Water Treatment: science and engineering. 57, 5, p. 1917-1928 12
p. Guidelines for hydraulic analysis of treatment plants equipped with ultrafiltration and reverse osmosis membranes
Barrera, E. L., Rosa, E., Spanjers, H., Romero, O., De Meester, S. & Dewulf, J. 1 Feb 2016 In : Journal of Cleaner Production.
113, p. 459-471 13 p. A comparative assessment of anaerobic digestion power plants as alternative to lagoons for vinasse
treatment: Life cycle assessment and exergy analysis
Bennani, Y., Perez-Rodriguez, P., Alani, M. J., Smith, W. A., Rietveld, L. C., Zeman, M. & Smets, A. H. M. 14 Sep 2016 In :
Journal of Materials Research. 31, 17, p. 2627-2639 13 p. Photoelectrocatalytic oxidation of phenol for water treatment
using a BiVO4 thin-film photoanode
Bertelkamp, C., van der Hoek, J. P., Schoutteten, K., Hulpiau, L., Vanhaecke, L., Vanden Bussche, J., Cabo, A. J., Callewaert,
C., Boon, N., Lowenberg, J., Singhal, N. & Verliefde, A. R. D. 2016 In : Chemosphere. 144, February, p. 932-939 8 p.
The effect of feed water dissolved organic carbon concentration and composition on organic micropollutant removal and
microbial diversity in soil columns simulating river bank filtration
174
Publications
Bertelkamp, C., Verliefde, A. R. D., Schoutteten, K., Vanhaecke, L., Vanden Bussche, J., Singhal, N. & van der Hoek, J. P.
2016 In : Science of the Total Environment. 544, February, p. 309-318 10 p. The effect of redox conditions and adaptation
time on organic micropollutant removal during river bank filtration: A laboratory-scale column study
Bonte, M., Wols, B., Maas, K. & Stuijfzand, P. J. 11 Oct 2016 In : Hydrogeology Journal. p. 1-12 12 p. Fuentes de oxígeno
disuelto en pozos de monitoreo y de bombeo
Boogaard, F. C., van de Ven, F. H. M., Langeveld, J. G., Kluck, J. & van de Giesen, N. C. 2016 In : Urban Water Journal. p.
1-8 8 p. Removal efficiency of storm water treatment techniques: Standardized full scale laboratory testing
Chen, Y., Xie, P., Wang, Z., Shang, R. & Wang, S. 2016 In : Journal of Hazardous Materials. 8 p. UV/persulfate preoxidation
to improve coagulation efficiency of Microcystis aeruginosa
Deng, Z., Mol, S. & van der Hoek, J. P. 2016 In : Drinking Water Engineering and Science. 9, January, p. 1-8 8 p. Shower
heat exchanger: reuse of energy from heated drinking water for CO2 reduction
Ersahin, M. E., Tao, Y., Ozgun, H., Spanjers, H. & van Lier, J. B. 2016 In : Biotechnology and Bioengineering. 113, 4, p. 761771 11 p. Characteristics and role of dynamic membrane layer in anaerobic membrane bioreactors
Ghasimi, S. M. D., Aboudi, K., de Kreuk, M. K., Zandvoort, M. H. & van Lier, J. B. 2016 In : Chemical Engineering Journal. 295,
July, p. 181-191 11 p. Impact of lignocellulosic-waste intermediates on hydrolysis and methanogenesis under thermophilic
and mesophilic conditions
Ghasimi, S. M. D., de Kreuk, M. K., Maeng, S. K., Zandvoort, M. H. & van Lier, J. B. 2016 In : Applied Energy. 165, March, p.
569-582 14 p. High-rate thermophilic bio-methanation of the fine sieved fraction from Dutch municipal raw sewage: Costeffective potentials for on-site energy recovery
Ghasimi, D. S. M., Zandvoort, M. H., Adriaanse, M., van Lier, J. B. & de Kreuk, M. 1 Jul 2016 In : Waste Management. 53,
p. 156-164 9 p. Comparative analysis of the digestibility of sewage fine sieved fraction and hygiene paper produced from
virgin fibers and recycled fibers
Gude, J. C. J., Rietveld, L. C. & van Halem, D. 2016 In : Water Research. 88, January, p. 566-574 9 p. Fate of low arsenic
concentrations during full-scale aeration and rapid filtration
Hrachowitz, M., Benettin, P., van Breukelen, B., Fovet, O., Howden, N. J. K., Ruiz, L., van der Velde, Y. & Wade, A. J. 2016
In : Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Water. 3, 5, p. 629–657. Transit times: The link between hydrology and water quality
at the catchment scale
Hu, J., Shang, R., Frolova, M., Heijman, S. G. J. & Rietveld, L. C. 2016 In : Desalination and Water Treatment: science and
engineering. p. 1-10 10 p. Pharmaceutical adsorption from the primary and secondary effluents of a wastewater treatment
plant by powdered activated carbon
Hu, J., Shang, R., Heijman, S. G. J. & Rietveld, L. C. 2016 In : Chemosphere. 150, May, p. 49-56 8 p. Influence of activated
carbon preloading by EfOM fractions from treated wastewater on adsorption of pharmaceutically active compounds
Hu, J., Aarts, A., Shang, R., Heijman, B. & Rietveld, L. 2016 In : Journal of Environmental Management. 177, p. 45-52.
Integrating powdered activated carbon into wastewater tertiary filter for micro-pollutant removal
175
Publications
Publications
Lepot, M., Pouzol, T., Aldea Borruel, X., Suner, D. & Bertrand-Krajewski, J. L. 3 Mar 2016 In : Urban Water Journal. p. 1-9 9
p. Measurement of sewer sediments with acoustic technology: From laboratory to field experiments
Liu, G., Ling, F. Q., van der Mark, E. J., Zhang, X., Knezev, A., Verberk, J. Q. J. C., van der Meer, W. G. J., Medema, G., Liu,
W. T. & van Dijk, J. C. 2016 In : Scientific Reports. 6, February, p. 1-8 8 p. Comparison of particle-associated bacteria from
a drinking water treatment plant and distribution reservoirs with different water sources
Liu, X., Tzimiris, G., Scarpas, A. & Li, J. 1 May 2016 In : Journal of Testing and Evaluation. 44, 3, p. 1205-1216 12 p. Analysis
and assessment of fatigue response of multilayer asphalt surfacing system on orthotropic steel deck bridge with the fivepoint bending beam tests
Liu, Z., Guo, Y., Shang, R., Fang, Z., Wu, F. & Wang, Z. 2016 In : Journal of the Taiwan Institute of Chemical Engineers. 7
p. A triple system of Fe(III)/sulfite/persulfate: Decolorization and mineralization of reactive Brilliant Red X-3B in aqueous
solution at near-neutral pH values
Lousada-Ferreira, M., van Lier, J. B. & van der Graaf, J. H. J. M. 2016 In : Separation and Purification Technology. 161, March,
p. 16-24 9 p. Particle counting as surrogate measurement of membrane integrity loss and assessment tool for particle
growth and regrowth in the permeate of membrane bioreactors
Mangimbulude, J. C., Goeltom, M. T., van Breukelen, B., van Straalen, N. M. & Roling, W. F. M. 2016 In : Asian Journal of
Water, Environment and Pollution. 13, 4, p. 49–57. Hydrochemical Characterization of a Tropical, Coastal Aquifer Affected
by Landfill Leachate and Seawater Intrusion
Mohd Amin, M. F., Heijman, S. G. J. & Rietveld, L. C. 1 Apr 2016 In : Water Science and Technology. 73, 7, p. 1719-1727 9
p. Clay-starch combination for micropollutants removal from wastewater treatment plant effluent
Post, J. A. B., Pothof, I. W. M., Dirksen, J., Baars, E. J., Langeveld, J. G. & Clemens, F. H. L. R. 1 Jan 2016 In : Water
Research. 88, p. 245-256 12 p. Monitoring and statistical modelling of sedimentation in gully pots
Reyes, M. F., Trifunovic, N., Sharma, S. & Kennedy, M. D. 2016 In : Desalination and Water Treatment: science and
engineering. 57, 45, p. 21335-21349. Data assessment for water demand and supply balance on the island of Santa Cruz
(Galápagos Islands
Rodríguez-Escales, P., Folch, A., Vidal-Gavilan, G. & van Breukelen, B. 28 Jan 2016 In : Chemical Geology. 425, May, p. 5264 13 p. Modeling biogeochemical processes and isotope fractionation of enhanced in situ biodenitrification in a fractured
aquifer
Rodríguez-Escales, P., Folch, A., van Breukelen, B. M., Vidal-Gavilan, G. & Sanchez-Vila, X. 1 Jul 2016 In : Journal of
Hydrology. 538, p. 127-137 11 p. Modeling long term Enhanced in situ Biodenitrification and induced heterogeneity in
column experiments under different feeding strategies
Ross, P. S., Van Der Helm, A. W. C., Van Den Broeke, J. & Rietveld, L. C. 21 Apr 2016 In : Analytical Methods. 8, 15, p.
3148-3155 8 p. On-line monitoring of ozonation through estimation of Ct value, bromate and AOC formation with UV/Vis
spectrometry
176
Publications
Sanchez, L. D., Valencia-Zuluaga, V., Echeverri-Sanchez, A., Visscher, J. T. & Rietveld, L. C. 2016 In : Journal of Irrigation
and Drainage Engineering. 142, 1, p. 04015035-1-04015035-7. Impact of upflow gravel filtration on the clogging potential
in microirrigation
Sanchez Guillen, J. A., Lopez Vazquez, C. M., de Oliveira Cruz, L. M., Brdanovic, D. & van Lier, J. B. 2016 In : Biochemical
Engineering Journal. 110, June, p. 95-106 12 p. Long-term performance of the Anammox process under low nitrogen sludge
loading rate and moderate to low temperature
Schoutteten, K. V. K. M., Hennebel, T., Dheere, E., Bertelkamp, C., De Ridder, D. J., Maes, S., Chys, M., Van Hulle, S. W.
H., Vanden Bussche, J., Vanhaecke, L. & Verliefde, A. R. D. 1 Dec 2016 In : Chemosphere. 165, p. 191-201 11 p. Effect of
oxidation and catalytic reduction of trace organic contaminants on their activated carbon adsorption
Stanic, N., Langeveld, J., Salet, T. & Clemens, F. 5 Jun 2016 In : Structure and Infrastructure Engineering (online). p. 1-15
15 p. Relating the structural strength of concrete sewer pipes and material properties retrieved from core samples
Taucer-Kapteijn, M., Hoogenboezem, W. & Medema, G. 1 Aug 2016 In : Water Science and Technology: Water Supply. 16,
4, p. 971-979 9 p. Environmental growth of the faecal indicator Enterococcus moraviensis
Taučer-Kapteijn, M., Hoogenboezem, W., Heiliegers, L., de Bolster, D. & Medema, G. 1 Jul 2016 In : International Journal of
Hygiene and Environmental Health. 219, 4-5, p. 437-442 6 p. Screening municipal wastewater effluent and surface water
used for drinking water production for the presence of ampicillin and vancomycin resistant enterococci
Van Riel, W., Langeveld, J., Herder, P. & Clemens, F. 1 Aug 2016 In : Water Science and Technology. 74, 4, p. 796-804 9 p.
Valuing information for sewer replacement decisions
Wang, W., Wang, S., Feng, J., Yuan, S., Hu, Z., Munoz Sierra, J. D. & Zhang, X. 2016 In : Desalination and Water Treatment:
science and engineering. p. 1-8 8 p. Kinetics of hydroquinone oxidation by a wire¿cylinder dielectric barrier discharge reactor
Wang, F., van Halem, D. & van der Hoek, J. P. 2016 In : Chemosphere. 148, April, p. 263-269 7 p. The fate of H2O2 during
managed aquifer recharge: A residual from advanced oxidation processes for drinking water production
Wang, W., Wang, S., Zhang, J., Hu, Z., Zhang, X. & Munoz Sierra, J. D. 2016 In : International Biodeterioration and
Biodegradation. p. 1-8 8 p. Degradation kinetics of pentachlorophenol and changes in anaerobic microbial community with
different dosing modes of co-substrate and zero-valent iron
Wang, Z., Chen, Y., Xie, P., Shang, R. & Ma, J. 15 Sep 2016 In : Chemical Engineering Journal. 300, p. 245-253 9 p. Removal
of Microcystis aeruginosa by UV-activated persulfate: Performance and characteristics
Yaya-Beas, R. E., Cadillo-La-Torrea, E. A., Kujawa-Roeleveld, K., van Lier, J. B. & Zeeman, G. 2016 In : Water Research.
90, March, p. 286-293 8 p. Presence of helminth eggs in domestic wastewater and its removal at low temperature UASB
reactors in Peruvian highlands
Zhang, X., Hu, J., Spanjers, H. & van Lier, J. 2016 In : Bioresource Technology. 218, p. 1151-1156. Struvite crystallization
under a marine/brackish aquaculture condition
Zhang, X., Tao, Y., Hu, J., Liu, G., Spanjers, H. & van Lier, J. 2016 In : Bioresource Technology. 214, p. 338-347. Biomethanation
and microbial community changes in a digester treating sludge from a brackish aquaculture recirculation system
177
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Publications
de Goede, M., Enserink, B., Worm, I. & van der Hoek, J. P. 2016 In : Water Policy. 18, 5, p. 1247–1266. Drivers for
performance improvement originating from the Dutch drinking water benchmark
de Valk, S., Khadem, A. F., Foreman, C. M., van Lier, J. B. & de Kreuk, M. K. 29 Sep 2016 In : Environmental Technology. p.
1-15 15 p. Physical and biochemical changes in sludge upon Tubifex tubifex predation
van Breukelen, B. & Bonte, M. 2016 In : Environmental Science & Technology (Washington). 50, 13, p. 7263-7264. Comment
on “Thermally Released Arsenic in Porewater from Sediments in the Cold Lake Area of Alberta, Canada”
van Daal-Rombouts, P., Sun, S., Langeveld, J., Bertrand-Krajewski, J-L. & Clemens, F. 4 May 2016 In : Journal of Hydrology.
538, July, p. 609-624 16 p. Design and performance evaluation of a simplified dynamic model for combined sewer overflows
in pumped sewer systems
van Riel, W., van Bueren, E., Langeveld, J., Herder, P. & Clemens, F. 2016 In : Urban Water Journal. 13, 1, p. 57-68 12 p.
Decision-making for sewer asset management: Theory and practice
van Riel, W., Post, J., Langeveld, J., Herder, P. & Clemens, F. 6 Aug 2016 In : Structure and Infrastructure Engineering
(online). p. 1-14 14 p. A gaming approach to networked infrastructure management
van Riel, W., Langeveld, J., Herder, P. & Clemens, F. 25 May 2016 In : Structure and Infrastructure Engineering (online). p.
1-13 13 p. The influence of information quality on decision-making for networked infrastructure management
van der Hoek, J. P., Struker, A. & de Danschutter, J. E. M. 2016 In : Urban Water Journal. p. 1-8 8 p. Amsterdam as a
sustainable European metropolis: integration of water, energy and material flows
van der Hoek, J. P., Mol, S., Janse, T., Klaversma, E. & Kappelhof, J. 2016 In : Journal of Water and Climate Change. 7, 1, p.
29-38 10 p. Selection and prioritization of mitigation measures to realize climate neutral operation of a water cycle company
van der Hoek, J. P., de Fooij, H. & Struker, A. 11 Jun 2016 In : Resources, Conservation and Recycling. 113, October, p. 53-64
12 p. Wastewater as a resource: Strategies to recover resources from Amsterdam’s wastewater
Conference papers
Cristiano, E., ten Veldhuis, M-C., van de Giesen, N. & ten Veldhuis, M-C. (ed.) 2016 In : Geophysical Research Abstracts
(online). 18, p. 1-1 1 p., EGU2016-8941. Influence of high resolution rainfall data on the hydrological response of urban
flat catchments
Rietveld, L. C., Siri, J. G., Chakravarty, I., Arsenio, A. M., Biswas, R. & Chatterjee, A. 2016 Proceedings of the 11th international
conference on urban health. Vardoulakis, S., Wilkinson, P. & Dear, K. (eds.). London: Biomes central, p. 151-160 10 p.
(Environmental Health: AGlobal Access Science Source; vol. 15). Improving health in cities through systems approaches for
urban water management
Roezer, V., Spekkers, M., Kreibich, H. & Kreibich, H. (ed.) 2016 In : Geophysical Research Abstracts (online). 18, p. 1-1 1 p.,
EGU2016-14587. Preliminary results from two international pluvial flood event studies
van Daal-Rombouts, P., de Jonge, J., Langeveld, J. & Clemens, F. 2016 Proceedings of the 8th International Conference on
Sewer Processes and Networks: SPN8 , Rotterdam, The Netherlands. 4 p. Integrated real time control of influent pumping
station and primary settling tanks at WWTP Eindhoven
178
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van de Giesen, N., Selker, J., Sayde, C., Thomas, C. K., Higgins, C., Schilperoort, B., Coenders, M., Luxemburg, W., Hilgersom,
K., van Emmerik, T., Solcerova, A., Berghuijs, W. & Vivekanandan, . J. (ed.) 2016 In : Geophysical Research Abstracts
(online). 18, p. 1-1 1 p., EGU2016-4382. Distributed Temperature Sensing in the Atmosphere
Newspaper article
Bertelkamp, C., van der Hoek, J. P., Schoonenberg Kegel, F., Timmer, H. & Verliefde, A. 28 Apr 2016 In : H2O: tijdschrift voor
watervoorziening en waterbeheer. 2016, 1, p. 1-5 5 p. Hoe voorspelbaar is de zuivering via oeverfiltratie?
van der Hoek, J. P. 2016 In : Waterspiegel. 2016, Juni, p. 12-13 2 p. Water en Gezondheid
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