About us

The Water and Wastewater Research and Development Team is a group of experienced reserachers focused on interdisciplinary problems of wastewater treatment, depletion of fresh water reserves and circular economy of resources and elements in wastestreams. Our collective is associated with Wroclaw University of Science and Technology at faculty of Environmental Engineering.

The team consists of 13 researchers – 3 assistant professors, 5 Ph.D students and 5 technical personell. We are focused on the scientific and practical aspects, and thanks to experience we are able to conduct long-term and advanced studies on real wastewater and sludge streams. We focus on new technologies for advanced water and wastewater treatment that enable more sustainable management of these resources. Outcomes of our research have a significant impact on both the development of the scientific field of Environmental Engineering and technological solutions applied directly in the industry. This is reflected by our publications in leading international journals as well as projects realized in cooperation with industry.

Field of interest

While our main expertise lays in wastewater treatment and disposal of sewage sludge, past experiences and monitoring of global challenges in the field has led to multidisciplinary character of our science intrests. Currently we are focused on:

  • Nitrogen and phosphorus removal and utilization – shortctut nitritation in WWTP mainstream, annamox, annamox in anaerobic digestion
  • Modeling the wastewater treatment processes –model calibration and validation for various purposes. Our experience so far includes two full-scale models of WWTP with PE 1 000 000 and 100 000 – calibrated and validated
  • Optimization of the anaerobic digestion process – co-digestion, substrates disintegration
  • Increasing the biodegradability of sewage sludge – lignin degradation, white rot fungi cultivation, enzymes immobilization, detailed composition of sewage sludge
  • Recovery of the transpiration water from plants – building prototype for the recovery of transpirational water from plants in closed cultivation
  • Soilless plant cultivation (aeroponics, hydroponics) – fertilizer production from urine in biological reactors, water recovery from gray water for cultivation purposes
  • Energy optimization of WWTP – aeration optimization
  • Off-gas research – measurement of greenhouse gas emissions especially nitrous oxide, oxygen transfer efficiency measurement, diffusers aging and fouling.

 

Research infrastructure

Access to Wrocławs University of Science and Technology research equipment allows us to conduct laboratory research at a high level. At our disposal we also have a research station located at the WWTP with 1 mln PE, which is equipped with, among others:

  • access to real streams at each stage of wastewater treatment
  • 4 pilot-scale and 6 lab-scale Sequencing Batch Reactors (SBRs)
  • 4 lab-scale reactors for anerobic digestion with measurement of biogas flow and temperature control
  • 2 high class respirometers
  • membrane installation: microfiltration, ultrafiltration, nanofiltration and reversed osmosis
  • 3 ion exchange columns
  • UV/Vis Spectrophotometers
  • OxiTop®-IDS system for biogas/microbiology (anaerobic/(aerobic) measurement
  • HACH equipment for cuvette tests
  • Equipment for FISH and qPCR analyses
  • Aeroponic and hydroponic growing system with climate chamber.

Partnership in grant applications and other collaboration

We are constantly looking for prospects of new research and cooperation in both international and national grants. We provide a valuable partnership in application for grants and other types of R&D projects fundings. If you are looking for partner in:

  • Horizon Europe Programme
  • ERA-Net Initiatives
  • JPI (Joint Programming Initiative)
  • Water4All partnership
  • Programme for Environment and Climate Action (LIFE)
  • HYDROSTRATEG or other National Centre of Research and Development programmes

 

or any other similar initiative, make sure to contact us via form at the bottom of the page or email respective team member.

Read more »

Solutions for industry

Besides academic and scientific research, we also actively participate and cooperate with other industrial parties in both research and development projects as well as solutions for individual cases of our partners. Our experience is documented not only by concluded projects and numerous scientific publications, but also rich history of collaboration with industrial entities seeking for individual solutions to their problems. If You are interested in either form of partnership, do not hesitate and contact us – we will make every effort to satisfy our client on fair terms and conditions.  

Read more »

Welcome!

We are a large team of researchers from Wroclaw University of Science and Technology focused on cleaner and less energy demanding processes of wastewater treatment and activated sludge disposal.

Read more »

Horizon Europe partnership

Looking for a partner to apply for funds from Horizon Europe programme? As a team of experienced and innovative researchers with an access to a well-equipped research station at WWTP, we provide a valuable partnership in projects involving wastewater treatment innovative technologies, nutrient removal, sustainable nutrient and energy recovery from wastewater as well as waste activate sludge, circular economy of resources and many more.

Read more »

Partnership and cooperation

We are open for cooperation as a partner in research and development projects as well as in creating solutions for the industry.