Open Master/Bachelor topics

The Master and Bachelor topics are intended for students of chemistry, especially with a focus on hydrochemistry, as well as for students of hydrochemistry, water management, hydrology or other related fields.

All topics are open to suggestions and can be modified. The responsible university teacher decides on the allocation of topics, taking into account the wishes of the applicants.

If you are interested in any of the topics, please contact the responsible person by e-mail.

We are looking forward to working with you!

Open Master and Bachelor topics:

• Master's/Bachelor's thesis (or research internship) in cooperation with the Helmholtz Center for Environmental Research, UFZ (Magdeburg and Leipzig) Field of study: Chemistry, Water Management, Hydrosciences, Hydroscience and Engineering. Language: German/English. Sorption, degradation and effects of organic trace substances in natural aquatic biofilms, Contact:  Dr. Hilmar Börnick (hilmar.boernick@tu-dresden.de).

• Joint research topics at TU Dresden (Institute of Water Chemistry) and Dresden University of Applied Sciences (Department of Water Resources Engineering)

  Topics for chemists and water engineers (research internship, Master’s/Bachelor’s thesis)

  If you are interested in these topics, please contact Dr Börnick, Tel. 46335616, Email: hilmar.boernick@tu-dresden.de, or Prof. Dr.-Ing. T. Grischek, Tel.: 4623350, Email: thomas.grischek@htw-dresden.de

• Topic C1:      Behaviour of oxypurinol and other trace substances during bank filtration

  Test filter and column experiments to investigate the degradation and sorption behaviour of oxypurinol (pharmaceutical active ingredient) and further chemicals; additionally, analyses of Elbe water and bank filtrate samples; optional adsorption experiments on activated carbon or batch experiments on chlorination; analysis by LC-MS/MS; measurement of further quality parameters (pH, EC, DO, DOC, major anions & cations).

  Supervisors: Dr H. Börnick, Prof. Dr.-Ing. T. Grischek

• Topic C2:      Behaviour of short-chain PFAS during bank filtration

  Set-up and technical adaptation of a column test facility; filling with aquifer sediment, operation using Elbe water; Preliminary tests on the adsorption of selected short-chain PFAS onto sediment; determination of the breakthrough behaviour of the PFAS; optional monitoring of Elbe water and bank filtrate samples; analysis by LC-MS/MS; determination of further quality parameters (pH, EC, DO, DOC, anions, cations).

  Supervisors: Dr H. Börnick, Prof. Dr.-Ing. T. Grischek   

• Topic C3:      Detection of short-chain PFAS in iron-containing bank filtrate

  Investigation of the behaviour of PFAS in anoxic groundwater; methodological preparatory work with particular consideration of high iron concentrations (1–10 mg/L); field water analyses using municipal groundwater and bank filtrate; method validation; optional: sampling of a bank filtration monitoring profile and investigation of PFAS adsorption on iron hydroxide; analysis of PFAS by LC-MS/MS; measurement of additional water quality parameters (pH, EC, DO, DOC, anions and cations).

  Supervisors: Dr H. Börnick, Prof. Dr.-Ing. T. Grischek

• Topic C4:      Enrichment of microplastics (MP) for detection in drinking water

  Sampling of water in waterworks for MP determination as part of the ESF Young Researchers Group NALEWA; enrichment of MP using a flow-through centrifuge and cascade filtration; validation of enrichment steps and determination of enrichment factors / recovery; assessment of contamination from ambient air or resulting from cleaning of the centrifuge, filtration system and water tank; analysis of MP using LDIR.

  Supervisors: M.Eng. J. Ding, Prof. Dr.-Ing. T. Grischek, Dr. H. Börnick

• Topic C5:      Construction of a multi-layer filter in the laboratory and investigation of the retention of flocculant residues

  Process engineering experiments on a laboratory scale to investigate the influence of residues from flocculants and flocculant aids on clogging in infiltration basins and thus on the performance of groundwater recharge; simulation of multi-layer filtration using a filter column; development of an accompanying analytical method to quantify the breakthrough of flocculants and flocculant aids; contribution to the optimisation of filter operation at the Dresden-Hosterwitz waterworks.

  Supervisors: MSc L. Prestin, Prof. Dr.-Ing. T. Grischek, Dr. H. Börnick

• Topic C6:      Demonstration of pollutant removal through the installation of adsorbent geotextile in drainage shafts at railway facilities

  Conducting and evaluating laboratory column tests to determine the removal of heavy metals and herbicides from rainwater runoff from track systems as it passes through a geotextile containing adsorbent material; determining the required contact time with the material; investigation into the dependence of removal efficiency on pH and, where applicable, other influencing factors; recording of on-site parameters (EC, pH, dissolved oxygen and turbidity) as well as own photometric measurements of selected metals; heavy metal analysis by Prof. Feller using ICP-OES; herbicide analysis carried out externally.

  Cooperation with Deutsche Bahn AG

  Supervisors: Prof. Dr.-Ing. T. Grischek, MSc A. Oy, MSc C. Rau, Dr. H. Börnick

• Topic C7:      Adsorption experiments using a pilot-scale water treatment plant

  Conducting adsorption experiments with activated carbon using a GUNT adsorber system; determination of breakthrough curves; investigation of the effect of changes in flow rate and other experimental parameters; review of the concept for practical preparation; optimisation and evaluation of the experiments; proposal for conducting a practical session using the plant; preparation of teaching materials.

  Supervisors: Prof. Dr.-Ing. T. Grischek, Dr. H.