Current Projects
Project leader: Dr. H. Börnick
Scientific co-workers: M. Sc. Linda Schuster, M. Sc. Henriette Krenkel
Funding: AiF / ZIM International
Duration: 01/2018-12-2019
Co-operation partners: UMEX Dresden GmbH, INAPRO-HUST, IET-VAST, STDA Co. Ltd., GREENTECH ENVIRONMENT JSC
Besides other developing and emerging countries, Vietnam is a nation with considerable problems in availability and quality of water. A promising approach of solving this problem consists in treatment of used water and its direct reusing. The so-called grey water can be employed for many purposes, e.g. outside for the irrigation of plants or indoors for the toilet flush or washing laundry. Overall, up to a third of fresh water can be saved like that. Till now, water is not frequently reused because the known technologies do not provide a sufficient quality of grey water or the purification of sewage is simply far too expensive. In the recent years, membrane bioreactor technologies have been established as modern processes in grey water treatment. At present, there are main problems that still have to be overcome:
• Too huge load of water with microorganisms and problematic organic substances
• Too low durability of the expensive membrane by biological fouling
With a simultaneous temporal and spatial MBR and Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOP) treatment these disadvantages shall be overcome. Within the DeGrey project, an efficient technological variant of such a combination will be established considering different water quality parameter such as microbial load, colouring, organic micropollutants and selected sum parameters.
PANOMOX – „Development of innovative electrolysis systems to ensure a permanent operation of MOX electrodes as anodes for a long-term stable on-site electrochlorination independent of the water hardness”
Sub-project of the Institute of Water Chemistry:
„Experimental studies on a permanent operation of MOX electrodes as anodes without polarity reversal as a contribution to enhance their lifetime during on-site electrochlorination of waters with varying hardness”
Projektleiter: Prof. Dr. E. Worch
Bearbeiter: Dr. Daniela Haaken, Dr. Thomas Dittmar
Finanzierung: AiF
Laufzeit: 05/2016 - 03/2018
Collaboration partner: Bergmann Beton und Abwassertechnik GmbH (BBAT)
Due to climate and demographic changes, sustainable decentral concepts of water and wastewater management are of great importance. Thereby, innovative advanced water and wastewater treatment processes continues to be an important focus. A sufficient hygienic water quality can only be ensured by reliable disinfection methods. The in-situ electrochlorination with dimensionally stable mixed oxide electrodes (MOX electrodes) represents an established and innovative procedure whereby free chlorine is electrochemically produced on-site and on-demand from chloride. However, an increased water hardness is highly problematic for the operation time of the electrochlorination systems. Due to the water hardness and the local increase of the pH value near the cathode, undesired deposits of electrically non-conductive calcium carbonate, and partially magnesium hydroxide, on the cathode surface lead to the blockage of the electrode and finally to the destruction of the electrolysis system. The common cleaning method for the cathode by polarity reversal is in conflict with a stable, reliable long-term operation and low maintenance effort of the electrolysis systems. This represents a great problem until today. Therefore, the overall objective of this project is to develop and study an innovative electrolysis system to ensure a permanent operation of MOX electrodes as anodes (no polarity reversal) for a long-term stable on-site electrochlorination of waters with varying hardness. Against this background, two solution approaches will be developed and tested:
- SPR (Stable against Polarity Reversal)-Four-Electrode System with a three phase operation mode and
- ECE (Electrochemical Enhanced)-Backwash-System (no external adddition of chemicals; in-situ production of acid).
CYAQUATA – Study of the interrelation between toxin-producing cyanobacteria and water quality in reservoirs and development of a sustainable management strategy Website: CYAQUATA
Project leader: Prof. Dr. E. Worch, Dr. H. Börnick
Scientific co-worker: Dr. K. Zoschke
Funding: BMBF
Duration: 06/2015 - 05/2018
The joint research project CYAQUATA studies the interrelation between the occurrence of toxin-producing cyanobacteria and the water quality in reservoirs. One key goal of the project is the development of a sustainable management strategy in consideration of changing environmental conditions.
A prevailing problem consists in the continual increase in planktonic cyanobacteria in reservoirs, which may be an effect of climate change. Cyanobacteria can produce toxic substances (cyanotoxins) that significantly impact the use of the reservoirs as drinking and process water supplies, and as bathing sites. Using field investigations and laboratory experiments, the main limnological and hydrochemical factors for the mass development of cyanobacteria (“blooms”) shall be identified and consequential counteractive measures derived. Therefore, methods for the quantification and differentiation of cyanobacteria, the analytical determination of cyanotoxins, and the risk assessment of cyanobacteria mass developments have to be adopted and further developed. Five reservoirs in Saxony (Saidenbach, Neunzehnhain, Gottleuba, Quitzdorf, Radeburg II) of different trophic level and use were chosen as model regions.
With the help of insights gained during the project, sustainable solutions for safely controlling cyanobacteria shall be made available to the responsible authorities.
Regional growth core BIOSAM, project BIONEWS: „Reactive, renewable bio-hybrid systems for detection and removal of recyclable materials and pollutants from aqueous systems”.
Sub-project Institute of Water Chemistry:
“Sensory detection of environmentally relevant organic trace pollutants in water”
Project leader: Prof. Dr. E. Worch, Dr. H. Börnick
Scientific co-workers: M. Sc. Linda Richter
Funding: BMBF
Duration: 01/2015 - 12/2017
Within this project, highly selective and long-term stable biological sensor- actuator structures will be developed and tested for the sustainable use of water and for the recovery of resources.
At the Institute of Water Chemistry, the innovative bio-hybrid systems will be tested, characterized and evaluated in terms of their sensory abilities for the determination of environmentally relevant organic micropollutants in water. The aim is to provide a method, including an optional enrichment step, for the determination of organic pollutions, as well as to evaluate the performance parameters and limitations.
To examine the actuator effects of the modified cells, different laboratory pilot plants will be designed and adapted for the specific demands of the whole-cell systems. Process parameters based on laboratory scale investigations will be determined to design and develop appropriate pilot-plants. Furthermore, transformation products of some selected substances will be analyzed by using LC-MS/MS. Finally, the results of these experiments will be compared to other established techniques (e.g. AOPs, adsorption) with regard to the removal of organic micropollutants from water in order to evaluate and assess the new sensor- actuator systems.
CLIENT India – joint project NIRWINDU: ”Safe and lasting drinking water production in India through a combination of near-natural and innovative treatments”
Sub-project 3 at Institute of Water Chemistry
- Development, usage and adaptation of a new and portable DOC-analyzer
- Monitoring regarding the water quality at river bank filtration sites in India and definition of lead substances
Project leader: Dr. Hilmar Boernick
Scientific co-workers: M. Sc. Heinrich Glorian
Funding: BMBF
Duration: 06/2015 - 05/2018
The joint project NIRWINDU (Hindi: “water drop”) works for a flood-proofed and lasting drinking water supply through river bank filtration in India. The Institute of Water Chemistry analysis site-specific raw water quality and evaluates the efficiency of those river bank filtration sites. Therefor organic pollutants are extracted on site and later analyzed with liquid chromatographic separation and mass selected detection to find leading parameter regarding the water quality. Since DOC is an important parameter as well, a portable DOC-analyzer is adjusted and tested for the specific conditions in India. On the basis of the combined results from lab and field studies predictions for the development of the water quality will be made. Furthermore, technical proposals regarding the future drinking water supply by use of river bank filtration will be given.
MikroModell „Development of a mass balance model and guidelines
for reducing emissions of micropollutants with regard to water quality“
Project leader: Dr. Hilmar Boernick
Scientific co-workers: M. Sc. Stephan Beil
Funding: SMUL, DBU, Gelsenwasser AG
Duration: 10/2015 – 09/2018
Water quality in central Europe has considerably improved over the last decades in large part due to the continuous advancement of urban sewer and wastewater treatment systems. Nevertheless, with the current state of technology, many anthropogenic micropollutants, e.g. pharmaceuticals, corrosion inhibitors, pesticides as well as their transformation products, cannot be sufficiently removed during conventional wastewater treatment. For some years, there has been a growing perception that the increase of concentrations of such substances is accompanied by health risks for mankind and nature, which require specific measures aimed at their reduction.
The objective of the project is to establish a mass balance model based on data with a high degree of temporal and spatial resolution, which is capable of evaluating feasible options for reducing emissions and providing sound predictions concerning specific reduction scenarios. Thereby, solution strategies, which are both source-directed as well as end-of-pipe approaches, which focus on the wastewater treatment plants, shall be comprehensively analyzed according to economic and ecological aspects in order to develop operational guidelines.
For generating the necessary database, efficient methods have to be established and realized during several measurement campaigns for trace analyses of a broad variety of micropollutants in the intake and effluent of several municipal wastewater treatment facilities and in the corresponding receiving water. Furthermore, investigations concerning the removal efficiency of a potential fourth treatment stage will be performed.
SORPOX – „Characterization of sorption processes of organic cations on selected oxidic surfaces”
Project leader: Dr. Hilmar Börnick
Scientific co-workers: M. Sc. Susann Kutzner
Funding: DFG
Duration: 10/2013 - 12/2016
Due to the incomplete removal of anthropogenic organic micro pollutants in sewage treatment plants (e.g., pharmaceutically active substances, household and personal care products), these predominantly polar and poorly degradable compounds and their metabolites can be detected in many surface and ground waters. Apart from transformation, the mobility and thus the fate of these substances is determined mainly by sorption processes at the solid/liquid interface. Especially ionizable organic trace substances with a positive charge at intermediate pH values often show a significant retardation in the subsurface due to cation exchange processes.
Currently there are no reliable models for a prediction of the sorption behavior of organic cations. The main objective of this project is to expand the understanding of the relevant processes with regard to the sorption behavior of organic cations on surfaces of solid phases through the identification, separation and quantification of the individual sorption processes, to achieve a prediction of mass transfer under given conditions. Based on the experiments, new knowledge should be obtained for a future development of predictive models.
Development of a portable analyzer for determination of organic carbon (TOC/DOC) in water samples based on diamond electrode technology
Subproject:
“Investigations on the electrochemical decomposition process using diamond electrodes technology in combination with ultrasound - development of a novel method for the determination of organic carbon in water samples”
Project leader: Prof. Dr. Eckhard Worch
Scientific co-workers: Dr. Thomas Dittmar, Dr. Viktor Schmalz
Funding: Geman Federation of Industrial Research Associations (AiF)
Duration: 10/2011 – 03/2014
Within the joint research project DIATOC a patent-registered procedure for the field analysis of the summary parameter TOC (Total Organic Carbon) respectively DOC (Dissolved Organic Carbon) will be developed. Furthermore a portable prototype will be built and optimized with regard to technical and hydrochemical conditions. The realisation of the electrochemical oxidation in water presents the main core of the DIATOC-project. The possibility of a mobile application in field operations by moderate costs is the main advantage of this innovative approach compared to established methods. The application of boron-doped diamond electrodes (BDD) in water generates highly reactive oxygen species - mainly OH-radicals - in situ from water with high current efficiency. These short-lived radicals are able to mineralize all organic compounds completely. Moreover, this technique doesn’t need external carrier gases, because they are also electrochemically in situ formed. The additional application of ultrasound accelerates the transport of organic compounds to the anodic surface significantly. This allows the achievement of a low detection limit within a short analysis time.