Water Technology & Processes

Understanding and development of microbial electrochemical processes and systems to address the water-energy nexus challenges, including recalcitrant (micro-nano) pollutants elimination, resources recovery and upcycling, water pollutants sensing, carbon capture and utilization, bioenergy and biochemical production, and communication among bacteria, electrode, and water interfaces for more efficient and cost-effective water management.

Understanding membrane processes for water treatment including the use of hydraulic, osmotic or electro-chemical gradients across semipermeable membranes. Particular focus is on new membrane designs, materials  and operations.

Management of multiple water qualities in complex water systems requires development and application of tools to assess climate change mitigation and adaptation, energy efficiency, cost efficiency, health and risk, all in the context of circular economy.

Selection and optimization of treatment for chemical impurities from industrial pure water to wastewater and municipal drinking water to sewage. Dependence of matrix for process selection, efficiency and products and by-products.

Unraveling the structure and function of microbial communities of water treatment and conveyance systems using a combination of physiological studies, molecular tools and ‘omics approaches to improve management of water engineering microbiomes.

Combining biogeochemical, molecular and physiological tools, and mathematical modeling and reactor engineering skills, we investigate the mechanisms and mitigations of biogenic N₂O emissions, discover new N transformation metabolisms, and propose innovative solutions for N removal/recovery in different aquatic environments at lab- and full-scale.

Novel biofilm reactor technologies, including MABRs, and aggregate-based systems; agent-based and continuum biofilm modelling, advanced analytical techniques including confocal microscopy and microelectrode inspection to assess and control biofilm architectures.

Understanding and optimization of treatment processes to ensure good water quality. This includes biological rapid sand filters removing e.g. ammonium and pesticides, softening, sensors, and monitoring of water quality.

Measurement of N₂O emissions from wastewater treatment plant units using liquid, off-gas, and plume-based methods, experimental verification of mitigation scenarios, development of N₂O as well as CO₂ sinks.

Fate of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGS) in mixed microbial communities across the urban water cycle, effect of environmental stress on ARG fate, high-throughput quantification/identification of ARGs and bacteria involved in transfer, mobilization, and persistence of mobile genetic elements, discovery of mediators and inhibitors of horizontal gene flow, including bacteriophages, to curb environmental spread of ARGs.

Development of technologies and integrated systems that reduce carbon footprint and emphasize resource recovery. This includes processes such as high-rate carbon and nutrient recovery systems, advanced nitrogen management processes (PN/A, DAMO) membrane aerated bioreactors, microbial protein and feeds (methanotrophs, hydrogenotrophs, microalgae, yeast), discovery of novel magnetotactic microbes for phosphorus recovery, anaerobic digestion and bioelectrochemistry for safe resource extraction.

Development of modeling frameworks predicting the performance of different elements and processes across the whole urban water system (water treatment, transport, and resource recovery) and integration with tools for holistic analysis (e.g., LCA) or process monitoring and control. Emphasis on development of models to estimate emissions from urban water systems to other environmental compartments (wet weather discharges to natural waters, N2O emission to atmosphere), fate of trace chemicals, digitalization of the water infrastructure (including instrumentation, control, and operation), use of modelling tools in an uncertainty framework, biofilm reactor systems, nutrient removal systems, sedimentation and separation processes, and antibiotic resistant bacteria/genes, algal processes, GHG emissions and anaerobic digestion.