Internship
MSc internship to optimize thermophilic anaerobic treatment of concentrated blackwater.
Tasks include reactor operation, wastewater quality analyses and data analysis.
Requirement: enrolled in a Master's in environmental engineering or related, based in the EU or the Netherlands.
Omschrijving
Type of project: MSc internship. Duration: >5 months (negotiable). Start: from March 2026 or later. Location: Leeuwarden, the Netherlands.
Introduction: Efforts to address soil deficiencies and improve global food production have resulted in a heavy reliance on mineral fertilizers. Human feces and urine contain essential nutrients such as carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium that are crucial for plant growth. Anaerobic treatment of concentrated source-separated blackwater under thermophilic conditions shows promise for effective COD removal, biogas production and pathogen elimination to enhance the safety of nutrients and biosolids for reuse.
Thermophilic treatment at 55°C has been previously pilot tested and achieved COD removal (~70%) and methanization conversions (~60%) comparable to mesophilic treatment, while operating at higher organic loading rates and shorter sludge and hydraulic retention times. Phosphorus was largely retained in the sludge, while nitrogen and potassium were present in the effluent. This project aims to optimize operating conditions for (hyper)thermophilic anaerobic treatment to enable long-term operation at even higher loading rates and shorter retention times without compromising effluent quality, and to investigate alternative products and separate CNPK nutrient recovery streams.
Functie eisen
- Currently enrolled in a Master's programme.
- Background in environmental engineering, biotechnology or related fields.
- Good practical and experimental experience.
- Good communication skills in English.
- Currently studying in the Netherlands or holding EU citizenship.
Taken
- Operate thermophilic anaerobic reactors.
- Optimize operating conditions for (hyper)thermophilic anaerobic blackwater treatment.
- Investigate alternative products and develop separate C, N, P, K nutrient recovery streams.
- Perform wastewater quality analyses, including microwave digestion with ICP-OES, TOC analysis, ion chromatography and Hach Lange kits.
- Analyze experimental data and report results.
Werkomstandigheden
- Position at a leading technology institute and European centre of excellence for sustainable water technology, within a multidisciplinary and international research environment.
- Opportunity to learn while building sustainable solutions for a circular economy.
- Close guidance via weekly or biweekly meetings.
- Experience working in a multidisciplinary and collaborative research environment and joining a large pool of thesis/internship students.
- The maximum allowance for this internship is €425 per month. Grant-holding students who receive less than €425 per month can apply for a top-up supplement to reach the maximum allowance.
Beschrijving van de organisatie
Leading technology institute focused on sustainable water technology, offering a multidisciplinary and international research environment with collaborative teams and many internship and thesis opportunities.