Spanish - 25 years
MSc in Chemical Engineering
Characterisation of model fluids used for hydrodynamic investigations in MBRs (MBR 20)
July 2009 - December 2009
What my project is about
My work is centred on the fundamental understanding of cake layer formation taking place in MBRs. Conventional set-ups to investigate this mechanism and to evaluate the overall filtration performance suffer from significant changes in the chemical composition of the wastewater and the biological properties of the activated sludge. In a new approach I intend to establish an appropriate model fluid representing the rheological characteristics of activated sludge properly. This model fluid is based on micro-gels. My task will be to characterise different suspensions as a function of process parameters such as pH, temperature and ionic strength in lab-scale experiments. Measurements will be performed to compare the rheology of the micro gels with that of activated sludge. Subsequently, filtration tests will be conducted to analyse the filterability of the suspension and the interaction of the membrane under different operating parameters.
Where I work and live
The name of Aachen originates from the Old Germanic word Ahha, which means water. So it is only consequent to research on this topic here at one of Germany's biggest technical universities!
Motivation
My master study was on the 'Sludge Characterisation in Pilot scale membrane bioreactors' - a project that stongly stimulated my interest in this wastewater treatment technology. Hence the MBR-TRAIN vacancy came as the opportunity to join a group of young researchers and a network of experts.