In the future, municipal wastewater treatment plants should become energy and carbon neutral. To meet this requirement, a process is required in which most of the organic pollution is converted into energy, instead of being oxidized and lost to the air. This can be achieved by using a digestor producing energy, instead of an aerobic bioreactor oxidizing COD. This digester should be operated with a concentrated feed and therefore, the wastewater treatment plant of the future will start with the concentration or harvesting of COD for the digester. 

A promising process for the first step in this wastewater treatment is a high loaded bioreactor. In this reactor, dissolved and colloidal COD are captured in the sludge flocs, instead of being oxidized. Ideally, this process is combined with biological phosphate removal.

Your goal 

The goal of this internship project is to define the main design parameters of this process. This will be done by combining a biological model with experimental data. With the design parameters the wastewater treatment process of the future should balance appropriate sludge stability, process stability and maximal carbon harvesting. During the internship you will combine modelling with experimental work in the laboratory.

Who are you?

• Enrolled in a Dutch BSc or MSc Chemical, (Bio) Process, Civil or Enviromental Engineering study.
• Available for an internship for a minimal period of 4 months.  
• Flexible and independent.
• Curious and analytical.
• Professional command of the English language in words and writing. Command of the Dutch language is desirable, but not required.

Working for us means

• An internship allowance of € 350,- per month based on full-time employment.
• Possibility of a contract after your graduation.
• A buddy who will show you around in our organization.
• Reimbursement of travel expenses of €0.23 cents per km up to a maximum of 75 km if you live further than 10 km from our office and do not have an Ov-card.
• Learn from knowledgeable and dedicated people.
• Create impact and contribute to critical water challenges.
• Become part of an inclusive and collaborative culture.
• Contribute to sustainability.

Join our #missionwater