Research projects
Research area C: Separation technology
In research area C, innovative processes for P separation are being developed: on the one hand by adsorption/desorption in fixed-bed columns (project C2) and on the other hand by separating the P-loaded adsorber particles in magnetic separators (project C1). The main factors influencing the processes of selective adsorption and desorption as well as the stability during degradation of the adsorbents are investigated by means of experimental and numerical studies in order to derive the requirements for the synthesis of the adsorber materials. Furthermore, the influences of the flow conditions, magnetic field strength and remanence on the separation of the adsorber particles during magnetic separation are investigated. The separation efficiency, selectivity and kinetics are investigated with real wastewater from the wastewater and recycling pilot plant. Based on the knowledge gained, adjustments can be made to the adsorber materials developed in research area A and the physical relationships and parameters for the process models can be described more precisely, which are crucial for the development and optimization of the overall process in research area D.
Supervisor: Prof. Roland Ulber
By using functionalized, magnetic adsorber particles in combination with magnetic separation techniques, it is possible to separate selected substances from process solutions directly and independently of the presence of other dissolved substances and other suspended solid particles. This approach is to be used to separate and recover phosphate from wastewater. There, the specific and effective binding of phosphate to the particles and the efficient separation of the particles and almost complete elution of the phosphate are important. As part of WERA, an optimized, scalable magnetic separation system is to be developed and constructed for use in wastewater streams. An important aspect here is the modeling of separation behavior with the aid of computational fluid dynamics simulations (CFD), taking into account high volume flows and a high separation efficiency for finely dispersed magnetic particles. In the first part of the project, magnetic particles are produced both self-synthetized using standard processes and in cooperation with other working groups at WERA. They are used for conceptual preliminary tests on suitable magnetic separator geometries. Particles with varying size, geometry and surface functionalizations are used to take into account the magnetic separation properties changed by the modifications.
Supervisor: Prof. Erik von Harbou
Adsorption is a proven method for separating target compounds from fluid streams. The challenge in this project is that the concentration of P in the wastewater is very low while the flow rate of the wastewater stream is very high. At the same time, the process must be feasible for municipal wastewater treatment plants (robust, low cost, simple operation,...).
In this project, a fixed-bed adsorption and desorption process is to be designed. The task of this process is both to reduce the P concentration to target values during this process and to regenerate the adsorber bed and recover the P. A laboratory test facility is to be set up in which various adsorbents and process conditions can be studied. A process model is to be developed to optimize the process.