We are seeking a student for an unfunded internship opportunity based at ERI Thurso, starting in 2024.
Project title: Using Sewage-Sludge Biochar for Emerging Contaminant and Heavy Metal Removal from Wastewater
Supervisors: Dr Lydia Niemi and Dr Szabolcs Pap
Project duration/timing: ~4-6 months, start date flexible
Skills required: An interest in (and some experience of) analytical chemistry; also, an interest in wastewater treatment, sustainability and the circular economy.
Please note: This opportunity is NOT a funded internship – self-funding and/or external funding (i.e., Turing Scheme) would be required.
More details can be found in the pdf:
Please contact Lydia Niemi if you have any questions or would like to apply: lydia.niemi@uhi.ac.uk
Project Background:
Current industrial practices and domestic use result in heavy metals and emerging organic contaminants entering wastewater in large quantities. Conventional wastewater treatment methods are unable to fully remove these from wastewater, resulting in entry into the environment where these pollutants are of ecotoxicological and regulatory concern. Simple and cost-effective methods are needed to remove these contaminants from wastewater, and adsorption using filtration material (e.g., biochar) is a possible circular approach.
This project will evaluate different sewage-sludge biochars for use in treating wastewater. The target contaminants will be inorganic (i.e., Ni, Pb) and organic (i.e., pharmaceuticals), and their detection will involve LC-DAD and ICP-OES. Batch and column studies will be carried out and factors such as solution pH, temperature and contact time will be investigated. Adsorption mechanisms and removal rates will be quantified to determine suitability.
