DC8: Boosting psychrophilic anaerobic digestion (WP2)
Host institution: KU Leuven (Belgium)
Supervisor: Lise Appels (PhD promoter)
Objectives: (i) to develop an augmentation strategy that favours hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis at 15°C, (ii) to evaluate the use of support structures to develop fungal biofilms inside the digesters, and (iii) to study the mechanisms the molecular dynamics and genes involved in the degradation of pesticides and APIs during psychrophilic anaerobic digestion (PAD).
DC8 will design a step-wide augmentation strategy for a successful enrichment of low-temperature resistant hydrogenotrophic methanogens (e.g. Methylovorans spp.) to boost PAD and enhance both methane formation and pollutant degradation. Starting from mesophilic inoculum, different parameters (e.g., co-substrates, micronutrients, pH, ORP, etc.) will be explored to create a stimulating environment for the hydrogenotrophs. DC8 will furthermore explore the use of support structures (i.e., carriers) to grow fungal biofilms that work synergistically with the methanogens towards superior pollutant degradation while preserving anaerobic conditions. These carriers will be supplemented with specific micronutrients that favour fungal growth for an accelerated maturation of the fungal biofilm. DC8 will employ advanced molecular analysis such as Illumina HiSseq to identify the key players in the consortium and via RT-qPCR, the genes responsible for the degradation of key pollutants under scrutiny (i.e., pesticides and APIs such as carbamazepine). Fully equipped, automated bioreactors will be used to monitor all essential parameters both on- and off-line to gain insights in the molecular dynamics and overall process efficiencies of both augment communities.
Expected results: (i) Set of guidelines for a successful enrichment of hydrogenotrophic methanic during PAD at 15°C, (ii) Dataset containing the identification of key players during psychrophilic anaerobic degradation of key priority pollutants.
Planned secondments:
- UAVR (Sup.: I. Capela): M15-18, 4 months: Novel materials as support structures – materials science approach;
- SUEZ (Sup.: M. Crest): M30-32; 3 months: Scale-up of the psychrophilic anaerobic digestion processes.
Enrolment in Doctoral degree: KU Leuven Arenberg Doctoral School of Science, Engineering and Technology (BE)
Ideal candidate profile:
- Having a Master’s Degree in Environmental Biotechnology, Microbiology, Chemical Engineering, or a related field.
- Experience in anaerobic digestion processes, methanogenesis, biofilm formation, or psychrophilic microbial processes.
- Skills and knowledge in molecular analysis (e.g., Illumina HiSeq, RT-qPCR), reactor design, microbial consortia management. Knowledge of pollutant degradation (pharmaceuticals) is a plus.
- Proficiency in English, both written and spoken, is required.