For DC7 position:
The research group is dedicated to developing innovative and sustainable solutions for wastewater treatment and recovery and pollutant management, emphasizing the synergy between biological processes and advanced physicochemical technologies. Research to optimize methane production through intermittent operation of anaerobic sludge bed reactors represents an innovative approach to maximize energy recovery from wastewater treatment processes. This method not only improves the efficiency of methane production, but also ensures the operational flexibility necessary to adapt to changes in wastewater characteristics. The use of flocculent sludge in Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket reactors also represents an innovative approach to improving the adsorption of complex substrates, thereby increasing their degradation and subsequent methane production. The research carried out addresses the interactions between microbial populations and operational conditions in biological wastewater treatment systems, allowing the identification of the main microbial species responsible for the efficient degradation of various substrates, including persistent organic pollutants. Optimizing and adjusting operational parameters in these anaerobic systems to favor key microbial populations and maximize volatile acid and methane production is crucial for energy recovery and waste minimization. This adjustment also allows you to increase the efficiency of biodegradation of wastewater containing recalcitrant compounds, such as pharmaceuticals, endocrine disruptors and other emerging contaminants. The strategic use of waste and by-products, such as biochar or ceramic industry waste, as adjuvants in biological processes marks another new approach to increasing process stability.
Part of the group’s research focuses on addressing emerging contaminants and recalcitrant pollutants, which pose increasing challenges to water quality, ecosystem health and public health. In conjunction with research into biological systems, the group applies physicochemical processes (adsorption, photodegradation, advanced oxidation processes with and without the addition of nanomaterials, etc.) to degrade pollutants that resist conventional treatment methods. Optimizing the application of these physicochemical processes makes it possible to efficiently degrade complex organic pollutants, including those with dangerous by-products. This approach ensures better treatment performance, especially for industrial effluents and municipal wastewater containing persistent pollutants. By strategically integrating physicochemical and biological treatments, a significant increase in degradation rates and treatment efficiency for highly polluting and refractory substrates is possible.
Another part of the group’s research addresses material recovery from industrial bio-waste with the production of high-value biopolymers (polyhydrxyalkanoates, PHA) using bioaugmentation and biostimulation strategies applied to mixed microbial cultures. Other relevant research interests include the coupling of biochar as a biofilm carrier and electron mediator in bioremediation systems (e.g., bioreactors) in order to improve biochemical transformations. As such, some of the team members have solid experience in the production, characterization and functionalization of biochar.
The research group’s fundamental objective is to further expand the frontiers of wastewater treatment, ultimately supporting the transition to circular economies and sustainable resource management across diverse sectors.
For DC14 position:
The applEE research team, from CESAM-University of Aveiro, is focused on studying the sources, pathways, and effects of environmental pollution, on all components of biodiversity (genetic to landscape diversity) and ecosystem functions and services, under laboratory and field scenarios. It also tackles innovative solutions to mitigate pollution risks and improve environmental quality.
The LiSAT – Life Cycle-based Sustainability Assessment Tools team from the University of Aveiro is devoted to the development and application of environmental management tools based on life cycle thinking, such as life cycle assessment, life cycle sustainability assessment, and carbon and water footprints. Currently, the team is composed of 11 members and is participating in 14 national projects and 3 European projects.
