In Dr Zekker group in the University of Tartu, Institute of Chemistry, Estonia we are working on the following topics: water treatment (biological pharmaceuticals (PhACs), nitrogen and phosphorus removal and nutrients valorizing), anaerobic ammonium oxidation process and denitrifying phosphorus removal bacteria for ammonium, phosphorus removal from municipal and sidestream wastewater, microbial fuel cell technology and bioelectrochemical systems development (including chemical fuel cells), heavy metals removal and valourizing, sludge treatment, fungal processes, peat usage as building material and humic substances valorizing in peat, nutrients and metals recovery by bacteria, fungi.
Intermediate compounds for anammox bacteria and start-up of nutrient removal in biofilm and suspended systems are main work flows.
Piloting and full-scale water, wastewater systems dimensioning and start-up, compost and residual sludge stabilisation, heavy metals removal from sludge and compost using fungi, heavy metals valorizing using fungi, plant volatiles determination from different plants at stress conditions. I have published more than 140 publications, including 100 papers, having cited 3000 times, h index 40. See https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Ivar-Zekker
Available apparatuses in laboratory: Biofilm MBBR systems, Ion chromatograph, spectrophotometers, wastewater treatment reactors and automatics, controllers, centrifuges, ion selective measuring device, TOC analyzer, central Ar and N2 supply, glow box, nanoparticles analyser, Leica light microscope. Waste analysing tools and methods, pilot reactors (3 m3). Cooperation and consultancy services with Aqua Consult Baltic international company in nutrient removal technology development in pilot and full-scale.
