On the first day after the official welcome and introduction by prof. Zbysław Dymaczewski, current formal matters related to financial and technical reports and inspections were discussed. Then there were presentations of participants on the progress of work in each WP and in individual tasks. The day ended with a joint dinner during which participants could talk over their results and discuss research plans in a less formal atmosphere.

On the second day, the participants met at the Poznań University of Technology to go on a trip to the Wastewater Treatment Plant in Koziegłowy. On site, the tour began with a presentation in the lecture hall prepared by partners from Aquanet S.A. Then, the participants were shown around the WWTP and the PUT pilot station.

After the trip, the participants returned to the University of Technology to summarize the two-day meeting. At the end, there was also a meeting of the SIREN Project Steering Committee, during which all important formal and administrative issues of the project were discussed and further plans and dates of the upcoming conferences and meetings were presented.

is important to understand their behavior in wastewater treatment plant systems (WWTPSs), four methods have been verified for the determination of the concentration of such compounds in aqueous solutions, including UV-Vis and fluorescence spectrophotometry and measurement of the chemical oxygen demand (COD) and total organic carbon (TOC). Among them, the UV-Vis spectrophotometry was selected as an effective tool for the evaluation of the structure, characteristics, and usage potential of HSs.

Twenty-five materials, including organic materials (also waste), inorganic materials (both minerals and waste), and materials popular in horticulture were tested in terms of their applicability as efficient adsorbents of model humic substances (MHSs) and fulvic acids (MFAs) present in aqueous solution. This allowed the selection of the three most effective adsorbents of MHSs, including opoka (OP), autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC), and ash from eco-pea coal combustion (AECC) with adsorption efficiencies of 78, 67, and 64%, and one most effective adsorbent of MFAs, namely biochar from sunflower seeds (BSS) with adsorption efficiency of 25%. For all studied potential adsorbents, the mechanism of adsorption of HSs has been described. The proposed adsorption mechanisms revealed the differences in the nature of this process, depending on the material used as the adsorbent of HSs.

Based on the kinetic studies, OP and ACC were selected as the most promising adsorbents of HSs. Subsequently, the adsorption capacity of these materials towards HSs was verified on real reject water (RWR) and reject water effluent from the phosphorus recovery step (RWP). Both types of reject waters (RWs) have been characterized in terms of their composition that indicated the dominance of fulvic acids (FAs) in such wastes, which amounted to 89 and 32% of their organic matter (OM), respectively.

Although preliminary kinetic studies with MHCs have shown that the highest adsorption capacity of OP and ACC, and simultaneously the highest removal efficiency of MHCs was achieved when the employed dosage of adsorbents was 0.02 g, the adsorption studies conducted using RWR revealed that the decrease of the dose of selected materials to 0.015 g has given better results. Therefore, the adsorbent dose of 0.015 g instead of 0.02 g was applied for the kinetic studies related to the recovery of HSs from RWR and RWP.

Verification of the adsorption capacity of OP and ACC towards HSs found in RWR and RWP revealed that both materials were also characterized by promising efficiency of HSs removal (ca. 55%) from RWs. Moreover, the spectrophotometric analyses of coloured organic matter (CDOM) remaining in the RWR and RWP after the adsorption process revealed that the adsorption of high molecular weight fractions of humic fractions prevailed over that of low molecular weight fractions of HSs. Similar observation were made in the case of the adsorption mechanisms of MHSs. Despite promising adsorption capacity, OP and ACC were only able to release only 18 and 19% of HSs adsorbed from RWR on their surface during 20 h, however, the desorption of HSs originated from RWP from surveyed materials was two times lower.

From the application point of view, RWR was recognized to be a better location for HSs recovery. Not only the adsorption carried out in this waste was faster but it also enabled the simultaneous recovery of phosphorus, which may improve the quality of produced material. The analysis of the OM content of raw materials applied for adsorption of HSs from RWR and those prepared as a result the process revealed a significant increase in the value of this parameter. In comparison to the raw OP and ACC that were characterized by negligible content of OM (0.38 and 3.63%, respectively), materials obtained after the adsorption HSs from RWR were characterized by nearly 14 times and 2 times higher value of this parameter, respectively.

The influence of materials with recovered HSs on the key life processes of selected plants, including mustard, radish, sorghum, and cress was verified in hydroponic systems, which made it possible to determine the lowest plant growth-stimulating dose of prepared materials. Currently, analyses of the effects of prepared materials on plant growth have been expanded to include new plant species and are being conducted in soil environments.

Activities:The results obtained within the project were presented on the following conferences:

At the turn of 2022 and 2023, two Research Campaigns were carried out in the laboratory of the Poznań University of Technology in cooperation with the Aquanet laboratory. The aim of the research was to determine the optimal conditions for struvite precipitation in order to remove and recover phosphorus and nitrogen from wastewater. The research medium was the effluent from the centrifugation of sludge from the WWTP for the Poznań agglomeration in Koziegłowy. Each Campaign lasted 4 research days and included testing the level of phosphate removal using two sources of magnesium (magnesium hydroxide Mg(OH)2 and magnesium chloride MgCl2) in different pH ranges and using different molar ratios of P-PO4 ions to Mg ions .

During the first Research Campaign (November 15 – December 8, 2022), three molar ratios of P-PO4:Mg were tested: 1.0 ; 2.2 and 4.0 for pH 8.5; 9.0; 9.5 and the variant without pH correction for magnesium hydroxide. The results of the first Campaign made it possible to adjust the process conditions for the needs of the next research series.

The second Research Campaign took place between January 19 and February 7, 2023. As in the first series, three P-PO4:Mg molar ratios were tested: 1.2 ; 1.7 and 2.2 for pH 8.5; 9.0; 9.5 and the variant without pH correction for magnesium hydroxide.

The Research Campaigns carried out allowed to determine the optimal conditions for struvite crystallization using both tested reagents. In addition, interesting phenomena were observed (different habit of struvite crystals obtained using different Mg sources and a significant impact of the retention time of the samples on the results of phosphate removal), which prompted the PUT and AQ team to conduct an additional test series under selected process conditions in order to confirm and document the results research.

The research results will be presented during the upcoming conference for young scientists YWP in Poznań in November 2023.

We cordially invite you to familiarize yourself with the publication, as well as posters that present the results of the above work and will be presented during two conferences:

1. 10th International Conference on Sustainable Solid Waste Management

(Chania, Greece, June 21 – 24, 2023)

“Optimization of alginate recovery from activated

sludge for waste sludge valorization” A. Cydzik-Kwiatkowska, M. Florczyk, S. Ciesielski, M. Komorowska-Kaufman, W. Pomian, M. Budych-Górzna, P. Oleśkowicz-Popiel

2. Metagenomes of Different Environments

(Lublin, June 20-21, 2023)

“Analysis of activated sludge microbiome based on different regions of the gene encoding 16S rRNA” W. Babis, M. Florczyk, A. Cydzik-Kwiatkowska, Jan Jastrzębski, Sławomir Ciesielski

We will inform you about the details of the application and decisions of the NCBR by e-mail.

This event is the third IWA Young Water Professionals national conference after first in Cracow (2017) and second in Warsaw (2020). The conference is dedicated to all young people working in water sector in Poland.

The conference will consist of two tracks. The first one – „Excellent Science“ is intended for developing a high quality research which can be published in the best international journals. The second one „Industrial Development“ will highlight the possibility of commercialization of research results. During the second track several activities will be available in Polish to encourage more people from Poland to join the IWA Network.

The conference aims to integrate young people who are doing a research or work in the water and wastewater sector. It will enable them to exchange views and present their research, interests and work results. Conference participants will have a unique opportunity to establish contacts with other research facilities or centers and with companies cooperating with the industry.

Conference Topics

• Design, operation, modelling, optimization and management of water and wastewater treatment plants
• Design, operation, modelling, optimization and management of water distribution and sewer systems
• Innovative solutions and technologies in water and wastewater management
• Water quality, resources and its restoration
• Circular economy in water sector and industry
• Sewage sludge and waste management
• Environmental Biotechnology
• Modern control and monitoring in water and wastewater system
• Stormwater management
• Economics of water sector
• Energy balance and recovery in water and wastewater systems
• Water-Hydrogen-Carbon

Key dates

For more information on instructions for authors, fees and templates, please visit the conference website: https://ywp.put.poznan.pl

 We look forward to your submission for 3’rd Polish IWA YWP Conference Poznań 2023!

The main objective of REWAISE is to create a new “smart water ecosystem”, integrating an intelligent digital framework for decentralized water services and decision making, involving all relevant stakeholders to embrace the true value of water, reducing freshwater and energy use, and recovering nutrients and materials – resulting in a carbon free, sustainable hydrological cycle, in line with the concept of a resilient circular economy. A network of 9 living labs, grouped in 3 hubs (Mediterranean, Atlantic and Continental) demonstrates in a real life, large scale operational environment the technological innovations, business models and new governance methods that contribute to a secure water supply for the European society. New market niches are created, by mobilizing water related investments and linking users with specific water needs, incorporating sustainability assessments (life cycle, cost and risk analysis) and economic models to optimize resources allocation and value creation. This network integrates climatic factors such as precipitation and temperature, multiple water sources (seawater, groundwater, rainwater, surface water from rivers and reservoirs, as well as municipal and industrial wastewater (WW)) and a variety of uses (rural, agricultural, urban and industrial) with several innovative systems to achieve a reliable and safe water cycle, and to recover all high-value products embedded in the different streams. Moreover, circular economy will be stimulated by using local resources to solve local issues, enhancing social awareness of the stakeholders through targeted focus groups, strengthened by local perspectives. The proposed approach is amplified by a Common Digital Platform (CDP) that will allow real time monitoring, control and optimization of data and networks, enabling smart management and decision making through Artificial Intelligence (AI) across legally separated entities. The sharing, learning and replicating of best practices, with an identified chain of fast followers, will contribute to resilience, adapting to new problems arising in the near future.

Project partners:

FCC AQUALIA SA (AQUA) – Spain, Severomoravske Vodovody A Kanalizace Ostrava A.S. (SMVAK) – Czech Republic, Severn Trent Water Limited (STW) – Great Britain, VASYD – Sweden, Aquanet S.A. (ANET) – Poland, European Network Of Living Labs Ivzw (ENOLL) – Belgium, Hidrotec Tecnologia Del Agua SL (HIDRO) – Spain, City of Malmoe Municipality (MALM) – Sweden, POLYMEM S.A. (POLY) – France, Voltea BV (VOLT) – Netherlands, Resourseas S.R.L. (RESA) – Italy, Bluetechtracker Limited (BLUE) – Irland, Aquaporin A/S (APOR) – Denmark, Water, Environment And Business Fordevelopment SL (WE&B) – Spain, Environmental Monitoring Solutions Limited (EMS) – Great Britain, Solar Water PLC (SOLWA) – Great Britain, IETU Inst. for Ecology (IETU) – Poland, Universitat De Valencia (UVAL) – Spain, Vysoka Skola Banska – Technicka Univerzita Ostrava (TUOS) – Czech Republic, Sveuciliste U Zagrebu Fakultet Elektrotehnike I Racunarstva (UNIZ) – Croaria, Fundación Centro Tecnologico De Investigación Multisectorial (CETIM) – Spain, Coventry University (COVU) – Great Britain, Lunds Universitet (LUND) – Sweden, Poznan University of Technology (PUT) – Poland, PKF Attest Inncome SL (INNCO) – Spain, Universita Degli Studi Di Palermo (UNIPA) – Italy

The REWAISE project, news and results can be found at http://rewaise.eu