Eawag: Surface Waters Research + Management: DUNOX / ECUT

Urine treatment bioreactors integrate various microbiological processes, e.g. partial nitrification, denitrification and anaerobic ammonia oxidation to remove or recycle ammonia nitrogen. These reactors constitute interesting examples of interdependent microbial consortia working together in a chemically extreme environment. We are interested in identifying the microbial populations involved in the key processes of nitrogen transformation, understanding the roles of diversity and metabolic flexibility in the stability of these mutualistic communities, and understanding the inhibition effects that may influence this stability. This research will thus target basic questions of microbial ecology in easily manipulated model systems and contribute to the development of stable systems for practical application.

Microbial diversity and function in Electrochemical Urine treatment

(Eawag Seed project in collaboration with Kai Udert, Engineering department)

In this project we will study microbial populations associated with electrochemical treatment options for Urine. Bioelectrochemical Cells running on urine can be used for energy production either through direct production of electricity (Microbial Fuel Cell) , or through biocatalyzed H₂ production. We will study the composition and roles of microbial communities in different microbial fuel cell setups using molecular and microscopic methods.

Funding

Eawag Handlungsfeld project
Eawag Seed project
Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF), grant 200021 125133/1

Collaboration

Kai Udert, Eawag, Engineering department
Gyorgy Föti (EPFL)