Dissertation topics suggested by the teacher.
ARGUMENTS FOR INTERNATE THESIS
General overview:
Treatment and valorization of municipal and industrial wastewater: nutrient recovery and removal of micropollutants. Valorization of organic waste (such as the organic fraction of municipal solid waste—OFMSW, waste from the agri-food industry, and residues from agricultural and livestock activities) as energy sources for the production of biofuels, and as raw materials for the fermentative production of organic compounds relevant to the chemical industry, as well as for the extraction and recovery—through separation processes—of biochemicals applicable in various industrial sectors (e.g. pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, etc.).
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TOPIC: Adsorption Process for the Selective Removal of Pharmaceuticals from Treated Wastewater
The general objective of the research is to develop and optimize a selective adsorption process for the removal of micropollutants (mainly pharmaceuticals) from tertiary treated wastewater, prior to its reuse for irrigation or managed aquifer recharge.
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TOPIC: Recovery of nitrogen and phosphorus from municipal wastewater
The research activity focuses on the adsorption and ion exchange processes.
Research objectives: 1) development of innovative adsorbent materials; 2) development and optimization of the process on a pilot scale.
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TOPIC: Bioproduction of biochemicals from agro-zootechnical waste
The research activity focuses on the bioproduction of: succinic acid, 2,3-butanediol, volatile fatty acids (VFA), polyhydroxyalkanoates.
Objectives of the research activity: 1) evaluation of the usability of "innovative" organic waste; 2) development of effective microbial consortia on the matrices identified in point 1) and their characterization with PCR-TRFPL and / or PCR-DGGE analysis; 3) the identification of the optimal operating conditions for each process; 4) the development of innovative bioreactors (eg, adherent biomass bioreactors).
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TOPIC: Recovery of biochemicals from liquid streams and organic waste
The research activity focuses on the recovery of phenolic compounds from vegetation waters produced by the production of olive oil, from pomace, grape seeds from wine production or other waste matrices from the agro-food industry.
Objectives of the research activity: 1) evaluation of the usability of "innovative" organic waste; 2) development of separation processes on the matrices identified in point 1), 3) identification of the optimal operating conditions for each process; 4) development of innovative separation / purification plants.
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TOPIC: Bioproduction of hydrogen and methane from urban and agro-zootechnical waste
The research activity focuses on the enhancement of these matrices for the bioproduction of biogas (hydrogen or methane).
Objectives of the research activity: 1) evaluation of the usability of "innovative" organic waste; 2) development of effective microbial consortia on the matrices identified in point 1) and their characterization with PCR-TRFPL and / or PCR-DGGE analyzes; 3) identification of the optimal operating conditions for each process (T, pH, degree of mixing, possible addition of nutrients); 4) development of innovative bioreactors (eg, adherent biomass bioreactors); 5) development of chemical or enzymatic pre-treatments for matrices with significant ligno-cellulosic content.
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Equipment and Methodologies:
The experiments are initially carried out in laboratory-scale systems and small-scale microcosms. In a second phase, the process is scaled up using pilot-scale reactors with a working volume ranging from 5 to 30 liters, available at the laboratories of the Department of Civil, Chemical, Environmental, and Materials Engineering (DICAM).
The performance of the system is evaluated through chemical and microbiological analyses. Data on the production of the target compound are interpreted by developing a kinetic model. Process optimization is studied through a process/plant model and the simulation of different operating modes.
Other information:
OFFICE OF THE INTERNSHIP: Laboratory of the Department of Civil, Chemical, Environmental and Materials Engineering (DICAM), via Terracini 28-34, Bologna.
PERIOD: any.
NUMBER OF POSITIONS AVAILABLE: 5.
REQUIREMENTS REQUIRED FROM THE STUDENT: strong motivation; aptitude to work in a team.
