Ecotoxicological effects of particle-bound micropollutants

Currently, in selected wastewater treatment plants in Germany an additional treatment step is implemented and tested for the elimination of micropollutants like pharmaceuticals, pesticides, cosmetic products in wastewater. The use of powdered activated carbon was found to be a suitable method, as micropollutants are eliminated by adsorption to the carbon. However, it appears likely that the applied carbon cannot be completely retained in the waste water treatment plant and that there is an input of loaded activated carbon into adjacent streams. Therefore, the scope of this project is the investigation of possible ecotoxicological effects of loaded activated carbon for the aquatic environment.

Team

  • PhD student: Dr. Marion Woermann
  • Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Bernd Sures (UDE, Biology)
  • Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Jörg Oehlmann (Goethe University Frankfurt, Biological Sciences)
  • Supervisor: PD Dr. Ursula Telgheder (UDE, Chemistry)
  • Mentor: Dr. Issa Nafo (Emschergenossenschaft/Lippeverband)