Organisation Outline:
The Environmental Research Group within the School of Civil Engineering and Geosciences (CEG) works for sustainable protection of the environment and human health from pollution and waste and has a research programme that explores the frontiers of knowledge in the treatment of wastewater, solid waste and contaminated land. They assess and mitigate the risk of micro-pollutants and micro-organisms in potable water and in the environment. There is a strong emphasis on biological processes and molecular techniques (e.g. fluorescent in-situ hybridisation and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis).
Key strategic themes of current research are:
- Fate of synthetic organic molecules and natural oestrogen in engineered biological treatment systems;
- More sustainable options for the management of water and waste in mega cities and peri-urban environment;
- New processes, e.g. the aerobic jet loop membrane reactor, partially and fully packed BAFF, anaerobic membrane bioreactor, biological, chemical and electrochemical remediation technologies for decontamination of soil and thickening of sludges.
- New approaches fundamental research focuses on biological systems, but includes modelling of abiotic systems such as dewatering of sludges;
- SHWRU: The Solid and Hazardous waste Research Unit focuses on waste management and treatment, exploring structural barriers to waste recycling and new biological technologies for the safe treatment and disposal of controlled and hazardous wastes.
The water Resource Systems Laboratory (WRSRL) creates and applies new technologies for planning and managing a sustainable water environment, integrating the latest methods in hydroinformatics, modelling and measurement. Research programme areas include Transport processes, Hydraulic networks, Climate change impacts, Sustainable management, Hazard assessment and Integrated Pollution Control.
Contact by email: see website for relevant personnel
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