Objective
The “Floc modelling in activated sludge and beyond” (FLOMAS) is a multidisciplinary proposal that seeks to obtain, through mathematical modelling backed by experimental evidence, a thorough understanding of the microbial community in activated sludge. In the present urbanized world the energy demand is increasing and need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to tackle climate change grows ever more urgent. In environmental engineering in general, and in wastewater treatment in particular, meeting this challenge requires a revaluation of existing processes. The most common wastewater treatment processes have been largely, though not entirely, developed empirically. It is not at all certain that such technologies are sustainable in the long term. A sustainable answer can be based only on a better understanding throughout modelling of the processes taking place in such treatment plants. FLOMAS will consider the relationships between physical, chemical and biological processes and take into account how they occur at different spatial and temporal scales. This implies, and requires, a powerful synthesis of applied mathematics, numerical methods, microbiology, environmental engineering, hydrodynamics and software developments skills. This powerful synthesis could find application, not just in activated sludge but any analogous microbial system be it engineered, such as granules in an upward flow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor, or a natural system such as marine snow. Thus this proposal, if successful, could represent the first generic step to a wide variety of applications. At the same time, the project will give the coordinator the opportunity to continue and develop the research theme she initiated and lead during the Marie Curie postodoctoral period at Newcastle University, allowing her simultaneously a better reintegration in the host institute (University Politehnica of Bucharest). The research will go on in close collaboration with the previous Marie Curie host.
Fields of science
- natural sciencescomputer and information sciencessoftwaresoftware development
- natural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencesatmospheric sciencesclimatologyclimatic changes
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesmicrobiology
- natural sciencesmathematicsapplied mathematicsnumerical analysis
- natural sciencesmathematicsapplied mathematicsmathematical model
Call for proposal
FP7-PEOPLE-2009-RG
See other projects for this call
Funding Scheme
MC-ERG - European Re-integration Grants (ERG)Coordinator
060042 Bucharest
Romania