Published on: 6 December 2024 One of our young graduates, Senne Weemaes, who started at Select Projects in September, has been nominated for a Water Technology Award.
This award is presented to the best Master Thesis in the field of Water Technology by Watercircle, the Belgian sector organization for companies and organizations active in the water sector.🌍💧
During the Academia Meets Industry event last Tuesday in Liège, Senne ended up taking 4th place in this competition. 🏅
With his thesis he researched the effect of biological activated carbon filtration for effluent polishing.
Congratulations with your fourth place, Senne! 🎉👏
We asked Senne some more information about our thesis:
💧 How Can We Make Wastewater Clean and Safe? My Thesis Journey 🌍
Water is essential for life — it’s in every cell of our bodies and supports all living things. But here’s the problem: one in four people around the world doesn’t have access to safe drinking water. With over 8 billion people on the planet, it’s getting harder to clean enough water for everyone, especially as wastewater piles up. That’s why we need new ways to purify it.
In my master’s thesis, I explored a potential solution: Biological Activated Carbon (BAC) filters, with an extra cleaning step called ozonation beforehand. You may have heard of activated carbon (like in water filters at home). It works by “trapping” harmful substances. BAC takes this further by letting helpful microbes grow on the carbon, which then break down pollutants naturally.
What did I discover?
I tested different filter setups to see how well they removed harmful organic substances. While the ozonation step didn’t make a huge difference on its own, the microbes on the filters did! These tiny helpers reduced pollutants by up to 30%, showing that natural processes can boost water treatment.
Why is this important?
Innovative solutions like BAC can make a real difference in providing cleaner water, especially as traditional methods struggle to keep up. It’s not just about cleaner water — it’s about healthier people and a healthier planet.
I’m excited to have contributed to this research and hope it can lead to safer water for everyone!