Institute Research Assistant   (05/2000 - 02/2001)

 

Engler-Bunte Institute for Water Chemistry, University of Karlsruhe, Karlsruhe, Germany.

Project based on examining the usefulness of miniaturized Biofilm Reactors (mBFRs) in predicting the biodegradation of organic contaminants in wastewater treatment plants.

  •  Carried out a research project to investigate the efficacy of using miniaturized biofilm reactors as surrogates for studying the biological transformation of alkyl phenol ethoxylates in

       waste water treatment  plants.

  •   Established the experimental set up, monitored reactor performance, collected and analyzed samples (using LC, carbon analyzers etc.) and performed data analysis.

  •  Investigated the toxicity of the reactor effluent to Photobacterium phosphoreum.

Accomplishments

  •  Demonstrated that miniaturized biofilm reactors are useful in elucidating the biodegradation pathways of organic pollutants in wastewater treatment plants under both oxic and anoxic conditions.