Background

Water scarcity is intensifying worldwide due to climate change, altered rainfall patterns, and prolonged droughts. Conventional wastewater‑treatment systems are increasingly challenged by complex micropollutants that resist removal and raise the energy requirements of conventional filtration technologies. Many treatment plants struggle to meet water‑reuse standards without costly advanced processes.

Photocatalysis and membrane filtration each offer strengths, but their combination provides a synergistic pathway for low‑energy, high‑efficiency treatment. Photocatalysts degrade complex pollutants and reduce fouling, thereby improving the performance and energy efficiency of membrane systems. REPHOM leverages this synergy to create a robust, flexible recycling solution suitable for both potable and non‑potable applications.

The project

REPHOM objectives include:

• Developing photocatalytic materials capable of degrading complex and persistent micropollutants.
• Integrating these photocatalysts with selective membrane‑filtration processes to improve operational efficiency and reduce fouling.
• Validating the technology for different water‑reuse scenarios, including potable and non‑potable applications.
• Demonstrating energy and carbon‑footprint reductions compared to conventional advanced‑treatment processes.

The science

The scientific work integrates environmental chemistry, photocatalysis, membrane engineering, and water‑reuse systems:

• Photocatalytic degradation of organic micropollutants using advanced catalytic materials.
• Development of synergistic membrane–photocatalyst configurations to enhance treatment efficiency.
• Mechanistic studies on pollutant degradation pathways and membrane‑fouling reduction.
• Pilot‑scale evaluation of system performance for potable and non‑potable water reuse.
• Analytical assessment of water quality, operational stability, and long‑term system efficiency.

The team

The REPHOM partners are:

Prof. Dr. Chavalit Ratanatamskul (Coordinator), Chulalongkorn University, Thailand

Assoc. Prof. Kumar Varoon Agrawal, EPFL (École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne), Switzerland

Prof. Patricia Luis Alconero, Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), Belgium

Contact:

Prof. Dr. Chavalit Ratanatamskul                       Email: chavalit.r@chula.ac.th 

Background

Industrial and municipal wastewater streams in Southeast Asia often contain high nutrient loads and organic pollutants. Conventional treatment systems can remove pollutants but do not typically generate valuable by‑products. Meanwhile, many commercial and industrial sites—such as public markets and food‑processing plants—produce wastewater and organic waste that could serve as resources for circular‑economy solutions.

‘Azolla’ and BSF larvae have strong potential for wastewater valorization due to their rapid growth, phytoremediation capability, and suitability as feed and fertilizer sources. Combining these biological systems with existing treatment steps allows for pollutant removal, nutrient recovery, and low‑cost resource production. AzoFarm applies this concept to real operational settings in Thailand and the Philippines, enabling local value creation and reducing environmental impacts.

The project

AzoFarm designs and validates a five‑stage decentralized wastewater valorization system:

• Stage 1 – Conventional treatment: Removal of suspended solids and primary pollutants.
• Stage 2 – Phytoremediation using ‘Azolla’: Additional nutrient and pollutant reduction where required.
• Stage 3 – ‘Azolla’ cultivation for feed: Biomass produced using treated effluent is harvested as animal feed.
• Stage 4 – Sludge + organic waste to BSF: Sludge from Stage 1 and organic wastes feed BSF larvae to produce animal feed and organic fertilizer.
• Stage 5 – Resource reuse: Treated water and recovered products (fertilizer, larvae-based feed, biomass) are reintroduced into agricultural systems.

The project proceeds in three phases:

• Phase 1: Lab-scale cascade design, evaluation of pollutant removal, and testing suitability for ‘Azolla’ and BSF growth.
• Phase 2: Pilot implementation at selected case-study sites (markets, sweet‑corn factory, meat‑processing facility).
• Phase 3: Sustainability and risk assessments including LCA, cost‑effectiveness analysis, QMRA, and stakeholder engagement to support uptake and policy pathways.

The science

The scientific work integrates wastewater engineering, phytoremediation, insect bioconversion, and sustainability assessment:

• Phytoremediation science using ‘Azolla’ to remove nutrients and improve effluent quality.
• Biological conversion of sludge and organic waste into BSF larvae biomass and organic fertilizer.
• Optimization of cascade configurations for pollutant removal, biomass production, and system efficiency.
• Pilot‑scale validation under real operational and climatic conditions.
• Environmental and economic assessments including LCA, cost‑effectiveness, and microbial risk evaluation.
• Analysis of market potential, scalability, and policy considerations for decentralized wastewater valorization.

The team

The AzoFarm partners are:

Prof. Dr. Michael Thomann (Coordinator), University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW), Switzerland

Asst. Prof. Dr. Patiroop Pholchan, Chiang Mai University (CMU), Thailand

Dr. Angelo Hetutua Cabije, University of San Carlos (USC), The Philippines

Contact:

Prof. Dr. Michael Thomann                    michael.thomann@fhnw.ch 

Background

Wastewater pollution threatens ecosystems, water security, and public health. Organic matter, nutrients, and emerging contaminants from domestic, industrial, and aquaculture sources often persist in treated effluents. Many wastewater treatment plants use activated sludge processes, which are insufficient for eliminating micropollutants. Advanced treatment technologies such as ozonation or membrane systems are effective but costly and resource‑intensive.

Countries involved in WATCHµBio face similar challenges: Switzerland requires micropollutant removal in WWTPs by 2040, while Türkiye and Thailand prioritize water quality in aquaculture—an expanding sector with growing environmental impacts. Climate‑driven extreme weather further amplifies water pollution risks. WATCHµBio addresses these issues by integrating hydrogel adsorption, microbial degradation, and conductive materials into a single, scalable treatment solution.

The project

The project develops two types of hydrogels:

• Hydrogel 1: rPET copolymerized with conductive materials (e.g., polyaniline) and zeolite to support adsorption and microbial attachment.
• Hydrogel 2: rPET mixed with bio‑based polymers (e.g., PVA, starch) and powdered activated carbon for conductivity and pollutant removal.

Key objectives include:

• Designing conductive hydrogels that promote robust microbial biofilm formation.
• Testing performance in municipal and aquaculture wastewater in Türkiye and Thailand.
• Targeting removal of nitrogen nutrients and emerging contaminants such as acetochlor and metolachlor.
• Ensuring hydrogel durability, reusability, and a circular “waste‑treat‑waste” approach using recycled PET.

The science

The scientific innovation of WATCHµBio lies in integrating materials science, environmental biotechnology, and wastewater engineering:

• Development of conductive rPET‑based hydrogels for simultaneous adsorption and microbial degradation.
• Use of zeolite and activated carbon to enhance contaminant binding and support biofilm growth.
• Electrochemical characterization to analyze conductivity and pollutant‑removal mechanisms.
• Evaluation of microbial communities associated with hydrogel carriers in municipal and aquaculture wastewater.
• Real‑case validation under diverse climatic and operational conditions.

The team

The WATCHµBio partners are:

Prof. Dr. Christof Brändli (Coordinator), Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW), Switzerland

Dr. Pamela Principi, SUPSI, Switzerland

Asst. Prof. Dr. Pakorn Pasitsuparoad, Prince of Songkla University (PSU), Thailand

Prof. Dr. Filiz Dadaser Celik, Erciyes University (ERU), Türkiye

Contact:

Prof. Dr. Christof Brändli                         christof.braendli@zhaw.ch 

Background

Biomass production for food, materials, and energy increasingly requires sustainable and resource‑efficient cultivation methods. Geothermal water offers a naturally warm, nutrient‑rich medium that can support algal growth without synthetic inputs or additional heating. Microalgae and macroalgae are promising candidates for circular‑economy applications because they grow rapidly, require minimal land, and can be processed into diverse high‑value products.

Conventional algal farming often depends on costly media, controlled environments, and large water demand. By using geothermal water, the GeoAlganery project reduces environmental pressures while enabling efficient cultivation and conversion of biomass. The approach integrates renewable energy, innovative bioproduct synthesis, and waste valorisation into a single system that supports sustainable production pathways.

The project

GeoAlganery focuses on developing geothermal‑based algal cultivation systems and converting biomass into valuable, market‑ready bioproducts. Key objectives include:

• Optimizing Spirulina and Ulva cultivation parameters using geothermal water.
• Producing high‑value products such as pigments and ulvan‑based polymers.
• Implementing a zero‑waste framework by transforming residual biomass into biofuels and biofertilizers.
• Scaling up from laboratory cultivation to pilot‑scale systems and preparing pathways for industrial deployment.
• Evaluating market readiness and strengthening stakeholder engagement across regions.

The science

The scientific work combines algal biotechnology, geothermal resource utilisation, bioprocessing, and circular‑economy engineering:

• Cultivation science: optimisation of growth conditions for Spirulina and Ulva using geothermal water resources.
• Bioproduct extraction: isolation of functional compounds including pigments and ulvan‑based biopolymers.
• Waste valorisation: conversion of residual biomass into biofuels and nutrient‑rich biofertilizers.
• Biorefinery approaches integrating multiple processing stages for maximum resource efficiency.
• Techno‑economic, environmental, and socio‑economic assessments supporting scalability and industrial uptake.

The team

The GeoAlganery partners are:

Dr. Oya Irmak Cebeci (Coordinator), Yalova University, Türkiye 

Dr. Riahna Kembaren, Indonesia International Institute for Life Sciences (i3L), Indonesia

Dr. Jose Carlos Cheel Horna, Institute of Microbiology, CAS – Centre ALGATECH, Czech Republic

Dr. Taner Senol, SOLAGRON, Türkiye

Contact:

Dr. Oya Irmak Cebeci                 oyairmak@gmail.com