9th Joint Call: WATCHµBio

9th Joint Call: WATCHµBio

The WATCHµBio project develops a hydrogel-based microbial system for advanced wastewater treatment. It integrates recycled PET (rPET), conductive polymers, adsorption materials, and microbial biofilms to remove nitrogen compounds and emerging contaminants such as pharmaceuticals and pesticides. The technology will be validated in municipal and aquaculture wastewater in Türkiye and Thailand. By combining adsorption, microbial activity, and conductive hydrogels, the project provides a cost effective and sustainable alternative to energy intensive advanced treatment technologies.
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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 

Tags
ENVIRONMENT/CLIMATE CHANGE