From June 26 to 29, 2023, all members of the GENOCOV research group actively participated in the 6th IWA International Conference on eco-Technologies for Wastewater Treatment (ECO STP 2023). This prestigious conference, held in Girona, brought together international experts to discuss the latest advancements and challenges in ecological wastewater treatment technologies.
GENOCOV presented several groundbreaking studies in sustainable water treatment technologies research. The topics covered by the group members included the latest cutting-edge eco-technologies for a sustainable transition in wastewater treatment, reuse, and resource recovery at both urban and industrial scales, with special attention to the efficient transfer of knowledge into practice.
Notable Contributions by GENOCOV Members:
- Alex Gaona delivered an oral presentation on modelling organic matter reduction, operational costs, and emissions, titled "When it’s worthwhile to include the nitrite pathway in a WWTP with C/N/P removal?".
- Ana Vázquez presented on "Acidogenic fermentation of model carbohydrate/protein mixtures: how does substrate organic composition impact?".
- Eric Valdés discussed "Mathematical modelling of the long-term dynamics of a sulfate-reducing UASB bioreactor from methanogenic to sulfidogenic conditions".
- Jan Pietro Czellnik gave insights into "Kinetic characterization of Phosphorous Accumulating Organisms (PAO) and Glycogen Accumulating Organisms (GAO) anaerobic metabolism in Aerobic Granular Sludge (AGS)".
- Laura Isern Cazorla, co-presenting with Antonio Mineo (Università degli Studi di Palermo), contributed with a presentation on "Resources from wastewater: employment of an advanced strategy for polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) synthesis and recovery".
- Lluc Olmo Cerdà discussed "Nitrous oxide production for nitrogen valorisation on side stream of an urban wastewater treatment plant".
- Manuel Fachal contributed with a presentation on "Characterization of hydrogenotrophic methanogenic cultures through a novel pressurized headspace-free Hydrogen Uptake Rate methodology".
- Mariella Belén Galeano López contributed a poster titled "From removal to recovery: opportunities for bioelectrochemical ammonia recovery from wastewater".
- Mengqi Cheng offered a comprehensive assessment with "A Comprehensive Assessment of The Opportunities of Phosphorous Recovery by Integrating a Side-Stream Sludge Fermenter Into EBPR Systems".
- Oscar Guerrero Sodric enhanced bioelectrochemical hydrogen production in his talk on "Enhancing bioelectrochemical hydrogen production from industrial wastewater in a 150L microbial electrolysis cell pilot plant".
- Zainab Ul Kausar contributed with a presentation on "Continuous bioelectrochemical nitrogen recovery from high N-loaded wastewaters".
The ECO STP 2023 conference provided an exceptional platform for the exchange of knowledge and collaboration among scientists, engineers, and industry professionals. GENOCOV's presentations stood out for their focus on practical and sustainable solutions, aligning with the sustainable development goals and environmental protection.