During autumn 2025, UEF Water organizes "after-lunch coffee" seminars on Thursdays at 1pm. In the seminars, researchers from UEF Water, and other research communities and institutes, present their on-going research or water related current topics.
On September 11th, a presentation will be given by Merve Atasoy (UEF). The topic is: "Integrated Carbon and Nitrogen Recovery from Wastewater: Towards Sustainable Resource-Oriented Treatment".
Traditionally, wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) have been designed to protect public health by removing contaminants. However, growing environmental concerns and resource scarcity are reshaping this paradigm, positioning WWTPs as biorefineries for the recovery of carbon and nutrients. In Europe, nearly 200 million m³ of wastewater is generated daily, and biological nutrient removal processes typically eliminate over 80–90% of nitrogen and phosphorus. These compounds are commonly removed through energy- and chemical-intensive processes that contribute substantially to greenhouse gas emissions. Yet, they represent valuable feedstocks for the production of energy, bio-based chemicals, fertilizers, bioplastics, and even proteins. This presentation will discuss integrated strategies for carbon and nitrogen recovery, with a particular focus on anaerobic processes that can transform wastewater treatment into a sustainable resource recovery platform.
Everyone is welcome to join!
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More information:
UEF Water coordinators: Hannu Nykänen (hannu.nykanen[a]uef.fi | Jarno Suni (jarno.suni[a]uef.fi)
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