Project description
Research throws light on how bacteria metabolise wastewater nutrients
Enhanced biological phosphorus removal is a sustainable and economical way of removing phosphorus from wastewater. The process is performed by a group of heterotrophic bacteria called polyphosphate-accumulating organisms (PAOs) that take more phosphorus into their cells than they normally would. PAOs demonstrate different behaviour in the assimilation or fermentation of complex carbon substrates, such as amino acids and sugars. Funded by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the REMaP-Carbon project will investigate the metabolic versatility of PAOs using isotope labelling techniques, kinetic and stoichiometric characterisation analyses, and metabolic models.
Objective
The Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive adopted by the EU acknowledges enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) as a sustainable process that prevents eutrophication, saves marine assets estimated at €500 billion and counters depletion of phosphorus ore. EBPR is mediated microbially by polyphosphate accumulating organisms (PAOs), but our understanding is limited to identifying Ca. Accumulibacter as a globally dominant PAO that utilises volatile fatty acids as carbon substrate. However, a variety of PAOs exists in full-scale wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) that display metabolic versatility in the assimilation or fermentation of complex carbon substrates such as amino acids and sugars. The REMaP-Carbon action will explore the metabolic versatility of PAOs using complex carbon substrates. An interdisciplinary approach involving engineering principles, multi-omics analyses, and advanced modelling techniques will be implemented. Under the supervision of Prof. Mark van Loosdrecht, TU Delft, I will study the metabolism of PAOs using isotope labelling techniques, kinetic and stoichiometric characterisation, and metabolic models. During the secondment at Aalborg University with Prof. Per Nielsen, I will gain complementary skills in bioinformatics and microspectroscopy techniques. To extend EBPR application to complex carbon substrates in WWTPs, an industrial placement is planned at the end of the fellowship to exploit research outputs with Royal HaskoningDHV. In leading international and intersectoral collaborations, I aim to develop research skills, project management and communication abilities to improve overall effectiveness as a researcher. Independently leading this action will provide me experience and confidence to undertake ambitious projects and collaborations in my academic career. Overall, this action will contribute to Europe’s knowledge-based economy by defining how PAOs turn the wheels of the biogeochemical phosphorus cycle in natural environments.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- engineering and technology environmental engineering water treatment processes wastewater treatment processes
- engineering and technology industrial biotechnology bioprocessing technologies fermentation
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
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Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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Call for proposal
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2021-PF-01
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
2628 CN DELFT
Netherlands
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