Wonderful sludge eating worms unravelled
ThemeWastewater Treatment, Nutrient Factory
Summary
In order to address the limiting factors of hydrolysis and increase the overall value of wastewaters, the EnzyFOR project was commenced. EnzyFOR stands for the Enhanced Enzymatic Anaerobic Fermentation of Organic Residues. The main aim of EnzyFOR is to increase the valorisation of waste streams, such as agricultural and domestic waste by the utilization of enzymes to produce volatile fatty acids (VFA’s) from the complex organic substrates present in the wastewater.
VFA’s are important precursors for bio-chemical processes of which biogas is the least valuable in terms of market price and environmental effects. As a means to investigate methods for improving the extent and rate of hydrolysis, the efficient sludge degrading aquatic worms, T.Tubifex were designated as research target. The research sets out to find worm-based enzymes for the improvement of sludge hydrolysis.
Start of Research
January 2012
End of Research
January 2016
Researcher
- Steef de Valk (TU Delft)
- Ahmad Khadem (WUR)
- Merle de Kreuk (TU Delft)
- Jules van Lier (TU Delft)
- TU Delft
- WUR
- Delfluent Services B.V.
- DSM
- Tauw B.V.
- STW
- STOWA
- Royal Cosun
de_Valk_et_al.-2016-Physical_and_biochemical_changes_in_sludge_upon_Tubifex_tubifex_predation.pdf
de_Valk_et_al.-2017-Unravelling_the_protein_preference_of_aquatic_worms_during_waste_activated_sludg.pdf
http://www.citg.tudelft.nl/nl/over-faculteit/afdelingen/watermanagement/secties/sanitary-engineering/staff/steef-de-valk/enhanced-enzymatic-anaerobic-fermentation-of-organic-residues-enzyfor/
http://www.citg.tudelft.nl/en/research/stories-of-science/water