The Chair Industrial and Circular Water Technology facilitates the transfer of academic research to industry and society. The main research focus is on creating a more sustainable industrial water production and management, mainly through technological innovations. The research chair therefore currently focuses on a number of key topics, namely (i) process intensification & selective separation, (ii) cooling water conditioning and corrosion,(iii) alternative water sources and (iv) the sustainability of water treatment technologies. The goal is to boost innovations within the industrial water cycle and anker them into practice, to make this cycle more efficient and sustainable and prep industry for the future. The findings of the chair, in combination with the collaboration with industry, should result in economic savings, growth and increased productivity for the end user. Communication is key, by bringing different stakeholders within the water sector together, exchange information and coordinate action.

To even further increase practical relevance of the chair, we are looking for a new senior team member, who helps to translate industrial problems into relevant scientific questions and projects; and vice versa supports the rapid deployment of novel research in a practical setting. This requires a constant debate with (new) industrial stakeholders.

The adsorption team of the Department of Chemical Engineering at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel aims at the development of separation processes for a sustainable chemistry. In this project, we will develop new processes for CO2 capture. In this large, multidisciplinary and multi-partner project, new processes for intensified CO2 capture will be studied. At the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, we will develop and study new adsorptive processes based on the use of alternative heating and regeneration methods. This includes both modeling and experimental work. The team of Prof. Denayer has extended know-how in the field; the well-equipped research lab contains all possible tools for the in-depth study of adsorption separation processes.

The adsorption team of the Department of Chemical Engineering at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel aims at the development of separation processes for a sustainable chemistry. In this project, we will develop new processes for the recovery of valuable chemicals from renewable resources (lignin oil). In this multi-partner project, new catalytic and separation processes are studied. At the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, process models for the downstream processing of the lignin oil have to be developed using Aspen Plus. The duration of this project is 1.5 years. The team of Prof. Denayer has extended know-how in the field; the well-equipped research lab contains all possible tools for the in-depth study of adsorption separation processes.

The adsorption team of the Department of Chemical Engineering (Prof. J. Denayer) at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel aims at the development of better and sustainable separation processes. In the present project, an industrial Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) process is optimized. A fully equipped 2-bed pilot PSA unit is available in the research unit, allowing to obtain very accurate data for the cyclic separation process. In this project, pilot plant tests will be combined with detailed modeling of the PSA process to achieve an improvement of process performance in terms of power consumption, productivity etc. Besides, a full characterization of the adsorption properties of the materials used in this separation will be carried out via a range of experimental methods (gravimetry, volumetry, calorimetry, porosimetry,…) available in the research group.

Optimization of industrial processes, a shift to alternative resources, improved functionality, less waste, lower costs and increased efficiencies: these are the challenges industry and society are facing nowadays.

The Elec team of VITO, part of the business unit separation and conversion technologies, focuses on electro-synthesis; utilizing green electricity to produce chemical building blocks and e-fuels. The focus of the team is to invent new pathways and to bring these innovations to the market.

To accelerate these electrochemical innovations, we are hiring several postdocs for electrochemical research and development. More information about VITO and our research topics is available on www.vito.be

The group of prof. Gijs Du Laing at the Green Chemistry and Technology group at the Faculty of Bioscience Engineering (UGent) is looking for an assistant. This position combines teaching responsibilities with research related to the chemistry, technology and analysis of valuable and toxic trace elements in waste and side streams.

There is an opening to work as a post-doctoral assistant with CAPTURE Water professors Ingmar Nopens and Elena Torfs, combining mathematical modelling and teaching responsibilities.

This PhD project aims to develop a model-based predictive controller for complex non-linear systems that are characteristic for the water and resource recovery sector. The development of such advanced controllers allows to operate these systems at reduced energy and resource consumption without compromising the water or product quality thus leading to more sustainable production processes.

We are looking for a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher with an interest and affinity for process engineering to work on the development of novel mixed culture microbial processes for resource recovery. The selected candidate will work on the Thermomel project, a research project funded by the European Space Agency (ESA) to investigate the bioenergetics of acidogenic fermentations within the first compartment of the MELISSA (Micro-Ecological Life Support System Alternative; Melissa Foundation). Specifically, the researcher will investigate the conversion of carbohydrates in acidogenic fermentation conditions & the metabolic pathways involved.

We are looking for a teaching assistant, which is a blend of teaching practicals for Bachelor and Master classes and performing research to obtain a PhD. The PhD topic is "Advanced control for sustainable resource recovery systems", under the guidance of professor Elena Torfs.