Congratulations to Dr Francis Hassard, the Water Biofilms WG Lead, and his colleagues on two recent papers describing novel advances in slow sand filtration (SSF). The technology also features in the WG’s animation Innovation in SSF: A sustainable solution for clean water. A subtitled version is available here. For an …
Dr Francis Hassard, the Lead of EBNet’s Water Biofilms Working Group, is keen to hear the sector’s views on how slow sand filters (SSF) can keep pace with tomorrow’s drinking-water challenges. On 22 January 2025, EBNet brought together researchers, utilities and regulators at the Royal Society of Chemistry, London to …
EBNet does science rather than politics, but we do respond to national and other surveys where our expertise is relevant to policy formation. And at present it is impossible to be unaware of the troubled state of the UK water industry. Today’s headline item ‘Thames Water fined ÂŁ122.7m in biggest …
Microbiologically-Influenced Corrosion or MIC is of interest to at least two of EBNet’s Working Groups – the Bioelectrochemical Systems and Anaerobic Fermentation WGs, which supported a forthcoming materials study. The full report is embargoed for now, but an outline is available here. Meanwhile a recently-published review by one of the …
Presentations from the webinar on Current and Future Directions in Aerobic Granular Sludge Systems are now available on EBNet’s YouTube channel – see here. The session includes two presentations, on Nereda‘s technical developments, experience of meeting current industry needs, and new developments regarding harvesting of biopolymers from granules; and on …
Some interesting new publications this month in the field of Anaerobic Fermentation and biorefineries. Recent developments and future perspectives of marine macroalgae biorefinery in a circular bioeconomy approach. Lawrence, J., Oliva, A., Murphy, J.D. and Lens, P.N., 2025. Research Handbook of Innovation in the Circular Bioeconomy, pp.260-271. Critical factors influencing biohythane …
A 2-day workshop led by Prof John Bridgeman of the University of Liverpool brought together specialists in fluid mechanics with microbiologists and water industry end users to discuss best practice and new opportunities in hydrodynamic modelling of anaerobic digestion of wastewater biosolids. These complex multi-phase non-Newtonian fluids present a range …
This micrograph shows a sample taken on 2 April 2025 from salt pans near the Mar Menor (Murcia, Spain), a haven of extremophile diversity. On the left is the alga Dunaliella salina that has lost its two characteristic flagella and is in the process of encysting. Blooms of these …
Date:Â 17-19 September 2025 Venue: IHE Delft, Netherlands This event aims to bring together researchers in microbial ecology and physiology, environmental biotechnology and engineering working in the emerging field of phototrophic aggregation. The conference will cover topics from fundamental research to innovative applications in wastewater treatment and ecosystem restoration. The conference …
Don’t miss the two new animations in our series on Microbiology/Engineering Interactions, which came out during #EnvBiotechAware week. Prof Tom Curtis has already shown his Microbes in Wastewater Treatment as part of a presentation to the Royal Academy of Engineering, while Aerobic Granules captures some key themes of the AG …
Don’t miss the new Soil Matters podcast from the British Society of Soil Science. Episode 1 features Prof Frederic Coulon and Prof Tony Gutierrez talking about new bioremediation techniques that are completely changing our approaches to reclaiming contaminated land. The podcast is available free on the BSSS Soil Matters webpage, …
Following our summer call for animation ideas to illustrate EBNet’s Microbiology/Engineering Interactions Theme, we now have 3 new videos to enjoy on YouTube. Our thanks to Dr Hemaka Bandulasena, Loughborough University, Dr Francis Hassard, Cranfield University and Dr Yue Zhang, University of Southampton for working with Senate Media to create these. Want …
13-14:00 Monday 13 January 2025, online.This webinar series is brought to you by our Bioelectrochemical Development for Environmental Technology Working Group. Dr Deepak Pant is a senior scientist at the Flemish Institute for Technological Research, currently working on electrosynthesis and resource recovery, specifically, the design and optimization of bio/electrochemical cells for …
This PhD position is available at Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, to start next year either in May/June or Sep/Oct 2025. The project is on “Bio-engineering of biochar for enhanced remediation of contaminated environments”. This project proposes an innovative systematic approach that will marry specific physicochemical properties of biochar with selected bacterial …
Application deadline: 15th January 2025 (17:00 UK time) This PhD opportunity will be in the Gutierrez Lab research group at Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, Scotland. All applications must include a CV and the names and contact details of 2-3 referees. About the project: Based on a 2016 House of Commons report, there are …
