Laboratory of Wastewater Management and Treatment Technologies

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LABORATORY MEMBERS

Personnel:
• Paraschos Melidis, Professor (Director)
• Spyridon Ntougias, Professor

• Νικολαος Ρέμμας, Assistant Professor

Postdoctoral Researchers:
Dr. Konstantinos Azis

Dr. Ioannis Stavrakakis

Ph.D. Students

  • Joseph Asteriadis
  • Katerina Gropali
  • Kouvalaki Chrysoula
  • Kyrlidis Georgios
  • Anastasia Makri
  • Dimitra Matziri
  • Lazaros Pantelidis
  • Evgenia Politou
  • Despina Sultani

LABORATORY DETAILS

Address:
Laboratory of Wastewater Management and Treatment Technologies
Department of Environmental Engineering, Democritus University of Thrace, Vas. Sofias 12, 67100 Xanthi, GREECE

Contact:
Tel.: +30 25410-79372
Email: pmelidis@env.duth.gr

MISSION

The primary mission of the Laboratory is to support the teaching needs of the Department of Environmental Engineering, both at undergraduate and postgraduate level, as well as those of other Departments of the Democritus University of Thrace, and to promote research in the scientific fields it serves.

Its activities also include supporting public authorities, local government, and the private sector in addressing practical challenges related to the design, analysis, development, and optimization of processes concerning the management, treatment, disposal, and minimization of liquid waste and the biosolids generated from such processes.

Additionally, the Laboratory is actively engaged in the organization of seminars, symposia, conferences, and lectures, as well as in the preparation of scientific publications and scientific publications.

EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES

Τhe educational activities include compulsory core and specialization courses, as well as elective courses within each specialization. A significant number of these courses are accompanied by laboratory-based practical training.

SUBJECTS

Compulsory courses include:

  • Biology – Ecology (L)
  • Environmental Microbiology (L + Lab)
  • Wastewater Technology and Management I (L + Lab)
  • Drinking Water Treatment Technologies (L)
  • Introduction to the Environmental Engineering Science (L) – Participation
  • Introduction to Laboratory Practices in Environmental Engineering (L + Lab) – Participation

(L = Lecture, Lab = Laboratory)

Specialization Courses

I) Compulsory

  • Wastewater Technology and Management II (L + Lab)
  • Process Control and Optimization in Wastewater Treatment Plants

II) Elective

  • Treatment of Industrial Wastewater (L)
  • Special and Advanced Processes in Wastewater Treatment Plants (L)
  • Microbial Ecology of Activated Sludge (L)
  • Climate Neutrality and Energy Self-Sufficiency in Wastewater Treatment Plants (L)

(L = Lecture, Lab = Laboratory)

RESEARCH PROJECTS

1. Research Project: “Development and implementation of novel biobased methods for the treatment of pesticide-contaminated wastewaters from agro-industries”
2. Research Project: “Optimizing the energy recovery of waste from oranges juice industries using specialized native microorganisms as a starting culture”
3. Research Project: «Employing circular economy approach for OFMSW management within the Mediterranean countries (CEOMED)»

RESEARCH ACTIVITIES

The research activities of the Laboratory focus on the development of innovative technologies that complement and enhance the performance of conventional wastewater treatment methods. Key areas include:

  1. Development, analysis, design, control, and optimization of aerobic and anaerobic biochemical processes for wastewater treatment.
  2. Development and optimization of methods for nutrient removal (tertiary treatment) from wastewater.
  3. Applications of aerobic and anaerobic biosensors/toximeters for monitoring the operation of Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs).
  4. Quaternary (advanced) wastewater treatment for water recycling.
  5. Sludge management in activated sludge plants, anaerobic stabilization, and co-treatment with high-strength organic wastewater.
  6. Solar drying of excess sludge and utilization of the dried product in the ceramic industry.
  7. Environmental microbiology and biotechnology: identification of microbial communities and study of wastewater treatment processes; design and investigation of biochemical pathways.
  8. Energy recovery from the organic load of wastewater and biomass through anaerobic methods and biogas production.
  9. Treatment of industrial and agro-industrial wastewaters using advanced processes (e.g., oxidation, photocatalysis, ultrasound application).
  10. Odor management in sewer networks and wastewater treatment facilities.
  11. Resource recovery from wastewater using biological methods (e.g., ethanol production) and physical processes (e.g., recovery of macromolecular components with membranes).
  12. Detection, quantification, and treatment of organic micropollutants/hazardous substances in wastewater (e.g., pesticide residues, pharmaceuticals).

According to Presidential Decree 159/84 (Government Gazette 53/vol A΄/27-4-1984), “Provision of services by University Laboratories to private entities and organizations of any legal form”, the services of the Laboratory include:

  1. Analytical assessment and determination of wastewater parameters such as pH, COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand), BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand), organic acids, non-volatile components, toxicity, etc.
  2. Laboratory studies for evaluating the aerobic and anaerobic biodegradability of organic compounds in wastewater and assessing the suitability of treatment methods.
  3. Laboratory and pilot-scale studies on the kinetics of biological reactions for the design and dimensioning of aerobic and anaerobic processes.
  4. Laboratory and pilot-scale measurements of oxygen transfer rate (OTR) in WWTPs.
  5. Respirometry measurements for the characterization of wastewater and activated sludge (Oxygen Uptake Rate – OUR and Nitrogen Uptake Rate – NUR).
  6. Integration of physico-chemical methods in wastewater management and optimization of treatment facilities.
  7. Production of energy-valuable biogas through anaerobic sludge stabilization and the treatment of food and fermentation industry wastes (using the same technology).
  8. Microbiological quality assessment of natural waters, wastewater, and sludge.
  9. Optimization of operation and performance of wastewater treatment plants.
  10. Identification, analysis, and resolution of malfunctions in existing WWTPs, along with methodological approaches to adapting them to stricter environmental legislation requirements.
  11. Development and application of sensors for monitoring and controlling the operation of wastewater treatment plants.
  12. Advanced treatment for the removal of emerging micropollutants such as microplastics, personal care products (PCPs), pharmaceuticals, endocrine disruptors, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), etc., and water recycling (quaternary treatment).
  13. Management of sulfur-rich effluents and odor control in sewer network and at the influent of WWTPS.

Presentation of laboratory works

INFRASTRUCTURE

The infrastructure of the Laboratory includes an extensive range of equipment for research and pilot-scale applications. Specifically, it comprises of more than 20 laboratory- and pilot-scale bioreactors/photobioreactors, supported by pumps, stirrers, gas flow meters, biogas analyzers, air compressors, timers, electric valves, ultrasonic devices, pH controllers, water baths, selective ion electrodes, as well as filtration devices, reverse osmosis units, anaerobic digestion test systems, oxygen transfer rate (OTR) measurement systems, and respirometry systems (OUR, NUR). In addition, the Laboratory is equipped with devices for advanced analytical techniques, such as solid-phase extraction (SPE), solid-phase microextraction (SPME), headspace-SPME, and liquid–liquid microextraction (LLME). It also features instruments for online monitoring and control of biochemical processes, including a WTW 2020 controller, PLC, SCADA, and sensors for turbidity, ammonia, nitrate, redox potential, dissolved oxygen, and pH. Modern microbiological equipment is also available, including quantitative PCR (qPCR), fluorescence microscope, gradient PCR, TGGE system, UV transilluminator with imaging system, and Class II biosafety laminar flow cabinets. Furthermore, the Laboratory holds a freeze dryer, optical and phase-contrast microscopes, electrophoresis units, microcentrifuges, incubators, autoclaves, stirrers, and related equipment. Analytical instrumentation includes one (1) HPLC-PDA, one (1) GC-MS, two (2) GCs, spectrophotometers (VIS and double-beam UV/VIS), a pyrolysis furnace, centrifuges, drying ovens, and others. The Laboratory also operates one (1) fully automated anaerobic membrane bioreactor, four (4) constructed wetlands with a total area of 20 m², as well as growth chambers for plants and photosynthetic microorganisms.

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