This Masters project relates with ongoing research projects in the area of micropollutant removal by nanofiltration, in particular adsorption and breakthrough phrnomena at IAMT as well as studying the interactions of micropollutants with microbial biofilms and adsorbed organic matter at ZIWR in BGU. Micropollutants such as steroid hormones are abundant in wastewaters and are only partially removed in water reuse. Micropollutants partition with organic and biological matter affects removal and transport in membrane processes.

The project will include:

i) establishment of organic- and bio-fouling in crossflow nanofiltration, ii) carry out micropollutant experiments with and without fouling and biofouling in the filtration process as well as in quartz crystal microbalance and localized surface plasmon resonance devices, iii) determine micropollutant concentrations and partitioning through mass balance (in the filtration and QCM-D&LSPR devices); and iv) participate in national and international field work in this German-Israel collaboration.

Specific project tasks are:

• Literature review on the topic (water reuse, nanofiltration, steroid hormone micropollutants, endocrine disruption, etc.)
• Determine micropollutant concentrations (ng/L) using (already established) analytical tools
• Perform membrane fouling characterization (scanning electron microscope, fractionation and deposited mass analysis) after fouling experiments to evaluate the partitioning.
• Analyze experimental data and write/co-author a joint research publication (in English).

Interested candidates will be considered for continuation in PhD at either institution.