Disinfection of Wastewater using Novel Technologies

Summary

• This project investigates how DMU-derived catalysts can improve the disinfection of wastewater systems.
• It focuses on developing and testing advanced treatment approaches that reduce microbial contamination, including bacteria, viruses and fungi.
• This knowledge will support safer and more sustainable water management by improving understanding of antimicrobial resistance, microbial tolerance and treatment effectiveness.
• The student will investigate wastewater disinfection strategies, assess antimicrobial resistance patterns, examine microbial tolerance to treatment chemicals and characterise free radical generation during treatment processes.
• While wastewater treatment is essential for protecting public health, microbial contamination and antimicrobial resistance remain significant challenges in water environments.
• Application Deadline: 5/6/2026

Background

Wastewater systems can act as important reservoirs for microbial contamination and antimicrobial resistance, creating potential risks for public health and the wider environment. This interdisciplinary PhD project will develop and apply DMU-derived catalyst systems to enhance wastewater disinfection through improved radical generation and targeted microbial control. The researcher will combine approaches from environmental engineering, microbiology and advanced oxidation processes to investigate how bacteria, viruses and fungi respond to treatment. They will assess antimicrobial resistance patterns, explore microbial tolerance to commonly used disinfectants and treatment chemicals, and examine potential links with cross-resistance to clinically relevant antibiotics. The project will also test novel catalyst technologies under realistic wastewater conditions, helping to validate their effectiveness, scalability and potential contribution to safer, more sustainable water treatment.