Main areas
Project proposals considered relevant to waste water technology in Swedish water sector and those we work with different partners can be divided into sub- areas. Listed below are the most relevant research questions that are planned or in progress at SWIC, Sjöstadsverket Water Innovation Centre.
Resource-efficient water treatment
This includes the optimization of existing treatment processes, process control and measurement technology of mainstream, as well as sidestream. Increasing demands for emission reduction and stable operation means that many wastewater treatment plants need to optimize their existing processes. Process control and online measurement systems are crucial for optimizing and controlling water treatment processes. Concentrated sidestreams such as return sludge and reject water present an exciting opportunity to recover resources and extract clean products for reuse. SWIC offers access to various treatment processes and research opportunities for process optimization and measurement techniques, and great possibilities of various projects.
Energy and climate
This includes improved extractions and productions of energy from wastewater and sludge, such as increase of production capacity of biogas and fuel, and reuse of waste heat. Biogas extraction is one of the most discussed research issues within the water sector in Sweden, and it has been a significant part of the research conducted at SWIC. In addition, climate change will require adaptation of wastewater treatment plants, which also includes aspects such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions from treatment processes and resource-efficient water treatment. SWIC is frontline in measurement of GHG and our research in resource recovery and circular treatment system.
Supplementary water treatment
Post-treatment (polishing) may be required to improve the removal of e.g., metals, pharmaceutical residues, personal hygiene products and pathogenic micro-organisms from the treated wastewater that is considered to be “clean”. This requires the development of innovative water treatment processes and products to meet the increasingly stringent water quality targets as well as to enable water recycling, such as the reuse of treated wastewater as drinking water.
Wastewater systems
This includes projects related to both waste water systems and sources of pollution. Flow variations and pollutant discharge from certain operations and industries are the main cause of problems in today's wastewater treatment plants. SWIC's various lines enable investigations into the impact of different substances on different treatment processes, and finding treatment solutions.