ACT Award 2021

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are man-made compounds with useful characteristics, but when exposed to humans, these PFAS compounds can cause several health issues. Case-owner Geofoxx is an environmental expertise agency, and wanted to know more about degrading PFAS compounds. The ACT student team was asked to give advice on what steps should be taken to apply Acidimicrobium sp. A6 in the remediation of PFAS in soil.

The ACT student team conducted a literature study and held interviews with international experts. The students wrote a advice report on the development of bacterial remediation technologies of PFAS contaminants in soil and groundwater in the Netherlands. Furthermore, they created a poster of the project.

Case-owner DELTA21 is working on the DELTA21 Haringvliet project that tackles three challenges: flood risk safety, sustainable energy storage and nature restoration. This concept can be applied to deltas and estuaries. The ACT student team was asked to give advice on the possibilities of establishing a sustainable and attractive nature park along the coast of Voorne and Goeree.

The ACT student team conducted a literature research and held interviews. The ACT student team wrote a comprehensive, hand-on advice on four pillars: 1) Park Regulations and Criteria, 2) Hydrological and Morphological processes, 3) Ecology and Nature restoration, and 4) (National) Park set-up. Furthermore, the students designed a digital flyer.

Strict regulations on pesticide usage have resulted in limited products on the pesticide market. Case-owner Woodchem-DeBroers wanted to have more insight in basic substances, who appear to have a positive perspective in crop protection with little known risks to the plants or environment. The ACT student team was asked to provide insight and knowledge in the mechanism of basic substances in relation to their potential use in plant protection.

The ACT student team focused on fungicides, 10 basic substances were selected. The ACT student team developed a decision support tool enables the case-owner to select potential basic substance candidates for solo or combinational use in crop protection. Furthermore, the ACT student team wrote a report with scientific information about the mechanism of the 10 basic substances in relation to their potential use in plant protection.

Decaffeinated coffee can be created through decaffeination process, although this leads to additional expenses, reduced profits and altered taste. Case-owner Jacobs Douwe Egberts wants more insight into the feasibility of using genetic modification to produce decaffeinated coffee plants. The ACT student team was asked to investigate this and carry out a risk analysis for introducing this product to the Western market.

The ACT student team wrote a literature review about the state of art in genetic modification of C. arabica and C. canephore and how caffeine biosynthesis pathway can be modified to produce caffeine-free coffee plants. Furthermore, The ACT student team provided a risk and opportunity analysis about introducing a gene edited, caffeine-free coffee product on the Western market.

Case-owner Kiremko is curious about the valorisation of waste streams in the potato processing industry. The ACT student team is asked to provide a better understanding of the technical and economic viability of the valorisation of potato processing waste and wastewater treatment of the client.

The ACT student team wrote an academic report which was divided into three parts: 1) a market research, 2) the biorefinery processes, and 3) an economic analysis. The economic, regulatory and technical feasibility of on-site waste streams valorisation by biorefinery processes and wastewater treatment has been studied, taking a middle-sized potato processing plant as a model. Next to this, the students developed a poster of the main results of the project.