Water Treatment & Technology

Circular Water Technologies

To secure freshwater availability, local water circulation and the use of alternative water sources is crucial. Meeting water quality standards in this context requires new water treatment solutions that are affordable and efficient. Wageningen Food & Biobased Research is challenging this by developing technological onsite solutions for water purification, nutrient recovery and microbiological safe water, as well as by developing water treatment products that are biobased, biodegradable and safe.

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Food-Water-Energy Nexus

Climate change is making clean fresh water scarce in regions previously unfamiliar with the phenomenon. Striving for sustainability and circularity is therefore increasingly important. Companies want to reuse water efficiently, without having negative side effects, and preferably at low cost. In the agri-food sector, freshwater is essential for crop growth, as a food ingredient and for food processing. Next to this food-water nexus, there is a strong relation between water and energy. Climate change and geopolitical issues are also putting pressure on energy availability. Water technologies can play an important role to reduce the current burden on energy demand. Wageningen Food & Biobased Research helps companies to close water cycles with smart, integrated solutions for water treatment and recovery of valuable compounds. When applicable this is combined with nature based solutions (NBS).

Practical solutions for water treatment

Other sectors also face challenges concerning optimum water processing as a vital part of their industrial activities. Disturbing phenomena like corrosion, microbiological growth, and pollution, need to be addressed with water treatment technologies and specific chemical products. We translate conceptual knowledge from Wageningen University into practical solutions that allow companies to effectively solve their water problems. We are frontrunners in the expertise fields of water and nutrients reuse, removal of salts and polluting agents, and microbial safety by disinfection. We can offer a mix of techniques to achieve this, comprising (electro)membrane technology, chromatography, adsorption, extraction, advanced oxidation and drying. In addition, we have extensive knowledge of biobased, biodegradable and safe additives as fully-fledged alternatives to chemical, poorly degradable and fossil-based substances. Collectively, these solutions contribute to the transition to a circular, bio-based economy with lower CO2 emissions and less impact on climate change.

Working on solutions

Wageningen Food & Biobased Research is working on various solutions within this research programme: