Institute for Sanitary Engineering, Water Quality and Solid Waste ...

Chair of Hydrochemistry and Hydrobiology
Biology
Research topics:
• Biological degradation and risk
assessment of pollutants, chemicals,
and organic solid substrates
as well as polymers
• Development of specific test
equipments
• Low-tech effective biological water
treatment with biodegradable
polymers
• Biological remediation of organic
pollutants from contaminated
aquifers
The biology section deals with methods for investigation of the biological degradation of pollutants, chemicals,
solid organic substances and polymers in water and the soil. The focal points of our work include remediation
methods and measuring and verification methods.
In many cases of biological degradation, a thorough verification of the fate of substances and their intermediate
products is required, in order to address the hazard of accumulation in the environment. To be able to classify a
substance as “completely degradable“, its conversion to mineralization products must be proven. This is why the
Sapromat, designed at the institute, was enhanced to facilitate the verification of complete, aerobic, biological
degradation of an organic substance to carbon dioxide, water and biomass. Further inhouse developments, the
“Denimat“ and the “Methanomat“, allow automated degradation investigations under anoxic and anaerobic conditions.
Typical problems involved with drinking water supplies in rural areas include the high nitrate and pesticide content
in groundwater. Using our invention, which utilizes biodegradable polymers as carrier substances and as a
source of carbon for a single-stage process in water treatment, it is possible to achieve simultaneous biological
nitrate and pollutant elimination in drinking water treatment, in wastewater treatment, and in fish production and
aquariums.
Numerous groundwater reservoirs in Germany are polluted by industrial pollutants. Chlorinated solvents are
among the most widespread substances. Investigations aimed at the remediation of contaminated areas are carried
out within the context of a programme sponsored by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research. The aim
of this project is to gain an understanding of the fundamentals involved in the participation of microorganisms in
the conversion of volatile organic hydrocarbons.
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