Veronika Hellwig, Professor of Analytical Chemistry and Instrumental Analytics and Dagmar Willkomm, Professor of in vitro-Diagnostics and Microbiology have successfully received multi-year funding for the research project MAAKOMal – Microbial degradation of deposits in the sewer network – optimization in a model test facility acquired. They will work on the project together with biotechnologists Jyoti Sharma (Ph.D.) and Nethra Machamada Deviah (M.Sc.) until 2027 Center for Industrial Biotechnology (CIB) the TH Lübeck – in close cooperation with the company ABiTEP GmbH from Berlin and the Lübeck waste disposal companies.
Grease deposits in the sewer network cause high renovation costs
Households and businesses discharge greasy wastewater into the network every day. Sewer walls and pipes are covered in this fat – up to house-sized fatbergs. A few years ago, images of huge fatbergs from London’s sewer network went around the world. The problem doesn’t just exist in London – sewer network operators around the world regularly struggle with it.
The consequences are clogged, smelly sewer networks and damaged pipes. The sewer network operators have to renovate the networks in an energy- and cost-intensive manner. The chemicals used here end up in the sewer network and thus in the environment.
Microorganisms against fatbergs
There are already microbiological additives on the market that are used to combat fatty deposits and blockages in the home. However, there is currently a lack of scientific studies that are needed as a basis before use in sewer networks
says Veronika Hellwig, spokeswoman for the CIB competence center.
Develop a new model test facility and test it in practice
In close consultation with the two cooperation partners, a laboratory-scale model test facility is being developed and set up at the CIB, which depicts typical problem areas in the sewer network. The use of microbiological additives should be systematically examined and tested in this facility. In what way can sewer network operators use such additives? What effect do the substances have and what possible side effects and residues arise? Finally, a test in a sewer network is planned to check the model test system in practice.
FH Cooperative: Knowledge and technology transfer
The project is carried out by the research measure at universities of applied sciences in cooperation with companies (FH Kooperativ). Federal Ministry for Research, Technology and Space funded with 504,000 euros until June 2027. The aim of the FH Cooperative Funding is to strengthen the transfer of knowledge and technology between universities of applied sciences and companies in order to enable the cooperation partners to develop innovative solutions for operational practice.