WWTBP-by-Microalgae — Dissemination, Exploitation & Impact

WWTBP-by-Microalgae

Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Postdoctoral Fellowship • Grant 101064763

Project Summary Video

Final period: Oct 2022 – Nov 2024

Dissemination, Exploitation & Career Development

WWTBP-by-Microalgae demonstrates how blue-green microalgae convert brewery wastewater into value — high-purity phycocyanin, biogas and biochar — while building open-science assets and skills for the circular bioeconomy.

>90%
Nutrients removed (NO₃⁻/PO₄³⁻)
~269 mg/L
Phycocyanin (peak yield)
9+
Outreach & events
Pilot-scale microalgae setup on brewery wastewater
Pilot-scale setup for brewery wastewater valorisation.

1) Scientific Dissemination — Publications

Open Access & Data Policy

  • Green OA via UGent Biblio; datasets on Zenodo (DataCite metadata, grant link).
  • Quality: SOPs, triplicates, instrument calibration; outlier handling.

2) International Events, Outreach & Media

Conference & Professional Contributions

Oct 1–5, 2023 — Poster · Closed Cycles & the Circular Society, Chania, Greece (Spirulina in anaerobically digested brewery effluent).
Jun 26–29, 2024 — Invited talk · Waste Recycling, Reuse & Carbon Emissions, Hangzhou, China (circular platform & HTC biochar).
2024 — Oral · AlgoNet Webinar Workshop (project results & methods).
Nov 2023 — 3-min pitch · UGent Postdoc Day (project overview).
Invited speaker session in Hangzhou, China
Invited speaker — Hangzhou, China (2024).

Public Engagement & Education

  • Info Day — CAPTURE Campus Ghent: 11 Mar 2023 & 16 Mar 2024.
  • Campus Day — Kortrijk: 24 Mar 2023.
  • Research Tours (UGent) — "Intro to Circular Economy": 24 Apr 2023 & 22 Apr 2024.
  • Stakeholder Event — industry briefing: 22 Oct 2023.
  • Lab Tour — ISA Lille MSc cohort: 29 Mar 2024.
  • UGent Science Day — public demos & CO₂-sequestration explainer.
Info Day at Kortrijk campus
Info Day — Kortrijk campus.
Info Day at CAPTURE Campus Ghent
Info Day — CAPTURE Campus Ghent.
UGent Postdoc Day pitch
UGent Postdoc Day — 3-minute pitch.

Public Presentation

Bahram Barati and Prof. Stijn Van Hulle during a public presentation
Public presentation — Dr. Bahram Barati & Prof. Stijn Van Hulle.

Digital Channels & Media

3) Data Management & Open Science

Data Types & Formats

  • OD growth & pigment quantification (.xlsx)
  • BMP biogas tests (.xlsx)
  • HTC/HTL outputs (char/oil/aqueous) (.xlsx, images)
  • GC/GC-MS fatty acids (.pdf, .xlsx)
  • SEM images (.jpeg/.tif); elemental analysis (.xlsx)
  • Water chemistry (HACH/IC/ICP-OES) (.xlsx)

FAIR, Repos & Licences

  • Deposits on Zenodo (DataCite metadata, ORCID, grant link); mirrored in UGent Biblio.
  • Quality: SOPs, triplicates, instrument calibration; outlier handling.

4) Training, Teaching & Knowledge Transfer

Skills & Courses

  • Wastewater analytics (HACH, IC, ICP-OES), reactor operation, pigment quantification, LCA.
  • TT skills: funding, contracts/IP, valorisation, patents & spin-off; science communication.
  • Career design modules; research data management; FWO grant writing.

Mentoring & Network

  • Supervision of MSc students; mentoring a PhD candidate.
  • BioCo/department seminars (bi-weekly); Algae Day Antwerp; B-IWA membership.
  • Industry touchpoints: breweries (e.g., Omer Vander Ghinste), WWTP (Aquafin) visit.

5) Exploitation Pathways & Career Development

Exploitation & Industry Links

  • Spin-off exploration with UGent Tech Transfer (modular algae WWTP add-ons).
  • Value streams: phycocyanin, omega-3/6, biogas, biochar; CO₂ recirculation.

Career Roadmap

2023 — TT skills, Algae Day, brewery & WWTP visits.
2024 — CAPTURE Days, invited talk, supervision, Research-to-Market.

6) Impact & Legacy

Scientific

  • Nutrient removal >90% in brewery wastewater polishing.
  • Phycocyanin up to ~269 mg/L from wet biomass.
  • Integration of AD & HTC for whole-biomass valorisation.

Societal & Economic

  • Stakeholder engagement & open days; increased awareness of algae technologies.
  • Turns compliance cost into product/value streams.
  • Strengthens workforce skills in circular bioeconomy.

Policy & Sustainability

  • Aligned with EU Green Deal & Circular Economy Action Plan.
  • FAIR data on Zenodo ensures reproducibility & re-use.

7) Resources & Links

8) FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

What is the main goal of the WWTBP-by-Microalgae project?

The project's primary goal is to use microalgae to treat brewery wastewater and convert the resulting biomass into high-value products like phycocyanin, biogas, and biochar, promoting a circular economy. The research focuses on an integrated approach, from wastewater treatment to the valorisation of the produced biomass.

What is phycocyanin and why is it important?

Phycocyanin is a natural blue pigment-protein complex found in certain types of algae, including Arthrospira platensis (Spirulina). It is important due to its high value as a natural food coloring agent and its potential health benefits, including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

How does this project contribute to sustainability?

The project contributes to sustainability by aligning with the EU's Circular Economy Action Plan and several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It transforms a waste stream into valuable resources, reduces environmental pollution by removing nutrients from wastewater, and provides a sustainable alternative to conventional wastewater treatment methods.

9) Contact & Credits

Credits

  • Dr. Bahram Barati — Postdoctoral Fellow, PI
  • Prof. Stijn Van Hulle — Supervisor, UGent
  • Project funded by European Union's Horizon Europe programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (Grant 101064763)

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