Professor dr. Mark van Loosdrecht from Delft University of Technology is a world leader in environmental biotechnology, and has developed novel technologies for wastewater treatment, recovery of resources and transformation of waste into valuable resources. We are very pleased that Professor van Loosdrecht is now associated to Department of Chemistry & Bioscience, AAU as Distinguished Professor.

Professor van Loosdrecht is a remarkable researcher with a large impact that has revolutionized water and wastewater treatment. He has received numerous awards, including the very prestigious Stockholm Water Prize, he has been granted 21 patents, of which 12 are transferred to industry and used in current commercial processes. Many of these biotechnologies are now implemented across the globe. His research has significantly contributed to the understanding of how microorganisms can be used for recovery of resources and transformation of waste into valuable compounds for the benefit of humans and the environment.

The project “REThiNk - Recovery of extracellular polymers from wastewater treatment residuals as a new circular biopolymer” is a collaboration between Centre of Microbial Communities at Aalborg University, Aarhus University and Delft University of Technology.  The Novo Nordisk Foundation supports the project with 55 million Danish kroner (7,4 Mio. Euros) over the next five years.

REThiNk – Converting waste into valuable biopolymers

The world’s wastewater treatment plants produce millions of tonnes of sludge that is not exploited to its full potential today. Bacteria in sludge produce valuable biopolymers, which have a great potential to replace oil-based polymer for numerous applications. The REThiNk project will discover new ways to optimally recover biopolymers from sludge bacteria, combining circular economy and wastewater management to establish production facilities at the wastewater treatment plants.

This event is also a celebration of the start of REThiNk, and we hope all with an interest in the field of circular economy and microbiological research and innovation will join us in the auditorium and at the reception.