Evaluation of biodegradation kinetics of organic micropollutants in a reed bed filter

Background:

Road runoff is known to contain heavy metals and organic pollutants, mainly originating from traffic. This runoff contribute to the degradation of receiving aquatic environments when discharged without treatment. Among recent nature based devices for runoff treatment, we find reed bed filters. In 2019, the city of Paris launched the European LIFE-ADSORB project to study the performance of this type of treatment on real scale in the Bois de Boulogne park by treating runoff from the ring highway. The main objectives of this project is to understand how micropollutants are retained and eliminated in order to to model their behavior and optimize the treatment. As the necessary modelling parameters cannot be determined in situ, laboratory experiments are necessary.

Missions:

The main objective of this internship is to set-up the most appropriate method to measure the biodegradation of organic micropollutants in a situation as close as possible to the field conditions. After a review of scientific literature, the degradation kinetics of pollutants such as PAHs or bisphenol-A will be determined in reed planted columns using hydraulic regime comparable to that of that in situ. The internship should allow the establishment of an experimental protocol that can then be used on a larger scale as part of the current project.

Profile:

2nd year University Master student or Engineering School student (4th year), specialized in environmental chemistry with knowledge of urban hydrology with good knowledge of analytical chemistry and organic chemistry tools in aquatic or porous environments, ease with environmental experimentation, intellectual rigor, understanding of technical documents in English, ability to work in a team and spirit of initiative are assets needed to fulfill the trainee’s missions