Silvia Bentancur Caballero earns PhD for research on phosphorus removal efficiency
On 24 June, Silvia Bentancur Caballero from Uruguay defended her PhD thesis on the evaluation of the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) of the UPM pulp industry in her country to improve phosphorus (P) removal efficiency. She has been awarded a doctoral degree for her research. Her promotors are Professor Damir Brdjanovic and Prof. Hector Garcia Hernandez and her copromotor Dr. Carlos Lopez Vazquez.
Reducing phosphorus discharge to zero
My PhD contributes to a better world, in Uruguay we have rivers with eutrophication problems. This is due to the high load of nutrients that arrive from human activities, such as agriculture, livestock and industrial activity. By understanding and evaluating the WWTP of a cellulose pulp mill in Uruguay, my research helps to reduce the discharge of P to the Uruguay River almost to zero.
Balancing PhD research with academic work
I am proud of everything I accomplished at the Catholic University of Uruguay, where I have worked since the start of my PhD. I designed and constructed a new environmental engineering laboratory, creating a research line in wastewater treatment. I also designed the curriculum for a degree in environmental engineering, which did not exist previously in Uruguay. I trained and supervised undergraduate and graduate students with their research theses. I was part of many research projects linked to the industry and environment.
I will never forget the SENSE course in the Netherlands; when we walked through a path with many obstacles with our eyes covered, to show us that this was going to happen in real life to each PhD candidate. I thought this is not going to happen to me, I was sure I can do it without problems in the expected time. However, I faced some obstacles; in the final stage the publication of some articles and the preparation of thesis document took more time. I also became a mother (twice) during my PhD which also effected the duration.
The most challenging part of my PhD studies was finding a good balance between my research and the academic activities part of my work. My PhD had a sandwich structure in both Uruguay and the Netherlands. It involved several tasks; academic management, teaching, and linking the industry to the research.
Less treatment for the purification of drinking water
My PhD research could lead to the application of a post-treatment in the pulp mill I evaluated to increase the removal of phosphorus in the treatment system. This would mean almost zero discharges of concentrations of phosphorus to the Uruguay river. This would result in less eutrophication of water courses and a reduction in the generation of cyanobacteria, which in turn would mean a reduction in the amount of treatment required for the purification of drinking water.
Solving real environmental problems
In the next few years, I hope to have more research projects and remain to be linked to the industry. Solving real environmental problems is something I am excited about and find challenging. I will also continue with training engineers and connecting with people who are interested in my line of research.
Manage your expectations
If I could give some advice to new PhD candidates is to manage your expectations. It is possible to finish your PhD in four years if you are at IHE Delft and TU Delft and dedicated. In my case, I took courses in Delft and I did my experimental part in Uruguay, along with a lot of other activities part of my job at the Catholic University in Uruguay. I wanted to finish my PhD in four years, but this was not possible. I decided to take a step aside and focus on my family.
"I will never forget the SENSE course in the Netherlands; when we walked through a path with many obstacles with our eyes covered, to show us that this was going to happen in real life to each PhD candidate. "
Thesis title and summary
The title of Bentancur Caballero’s thesis: Plant-wide modelling of the UPM pulp mill wastewater treatment plant in Uruguay
This research evaluates the performance of a state-of-the-art pulp mill, UPM, wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) focusing on phosphorus (P). The WWTP, designed for a daily influent flow of around 73,000 m3, applies a conventional aerobic activated sludge system. Utilizing BioWin software, that involves an integrated activated sludge/anaerobic digestion model, the WWTP was effectively modelled describing both current and historical WWTP operation. The model allows for predicting diverse future scenarios. Various approaches were explored to reduce effluent TP concentration, including introducing an anaerobic phase and chemical phosphorus removal (CPR). Additionally, resource recovery potential was assessed, considering methane production from secondary sludge and P recovery as struvite. Lab-scale studies investigated CPR operational factors like chemical additives, pH, temperature, and polymer doses, highlighting optimal conditions for total phosphorus (TP) removal. The research also examined the biological removal of P in a lab-scale sequencing batch reactor (SBR) under fully aerobic conditions. Both co-precipitation and post-precipitation CPR approaches were considered for their efficacy in TP meeting discharge standards. Overall, the study aimed to enhance WWTP performance, exploring innovative strategies for P removal and resource recovery in the context of a pulp mill environment.
Thank you note
I deeply appreciate my promotor Dr. Hector García and Prof. Damir Brdjanovic and my co-promotor Dr. Carlos Lopez Vazquez for their invaluable support and guidance throughout this journey. Their knowledge and patience have been crucial to my personal and academic development. Each of you has left an indelible mark on my life and professional training. Thank you for believing in me and for always being willing to help me achieve my goals.
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