News2 – Page 12 – Water Research laboratory

Development of an integrated process

On 17th October 1st B-LIQ (Development of an integrated process for conversion of biomass to affordable liquid biofuel) Project partner meeting took place in Riga. The meeting was hosted by leading partner – RTU and was attended by partners from Indian Institute of Technology in Delhi and Estonian University of Life Sciences.

RTU 58th international scientific conference

On behalf of RTU 58th international scientific conference on 16^th October Water Research laboratory organized a seminar on Bioenergy Technologies. Within the event, reports about the latest achievements and research results in the fields of biogas and biofuel production, composting and algae biofuels were presented. Other topics discussed within the seminar included various environmental aspects and white biotechnology. The event was supported by Latvian National Research Programme No. 2014.10-4/VPP-1/27 Energy efficient and low-carbon solutions for a secure, sustainable and climate variability reducing energy supply (LATENERGI).

LIFE GRASSSERVICE project

From 10th to 12th of October Water Research Laboratory scientists Linda Mezule and Martins Strods participated in various informative and demonstration events for schoolchildren, students and local inhabitants of Sigulda municipality to inform about the availability of grassland resources and their application. On behalf of Water Research laboratory the demonstration of biobutanol production technology was performed.

More information can be found on LIFE GRASSSERVICE project web page:

http://grassservice.balticgrasslands.eu/en/

The next informative event and demonstration will be on 03.11.2017. for the entrepreneurs of Sigulda municipality.

Vide un enerģija 2017

Last week the representatives of the Water Research Laboratory, the Institute of Energy, the Institute of Industrial Electronics and Electrical Engineering, the Environmental Protection and Thermal Authority participated in the exhibition «Vide un enerģija 2017», where we were able to present our team’s work to the visitors of the exhibition and tell about the studies possibility at the Riga Technical University.

Visitors to our stand had an opportunity to get acquainted not only with our laboratories for newer products, but also ask questions to all our team members (http://wrl.bf.rtu.lv)! We presented our studies and talked about active pilot experiments implemented in the framework of projects such as Pilot watersheds as a practical tool to reduce the harmful inflows into the Baltic Sea – WATERCHAIN CB50 (https://www.facebook.com/centralbalticwaterchain/); Affordable technology for mitigation of membrane (bio)fouling through oPtimizatiOn of pre-treatMent And ClEAnIng methods – POMACEA (http://pomacea.com/); Energy efficient and low-carbon solutions for a secure, sustainable and climate variability reducing energy supply – LATENERGI (http://latenergi.rtu.lv/aktivitates.html); Alternative use of biomass for maintenance of grassland biodiversity and ecosystem services – LIFE GRASSSERVICE (http://grassservice.balticgrasslands.eu/biobutanola-razosanas-iespejas/). Visitors to the exhibition also had the opportunity to find out about our latest projects starting on October 2017 BEST – Hazardous Solutions for Industrial Wastewater Treatment and B-LIQ – Development of an integrated process for conversion of biomass to affordable liquid biofuel.

Thanks to RTU colleagues for a pleasing company these four days! Thank you to the questions you have been asked and the interest shown! Let’s meet in the next exhibitions!

RTU Gada Jaunā zinātniece 2017

On 14th of October was presented at the plenary session of the 155th anniversary of the Riga Technical University the award «RTU Gada Jaunā zinātniece 2017» for the Water Research Laboratory senior researcher Linda Mezule.

Career day’s event

On 13th of October WRL members Sandis Dejus, Viktorija Denisova and Kristina Tihomirova participated in Career day’s event. Together with 25 pupils from Riga 64th school they visited the Riga Water Supply Museum, drinking water treatment plant Baltezers and wastewater treatment plant Ādaži. Sandis showed a presentation about the sustainable use of drinking water, the comparison between tap and bottled water, as well as wastewater treatment processes.

The aim of the event was to introduce schoolers to different professions that are necessary to perform safe and qualitative water and wastewater treatment processes.

During the day pupils had an opportunity to see the eco-friendly bio-filter system for wastewater treatment developed by the Riga Technical University Water Research Laboratory (RTU WRL) scientists within the Central Baltic Sea region project «Pilot watersheds as a practical tool to reduce the harmful inflows into the Baltic Sea – WATERCHAIN CB50».

We are thankful to Rīgas ūdens Ltd and Ādažu ūdens Ltd for support and opportunity to visit these interesting historical and professionally important places!

Synergy in Research and Innovation 2017

On 09th of October head of Water Research Laboratory Talis Juhna spoke at the Wetsus Congress «Synergy in Research and Innovation 2017».

More information:
https://www.wetsus.nl/home/wetsus-news/wetsus-congress-2017

Assessment of Biogas Production Risks in the Baltic Sea Region from the Perspective of Management of Nutrient Matter

From 30th August to 31st August project «Assessment of Biogas Production Risks in the Baltic Sea Region from the Perspective of Management of Nutrient Matter» meeting took place in Riga. The project is attended by 7 partners – Aalto University (Finland), Gdansk Technical University (Poland), Chalmers Technical University (Sweden), Estonian Biogas Association, The University of Aarhus (Denmark), the Riga Technical University and the John Nurminen Foundation. The project aim is to reduce the risk of leakage of nutrients from the biogas production process in the Baltic Sea Region and a number of discharges from existing biogas equipment. Riga Technical University Water Research Laboratory is project coordinator.

Institute for Environmental Solutions

From 24th August to 2nd September Institute for Environmental Solutions (http://www.videsinstituts.lv) was hosting the first international summer school «Research and management of lake ecosystems» on lake ecology and management in Latvia (http://www.videsinstituts.lv/en/summer-school-on-lake-ecology/about-summer-school). Under the leadership of an international team of teachers, summer school participants had the opportunity to learn practical skills in lake surveys, and, in cooperation with business people, local people and local authorities, to develop recommendations for the management of the lake Ungurs. On August 30 our team’s leading researcher Kristīna Tihomirova, Linda Mežule and Vinda Ltd (http://www.vinda.lv/pak.php) representatives participated in summer school activities within WATERCHAIN project framework. During the day students had the opportunity to visit water and wastewater treatment plants and listened to a lecture on water and wastewater microbiology. Water Research Laboratory PhD student Aigars Lavrinovičs also take part in summer school. We thank Varis Ādamsons, Sandra Vasiļevska and Ivars Bērziņš for support, great technical work, active participation and opportunity to visit water and wastewater treatment utilities.

Participate in informative events on the use of grass biomass in the LIFE GRASSSERVICE project in Ludza

From 18th to 22nd September Water Research Laboratory scientists Linda Mezule and Martins Strods will participate in informative events on the use of grass biomass in the LIFE GRASSSERVICE project in Ludza. Within the framework of the activities, in cooperation with partners from SIA BioRe, are planned bioenergy technologies – the demonstration of biogas and biobutanol production facilities, as well as participation in informative seminars for Ludzas local businessmen, residents and students.

More information: http://www.ludza.lv/jaunumi/septembri-informativi-pasakumi-par-zales-resursu-izmantosanu/

In October, similar events are also planned in Sigulda.