I am a postdoctoral researcher in environmental engineering with a focus on Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) for wastewater treatment and sewage sludge dewatering. I have contributed to several international projects, including oil-produced water treatment in Oman, domestic and industrial wastewater management in Iran, and sludge treatment reed beds in Portugal. Currently, I am based in Denmark, working on the monitoring and mitigation of PFAS and pharmaceuticals in sludge treatment reed beds.
My current research within the FERTIPAS project (funded by The Independent Research Fund Denmark) focuses on the development and optimization of advanced destructive technologies for persistent organic pollutants in sewage sludge. The central objective is to eliminate Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) and antibiotics to ensure the safety and viability of sludge-derived fertilizers for agricultural reuse, thereby supporting circular economy principles.
Key Activities:
Electrochemical Oxidation (EO) Development: I am primarily investigating Electrochemical Oxidation as a high-efficiency, non-selective method for the on-site destruction of PFAS and other micropollutants.
Process Optimization: The work involves testing anode materials and optimizing crucial operational parameters (e.g., current density, matrix concentration, and electrode configuration) to maximize defluorination and mineralization rates in complex sludge digestates and concentrates.
Contaminant Mass Balance: I am performing rigorous analytical work to track the fate and degradation pathways of both long- and short-chain PFAS, ensuring complete contaminant destruction without forming hazardous intermediates.
This research contributes directly to transforming wastewater sludge from a waste management challenge into a safe, reusable resource.
