Phosphorus transport intern
Type of project:Â MSc thesis/internship
Starting date:Â Feb or Mar. 2026, a later starting time is possible
Duration:Â > 6 months (could be discussed)
Location:Â Wetsus, European Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Water Technology, Leeuwarden, the Netherlands
Salary: The maximum Wetsus allowance for this internship is 425 € per month. Grant holding students (i.e. Erasmus or other) receiving financial support of less than 425 € per month can apply for a top-up supplement to the maximum allowance.
Introduction:
Iron oxide adsorbents are widely used for phosphorus (P) removal from wastewater due to their high affinity and regeneration potential. However, the internal transport and distribution of P within these porous materials remain poorly understood — particularly how phosphorus and other coexisting elements (e.g., Ca, NOM) migrate and accumulate during long-term operation and regeneration cycles. Understanding these transport dynamics is crucial for improving adsorbent utilization efficiency and long-term regeneration performance.
This project aims to visualize and model the spatial transport and retention behavior of phosphorus inside granular iron oxide adsorbents. Using SEM-EDX imaging to map the internal elemental distribution and diffusion–reaction modeling to describe phosphorus migration and retention kinetics, the project seeks to link microscopic observations to macroscopic adsorption performance.
Your tasks:
- Conduct multi-cycle adsorption–regeneration batch/column experiments under controlled conditions.
- Prepare the adsorbents for SEM-EDX imaging to observe elemental penetration profiles.
- Develop or apply a diffusion–reaction model to interpret internal mass transport and reaction processes.
- Correlate imaging and modeling results to identify rate-limiting steps in P transport and regeneration.
Your profile:
- Currently enrolled in Master’s studies
- Background in environmental, chemical, physical, or material fields, whether in science or engineering disciplines
- Interest in adsorption, imaging, or process modeling.
- Good practical and experimental experience
- Good communication skills in English.
- Currently studying in the Netherlands or has citizenship from an EU country.
How to apply:
Please upload your CV (max. 2 A4 pages), a motivation letter (max. 1 A4 page), and a list of the attended courses in the application form. Feel free to contact Yuwei Huang (yuwei.huang@wetsus.nl) if you have further questions or need more information.
