Evides Chair: Industrial and Circular Water Technology
Launched in 2016 with the support of Evides Industriewater, the Ghent University–Evides Chair develops scientific insight into sustainable water cycles in the process industry and optimises industrial water use. Its ambition is to be a leading, multidisciplinary hub for industrial water research with a broad industrial network. The Chair is embedded in the PaInT (Particle and Interfacial Technology) research group and the CAPTURE consortium, and was just renewed for its third term (2026-2031).
Objectives
Objectives of the Ghent University Evides Chair in Industrial and Circular Water Technology:
- Obtain scientific insights into a sustainable water cycle in the process industry through joint actions between UGent and Evides Industriewater.
- Solve problems in processes related to industrial water (re)use and improve the operational management of water-intensive industrial processes.
- Develop new processes and improve existing processes for optimised (industrial) water treatment processes.
- Together, PaInT, Evides and supporting groups from UGent, continue to develop a leading and multidisciplinary research centre in the field of industrial water, with a broad network and broad applicability in industry.
- Promote the field of industrial water production and treatment to the future generation of researchers and water professionals.
- Improve the visibility of Evides Industriewater with current and future industrial partners and within the academic sphere.
Donor
Period
2016-present
Chair Team
Chair coordinator: Dr. ir. Ivaylo Hitsov (PaInT, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering)
Academic supervisor: Prof. Emile Cornelissen (PaInT / KWR)
Networking and partnerships: Prof. Marjolein Vanoppen (PaInT, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering)
Since October 2023 the Chair has been coordinated by Ivaylo Hitsov, under the supervision of Emile Cornelissen, with Marjolein Vanoppen leading the Chair's networking and industrial-partnership activities.
Current Projects
BRINExCARB — management and treatment of concentrated industrial brine streams
CirCoVa — removal of chloride and phosphate from waste and concentrate streams in the food industry
ACT2FLEX — water flexibility and adaptive industrial water treatment
WATERFLEX — water flexibility through diversification of water sources
Cooling-cycle conditioning — cooling-water conditioning and corrosion, continued as a post-doc co-funded on the Chair
Completed Projects
AquaSPICE — reuse of cooling-tower blowdown, RO concentrate and difficult condensates; modelling of water quality, contamination and corrosion in cooling cycles
ISPT Condensate — reuse of condensate streams and material/water interactions
SOCORRO — corrosion and microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC)
RUSTICA — selective separation using electrochemical processes (ED/RED)
BioStable — biostability of drinking water and membrane-based fractionation of natural organic matter
IMPROVED — mobile pilot infrastructure for industrial water treatment and reuse
Links
https://www.ugent.be/bw/nl/onderzoek/evides-leerstoel (Dutch)
News
6/12/2016 - New chair for industrial and circular water technology – Engeeneringnet (Dutch)
29/11/2016- Evides launched a chair at Ghent University – Evides (Dutch)