Treatment of Wastewater Containing Heavy Metals (Shanghai, China)

Background
China’s fast growing industry is generating huge and growing amounts of wastewater containing heavy metals. Furthermore, China has unresolved problems with drinking water which contains heavy metals, especially in the mining areas in the north. To treat such effluents, a cheap, robust and efficient adsorbent is required.

Objectives / Expected Results
A special adsorbent for wastewater treatment, FERROPORE, has been developed at UMTEC. It consists of a foam glass with embedded iron particles and has been shown to adsorb different heavy metals from industrial wastewater especially copper and zinc.
The scope of this project is to further investigate the capabilities of FERROPORE for other contaminants, e.g. chromate, phosphate, arsenic and antimony. Also, it is planned to initiate “real life” application projects.
Another objective is the development of a research-partnership between universities in Switzerland and China. This partnership should encompass an exchange of technology and educational services. The experimental work of the above project will be carried out by exchange students of ECUST and HSR.
In 2003, a student exchange program between the University of Applied Sciences at Rapperswil HSR and the East China University of Science and Technology at Shanghai ECUST had been initiated. Each year, two students from HSR write their diploma theses at ECUST and two students from ECUST participate in a trainee program at HSR. This program is now continued as part of this project. In addition to the student exchange program it is intended to also start up a professor’s exchange program for strengthening the mutual partnership. This exchange program is not only focussed on the professional aspects but it is also geared towards furthering a better understanding of foreign cultures. Such international activities are of great value for the professional development of young engineers.

Timeframe
2 years (from September 2005 to September 2007)

Contact
Prof. Dr. Rainer Bunge
University of Applied Sciences HSR,
Institute for Environmental and Process Engineering UMTEC
Oberseestrasse 10; CH-8640 Rapperswil
E-Mail: rbunge@hsr.ch; Internet: www.umtec.ch
Prof. Dr. Lu Jun
East China University of Science and Technology ECUST
Meilong Road; Shanghai-200237, PR China
E-Mail: lujun@ecust.edu.cn; Internet: www.ecust.edu.cn