PhD Research

Project background and problem:

The main cause of water pollution in many countries is now from diffuse non-point sources that are
difficult to control and manage. Whilst the long-term solution to such problems is changes in landuse
and management, such measures take time to become effective so low-cost treatment
systems based on the reactive filter concept, are required within waterbodies in the short-term and
in instances where contaminants are released from aquatic sediments. Many systems designed for
treating diffuse water pollution have appeared to be effective when tested at the laboratory or pilotscale
but fail in field-scale situations, frequently because a suitable flow regime cannot be
maintained. The design of such systems must take into account the need for continued reactivity
between water and filter matrix (e.g. lime diffusion in acid mine drainage treatment systems) and
the avoidance of clogging and coating problems which reduce the hydraulic conductivity of the filter.
These twin constraints need to be investigated using a combination of filtration/clogging theory to
predict hydraulic and diffusive properties as a function of flow conditions, and diffusion controlled
reaction theory, to predict constraints on pollutant removal rate imposed by filter conditions and
design. The aims of this project are to improve understanding of the underlying processes that
cause diffuse water pollution treatment systems to fail in the field and use this information to
suggest designs for more effective systems.

Supervisors: Dr. Kate Heal (University of Edinburgh)

                 Dr. Andy Vinten (The Macauley Institute)

                 Dr. David Lumsden (The Macauley Institute)