Gernjak, Wolfgang

Wolfgang Gernjak  is a research professor who aims to innovate in the ways in which we treat water, applied to water reuse, desalination and drinking water supply, to realize a vision of smart cities and societies. soft and sensitive to water. Specifically, he is an expert in many innovative advanced oxidation or membrane filtration processes, such as reverse osmosis, but also has extensive knowledge in many other processes. The focus of his research is on technological innovation. For example, he works on researching new membrane processes, such as direct osmosis, or innovative lighting solutions for UV-driven advanced oxidation processes (using vacuum UV or LEDs). A key aspect is that these technologies are evaluated in the context of complete treatment trains or more comprehensively, as building blocks of solutions for cities. His research on water treatment technology is generally closely related to the control of water quality risks for end users, including trace organic pollutants, disinfection by-products and also pathogens. Several new projects and activities began in 2020. The H2020 iWAYS project develops heat and water recovery solutions for various industries, implementing circular economy principles. The main technology studied by ICRA is membrane distillation. He started the projects funded by the Generalitat de Catalunya SUGGEREIX, which develops a decision-making support system for the treatment of regenerated water, and the TRAÇA project, which develops the knowledge base for Catalan action in the protection of drinking water supplies in the Baix Llobregat region and Barcelona. Both projects are intrinsically linked to his ongoing INVEST project, financed by the AEI. In terms of new treatment technologies, collaboration with Wetsus (Netherlands), Trojan Technologies (Canada) and others continues to develop innovative oxidation processes based on vacuum UV radiation. Within the MSCA EJD NOWELTIES program, he supervises two doctoral thesis started in 2020, one on catalytic ozonation and another on the development of plasma-initiated oxidation processes. The later is also closely linked to the project CA19110 – Plasma applications for smart and sustainable agriculture, which also started in 2020.

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