The Sewer Processes & Network Group (SPN-Group) at the Section of Environmental Engineering, Aalborg University, Denmark is internationally a leading research group within the area of biological and chemical process engineering of sewer networks. The SPN-Group that was established in the mid 1980ies consists today of Professor Thorkild Hvitved-Jacobsen, Associate professor Jes Vollertsen, Associate professor Asbjørn Haaning Nielsen and Assistant professor Kai Bester. The group includes about 10 Ph.D. students, research assistants and research students.

The group has – based on its fundamental insight in sewer processes and technologies – been involved in a great number of international scientific programs and several extensive engineering projects in both Denmark and abroad.

The group has an extensive publication record in terms of books, book chapters and papers published in international recognized journals and proceedings. The SPN-Group has produced more than 250 publications.

The scientific work within the group is linked to engineering applications. At present, main research activities comes within the following three areas:

 

In-sewer processes projects with focus on hydrogen sulfide problems (health risks, odor and concrete corrosion), sulfide control technologies and wastewater treatment process developments in terms of interactions between sewers and treatment plants. Based on 20 years of research within in-sewer processes, the group has established a conceptual understanding of the chemical and biological processes in sewers. A corresponding integrated sewer process model WATS (Wastewater Aerobic/anaerobic Transformations in Sewers) is developed by the group.

 

Sewer network development projects with focus on improved design and management of networks for collection and transport of wastewater and runoff from urban areas and highways. Such projects relate to exfiltration from leaking sewers, sewer rehabilitation, sewer ventilation and cost-effective methods for sewer network development.

Urban and highway drainage makes up a problem for city and municipal engineers but is also a potential in terms of “water in the city”. Chemical and biological process engineering of both combined sewer overflows and stormwater runoff from urban areas and highways have for 25 years been central activities at the SPN-Group. Recently, treatment of urban and highway runoff combined with the development of solutions that improve the recreational and ecological value of stormwater systems while achieving cost-effective solutions have been in focus.

Pollutants in wastewater and stormwater - sources, fate and treatment.