Technical Environmental Chemistry and Sensor Technology

The Bräutigam working group deals with novel water pollutants (emerging pollutants, pharmaceutical residues, dyes, industrial chemicals), their (real-time) determination and the development of innovative technical processes for efficient removal from water. Our research approach is thematically broad, often interdisciplinary and includes both knowledge-oriented basic research and applied research and development. Our approach implies an implementation on an industrial scale based on basic research on a laboratory scale, which is realized together with corresponding companies. We therefore also see our research as a bridge between academic basic research and concrete application. We also see interdisciplinarity as an opportunity and a necessity for successful research activities in our fields of work.

Research concentrates on various processes in the field of advanced oxidation processes, whereby in addition to cavitation and electrochemical, photo-(cata)-lytic and pyro- or piezoelectrocatalytic processes, classic processes such as Fenton, ozonation or oxidation with hydrogen peroxide and combinations of these are also being researched and further developed. The use of ceramic membranes in the field of micro-, ultra- and nanofiltration and sorption processes as well as combinations of these for various applications is also being investigated.

Anthropogenic (micro)pollutants such as pharmaceutical residues and industrial chemicals are the focus of the research group. In addition to the efficient and removal, the detection and quantification of these as well as the elucidation of the transformation products resulting from oxidative/reductive/microbiological substance conversion processes as well as the kinetics of the processes and the (eco)toxicological evaluation are of great interest.

In addition, research also focuses on the further development and optimization of cavitation processes. In addition to comparative studies on generation processes, their technological application potential and energy efficiency, this also includes the development and optimization of combination processes with, for example, electrochemical or photochemical material conversions.

Current topics include chemical-free continuous COD determination, the use of artificial intelligence methods for predictive models of degradability in technical treatment processes, pyro- or piezoelectrocatalysis, textile functionalization and the recovery of valuable substances from wastewater.