Master Thesis – Reuse of effluent from industrial wastewater treatment

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About you and this role

We are looking for you, an ambitious master’s student (m/f), to support our Energy & Environmental Operations department by doing an internship project in Reuse of effluent from industrial wastewater treatment plant as additional water source for our location in Böhlen, Germany.

Dow is offering great career opportunities in a global and international environment.
The department that will welcome you is Energy & Environmental Operations. It is a department responsible for the supply with power, fresh water, cooling water, demineralized water, different technical gases, and chemicals. Wastewater treatment belongs to the area of responsibilities as well.

Project description

At the Dow site Böhlen the fresh water is obtained from two sources, the river Weisse Elster, and the reservoir Witznitz. The location is in a water-stressed region. For this reason, Dow is committed to not only improving internal water use and recycling, but also seeking alternative sources of water by establishing the recycling of wastewater. Considering the expectation of making remarkable progress, two of the available streams are suitable feed for recycling. These sources are cooling tower blowdown (CTBD) and wastewater from Dow's own industrial wastewater treatment plant (WWTP).

Within the scope of this master thesis, the potential use of both streams will be identified and evaluated. The required treatment steps will be evaluated and discussed, considering technological and economical aspects.

The following aspects should be included in the thesis:

• Description and evaluation of CTBD and industrial WWTP effluent in terms of quality and quantity for suitability as process water
• Literature research for best practice examples on the reuse of CTBD and industrial WWTP effluent for industrial purposes
• Selection of necessary technologies for further treatment to achieve the required water qualities on site
• Development of possible utilization scenarios for the site for the treated WWTP effluent
• Selection of the most suitable scenario for WWTP effluent reuse based on techno-economic assessment

Qualifications

• You are currently studying for a master's degree or equivalent in process engineering, chemical engineering or environmental engineering
• You have a good working knowledge of German and English
• MS office skills
• Basic data analysis understanding required
• Good communication skills

Additional notes

You can start between May – July 2024 for a period of at least 6 months (exact timing to be discussed).

About Dow

Dow (NYSE: DOW) is one of the world’s leading materials science companies, serving customers in high-growth markets such as packaging, infrastructure, mobility and consumer applications. Our global breadth, asset integration and scale, focused innovation, leading business positions and commitment to sustainability enable us to achieve profitable growth and help deliver a sustainable future. We operate manufacturing sites in 31 countries and employ approximately 35,900 people. Dow delivered sales of approximately $45 billion in 2023. References to Dow or the Company mean Dow Inc. and its subsidiaries. ​​​​Learn more about us and our ambition to be the most innovative, customer-centric, inclusive and sustainable materials science company in the world by visiting .

As part of our dedication to the diversity of our workforce, Dow is committed to equal opportunities in employment.  We encourage every employee to bring their whole self to work each day to not only deliver more value, but also have a more fulfilling career. Further information regarding Dow's equal opportunities is available on .

Summary

• Location: Boehlen (DEU)
• Type: Full time