Roberta Hofman PhD MSc

Roberta Hofman works as a senior scientist on the Water Treatment team. She mainly works with two types of processes to remove (mainly organic micro)pollutants from water: adsorption and oxidation. In adsorption, she studies the interaction between the surface of an adsorbent and the substances to be removed. For an absorbent, she uses specially developed materials in addition to active carbon (affinity adsorption). This last research took place within the European TAPES project (with e.g. TZW) and a TKI project, and is followed-up by a new TKI project and a STOWA project. Mathematical modelling of adsorption processes is beocmer more and more important. In (advanced) oxidation, pollutions e.g. under the influence of UV rays or ozone, are broken down to make biodegradable compounds or even CO2 and water. Modelling the process plays an important role in reaching a better understanding of the process and in optimising the conditions and reactors. Research into the removal of medication from drinking water was done e.g. in the context of the European DEMEAU project (with partners including EAWAG), and Roberta researched the removal of medication from wastewater in the context of a TKI project at Panheel sewage treatment, and with drinking water companies. She also studied the formation of possible by-products. Apart from adsorption and oxidation processes, Roberta is involved in research in conventional treatment processes (coagulation/flocculation/sedimentation, filtration and softening). Furthermore, she is a member of the Dutch Crisis Expert Team environment and drinking water (CET-md), and works for the communication department of KWR. One day a week she works as a visiting researcher at Wageningen University and Research, in the Environmental Technology department (ETE).