Developing innovative, circular solutions for wastewater treatment sludge

INCLUE Project Objectives

INCLUE will set up the first European doctoral training network on developing innovative, circular solutions for the treatment of sludge containing pollutants.

INCLUE will train 11 creative and entrepreneurially-minded DCs via an international, intersectoral and interdisciplinary research training program in the field of sludge pre-treatment combined with state-of-the-art bioconversion techniques and multi-level toxicity assessment, for the effective removal and/or recovery of both hazardous and valuable compounds from municipal and industrial sludges.

The success of the program is guaranteed via a unique combination of state-of-the-art PhD research, intersectoral secondments, international mobility and interdisciplinary platform-wide courses.

Research Objectives

Develop and optimise sustainable techniques to enhance the properties and composition of sludge through removal of (in)organic pollutants to eliminate any adverse effects for sludge application (i) in a subsequent bioconversion process or (ii) directly as a fertiliser on land.

Develop augmented fermentative bioconversion processes to produce renewable chemicals and fuels, and to recover nutrients from municipal and industrial sludges, potentially combined with pre-treatment technologies.

Create tools to assess the overall environmental performance of treated sludges towards toxicity, pollutant soil dynamics and agricultural
fertilising value in a combined decision support tool (WP3) for 5 different types of pollutants: pesticides, endocrine disrupting compounds, heavy metals, PFAS and antibiotics. Develop a socio-economic evaluation tool, to support decision-making and societal acceptance.

INCLUE: an interdisciplinary project and a truly intersectoral and international consortium

INCLUE RESEARCH FOCUS

WP1

Upgrading sludge properties via innovative treatment processes

WP2

Renewable chemicals and fuels production via augmented sludge bioconversion

WP3

Eco-Impact Assessment

News & Blog

Training the Next Generation of Scientists: DC3 Tiago Martins supervises Simon van Es

March 5, 2026

As part of the HORIZON Europe MSCA INCLUE Project, I had the opportunity to supervise a graduation internship in Analytical Chemistry. The internship was carried out at Nijhuis Saur Industries by Simon van Es, a student from HAN University of Applied Sciences. For me personally, this experience represented an important milestone in my PhD journey. It was my first time supervising a student from start to finish on this topic that I have been carrying for so long. I have had the opportunity to teach in different universities and countries,

Electrochemical Pathways for Metal Recovery: My Midterm PhD Update at PETLab

February 20, 2026

On 19 February 2026, I had the opportunity to present the latest developments of my PhD research at the KU Leuven PETLab Seminar, hosted at KU Leuven Campus De Nayer. The session was part of the Arenberg Doctoral School seminar series and attracted researchers and students interested in cutting-edge solutions for sustainable resource recovery. My presentation, titled “Turning sludge into resource: Electrochemical Strategies for Metal Recovery and Safe Sludge Reuse,” explored how wastewater sludge, often considered an environmental liability, can instead be transformed into a valuable resource. Wastewater sludge contains

A Chapter in Southern France: My Secondment at INRAE

January 20, 2026

During my PhD, I had the incredible opportunity to complete a secondment at INRAE in Narbonne, an experience that has left a lasting impact on me both professionally and personally. From a scientific perspective, this secondment was an intense and rewarding learning journey. I significantly deepened my practical analytical skills and expanded my knowledge in environmental research. Working alongside colleagues from diverse scientific backgrounds allowed me to view my research through new lenses and engage in valuable interdisciplinary discussions that both challenged and inspired me. Beyond the lab, the setting itself played

Finding Perspective in Patterns: Reflections from the Scottish Environmental & Analytical Chemistry Symposium

December 17, 2025

Conferences have a way of pulling you out of your own data and reminding you where your work fits in the bigger picture. I recently attended the 14th Scottish Environmental and Analytical Chemistry Symposium, hosted at the University of Aberdeen, where I presented a poster on my PhD research and spent a day immersed in discussions spanning environmental monitoring, analytical innovation, and applied chemistry. My poster focused on the development of array-based fluorescent sensing strategies for detecting micropollutants and assessing potential ecotoxicity in treated sewage sludge. Sludge is increasingly viewed

Encouraging Young Minds: Nitin Kumar Engages Pupils in Chemistry at Paracetamol Workshops

December 12, 2025

On 2 December 2025, University of Glasgow doctoral researcher Nitin Kumar (DC11) participated in a series of Paracetamol-themed laboratory workshops for a group of pupils who travelled from Dumfries. Aimed at providing hands-on experience in chemistry, the sessions introduced students to practical aspects of pharmaceutical science while offering a glimpse into life as a researcher. The workshops were divided into two parts. In the first half, Kumar and a couple of colleagues delivered a short talk about their academic journeys and research projects, sharing insights into the day-to-day work of

From Signals to Insights: Advancing My PhD Work on Sludge Sensing

December 5, 2025

Turning Sludge into a Story Sewage sludge might not sound glamorous, but it tells a fascinating chemical story.Rich in nutrients yet carrying micropollutants, from pharmaceuticals and endocrine-disrupting compounds to PFASs and industrial chemicals,it presents a unique challenge: how can we safely reuse it while monitoring contaminants effectively? A Cross-Reactive Sensor Array Our solution is a cross-reactive sensor array made of structurally diverse hosts: cucurbit[8]uril, cucurbit[7]uril, γ-cyclodextrin, hydroxypropyl β-cyclodextrin, sulfocalix[4]arene, and human serum albumin. Paired with fluorescent dyes, this system responds to host-guest interactions. Using fluorescence indicator displacement assays (FIDAs), we’ve