Tiago Martins, our DC3 PhD candidate from KU Leuven and Nijhuis Saur Industries, has officially started the first part of his secondment at WatchFrog, a leading biotechnology company specialising in endocrine disruption testing. This marks a significant step in his research on the sustainable treatment of sludge.
of Electrowinning on Sludge Toxicity
Building on his expertise in electrochemical sludge treatment, Tiago’s secondment will focus on evaluating how electrowinning— the technique he is using to extract metals—affects the endocrine-disrupting potential and toxicity of various sludge types. By using WatchFrog’s advanced bioassays, XETA (Xenopus Eleutheroembryonic Thyroid Assay) and REACTIV (Rapid Estrogen Activity In Vivo), he will assess biological responses to sludge treated under different electrochemical conditions, together with Sara Cvetkovics.
This secondment is guided by three goals: evaluate variations in sludge toxicity following electrowinning operation conditions; correlate chemical and ecotoxicological data for a deeper understanding of treatment effects; determine the optimal electrowinning conditions that minimise both metal contamination and endocrine-disrupting potential.
Tiago’s placement at WatchFrog provides a unique opportunity to combine laboratory-based toxicology with real-world sludge treatment applications. Collaborating with ecotoxicology experts and environmental engineers, he will gain practical insights into how electrowinning can be fine-tuned to make sludge safer and more suitable for resource recovery.
“Understanding the toxicity profile of treated sludge is essential to unlock its potential as a resource, rather than a waste,” says Tiago. “This secondment will allow me to bridge the gap between electrochemical treatment and biological safety—two critical aspects of circular wastewater management that need to be weighed in the definition of optimal conditions.”
Stay tuned for updates from WatchFrog as Tiago continues his work on the frontlines of innovation in wastewater treatment.