The department has a high focus on research into chemical and biological conversion of substances. We have a particular focus on remedying man-made pollution and their effects on the original life of water and soil. It is an area of increasing importance as a result of the ever-increasing development of new chemicals, the growing size of the population and the increasing pressure on welfare and water resources of the welfare. The research area has the potential to attract national and international funding as well as business cooperation.
At the department we work with themes such as:
The unique collaboration between the various research areas at Aarhus University creates a strong foundation for new knowledge, scientific breakthroughs and solutions to important societal challenges.
- Removal of environmental pollutants by biological processes: a research area in focus at the Department of Environmental Science (a "Strategic Growth Area", SGA)
Removal of environmental pollutants by metabolic processes deals with the biochemical challenges of degradation of environmental pollutants. Chemical properties, biochemical reactions of pollutants as well as microbial genetics and ecology influencing the degradation are the main focuses. Processes in the environmental compartments soil, ground-/drinking water as well as waste water are of specific interest. Biotechnological solutions, e.g. water treatment or soil bioremediation, are investigated with the aim to ensure quality and safety of fundamental environmental goods and services – hereunder clean water and fertile soil.