Lettinga Award 2007 - Focus on the chemical industry

The Lettinga Award was initiated in 2001 and financed by three Dutch Environmental Engineering companies: Paques Natural Solutions B.V., Royal Haskoning and Biothane Systems International. The purpose of this award is to stimulate innovation in the field of anaerobic technology for wastewater treatment aiming at cleaner production or recycling, sustainable development and/or resource conservation. This may concern sustainable treatment concepts of industrial or domestic wastewater, and also activities that are focused on awareness, implementation, knowledge transfer and demonstration of sustainable environmental biotechnologies. The innovative projects that can be submitted may take place all over the world, in both developed and less developed countries. This year's focus is on the chemical industry.

The chemical industry is faced with an ever-pressing need to find cost effective and sustainable solutions for wastewater treatment. Anaerobic technologies offer important potentials for removing organic pollutants from high strength industrial effluents. However, as effluents from the chemical industry may contain compounds that are recalcitrant or affect the treatment process, many challenges remain as to the application of anaerobic treatment technology.

Do you have an innovative anaerobic thought that can stimulate the implementation of anaerobic technology within the chemical industry? Then use the opportunity that the third Lettinga Award offers you. The prize of 25.000 euro might help you to get a start with your project.

You have until April 1st 2007 to send in a proposal. For more information on the award and the selection procedure please visit our website www.leaf-water.org, where you can also download the notes for applicants and the application form.

The contact person for all your questions on the Lettinga Award is Darja Kragic (Darja.Kragic@wur.nl).