As part of the PHYBIOMED project, funded by the Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA) programme, and within the framework of the Erasmus+ Staff Training Mobility Programme (STT) under the Higher Education Mobility Actions (KA131 and KA171), Dr. Lokmane Abdelouahed, Dr. Zineb Boutamine, and PhD student Dounia-Zed Souitah were honored to visit Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa at the invitation of Prof. Dr. Cevza Melek Kazezyılmaz Alhan and her team.
This mobility provided an excellent opportunity to strengthen academic exchanges between the two institutions, discuss the progress of the PHYBIOMED project, share scientific knowledge and expertise, and explore future collaborative research activities. The meetings were highly productive and further reinforced the partnership between the consortium members, contributing to the project's objective of developing innovative and sustainable solutions for wastewater valorization, resource recovery, and circular economy approaches in the Mediterranean region.
Discussion During Working Meeting in Istanbul
As part of the PHYBIOMED project activities, a productive working meeting was held at Istanbul-Cerrahpaşa University, hosted by Prof. Cevza Melek Kazezyılmaz Alhan, bringing together representatives from the French, Algerian, and Turkish partner institutions.
The meeting began with an introduction of the participating teams. Prof. Melek and Prof. Sezai presented their research groups, including senior researchers, postdoctoral fellows, PhD candidates, and interns. Special attention was given to the members directly involved in PHYBIOMED, highlighting their expertise, expected contributions, and roles within the project.
Prof. Melek presented the progress achieved by her team and shared their long-term vision, which closely aligns with the objectives and philosophy of the PHYBIOMED project, particularly regarding sustainable water management and resilience strategies during environmental and water-related crises.
The Algerian partner, represented by Dr. Zineb Boutamine from the École Nationale Polytechnique de Constantine (ENPC), introduced the team’s activities within PHYBIOMED, with a particular focus on wastewater treatment technologies based on photocatalytic processes and advanced water remediation approaches.
Representing the French partner, Dr. Lokmane Abdelouahed and his PhD candidate Dounia-Zed Souitah presented an overview of the PHYBIOMED project, recalling its main objectives, work packages, and expected impacts across the Mediterranean region. Dounia-Zed Souitah also presented the latest developments of the WaTool decision-support platform, an innovative tool based on artificial intelligence models designed to evaluate and optimize different water treatment and separation technologies.
The meeting generated highly valuable scientific discussions and exchanges among the partners. The participants identified several opportunities for future collaboration and knowledge sharing, further strengthening the interdisciplinary and international dimension of PHYBIOMED. These fruitful discussions will contribute significantly to the successful implementation of the project and the achievement of its scientific and technological objectives.
PHYBIOMED Partners Visit İSKİ Wastewater Treatment Facilities in Istanbul
As part of the PHYBIOMED project activities, the French, Algerian, and Turkish partners had the opportunity to visit one of the major wastewater treatment facilities operated by İSKİ (Istanbul Water and Sewerage Administration).
The visit started with a technical meeting involving the facility manager, research and development engineers, and representatives of the PHYBIOMED consortium. During this session, participants exchanged views on current challenges in wastewater management, emerging treatment technologies, and future opportunities for collaboration between academia and industry.
The discussions were particularly rich and constructive, providing valuable insights into the real needs and expectations of water utilities. These exchanges will contribute significantly to the ongoing development of the PHYBIOMED project, ensuring that the proposed solutions remain aligned with industrial requirements and operational realities.
In the afternoon, the participants were guided through the different units of the wastewater treatment plant. The visit provided a comprehensive overview of the various treatment stages and operational processes implemented at the facility, from wastewater reception and primary treatment to advanced treatment and sludge management operations.
The visit highlighted the impressive scale of the installation and its strategic importance for the city of Istanbul. Notably, this single facility is responsible for treating approximately 20% of the wastewater generated in Istanbul, making it one of the key infrastructures supporting the sustainable management of water resources in the region.
The PHYBIOMED consortium warmly thanks the İSKİ team for their hospitality, openness, and willingness to share their expertise. Such interactions between researchers and industrial stakeholders are essential for developing innovative, practical, and impactful solutions for sustainable wastewater treatment and water reuse across the Mediterranean region.
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