Technische Universität Wien (TU Wien)
Technische Universität Wien (TU Wien) is a university that is part of the pulse of the water sector. Here we bring together everything it publishes on Smart Water Magazine: its news, its blogs and the events it takes part in.
Quantum light source for eco-friendly production of biogas
At TU Wien (Vienna), methods are being developed to extract valuable substances from biomass – and quantum cascade lasers offer some very interesting new possibilities. Much of our waste is far too valuable to simply be incinerated. If it is recycled in a carefully controlled way, not only can thermal energy be generated, but the […]
New study shows how climate change affects rain and floods
Climate change may lead to more precipitation and more intense floods. A new study, published in Nature, shows that to understand the details of this relationship, it is important to distinguish between different types of rainfall and flood events – namely, between short-term events that occur on a time scale of hours, and longer-term events that […]
High-speed cameras reveal behavior of microplastics in turbulent water
Microplastics are a global problem: they end up in rivers and oceans, they accumulate in living organisms and disrupt entire ecosystems. How tiny particles behave in a current is difficult to describe scientifically, especially in the case of thin fibres, which make up more than half of microplastic contamination in marine life-forms. In turbulent currents, […]
Nanofibers rid water of hazardous dyes
Dyes, such as those used in the textile industry, are a major environmental problem. At TU Wien, efficient filters have now been developed – based on cellulose waste.
How mega-floods can be predicted
When floods are predicted only on the basis of local data, there may be unpleasant surprises. A new method makes it possible to significantly improve predictions – using international data from hydrologically similar areas. What can we expect in the worst-case scenario? In regions with a high risk of flooding, this is an important question: […]
New catalysts for solar hydrogen production
Researchers at TU Wien are developing a layered photocatalyst that can be used to produce hydrogen very efficiently from water.
How groundwater can be efficiently freed from pollutants such as glyphosate
Contaminated drinking water poses a major threat to our health. However, various pollutants such as pesticides, herbicides, hormones, medicines and other chemical compounds cannot be completely removed from groundwater with the methods currently available. At the same time, contamination by these substances is steadily increasing. A current example is glyphosate, which is used worldwide for […]
Water crises due to climate change: more severe than previously thought
The interference of climate change with the planet's water cycle is a well established fact. New analyses suggest that in many places, runoff responds more sensitively than previously assumed.
River backwaters to meet high water quality standards
Clean drinking water is essential. Scientists at TU Wien are investigating how water quality in riverine floodplains, often used as drinking water resources, changes as a result of heavy rainfall and flooding.