I encountered the front technology of water treatment for the first time when a professor invited me to join his research team. He suggested we study the synthesis of a novel highly conductive PVC-PPy composite ultrafiltration membrane, a water treatment material. I was amazed to find that the composite membranes from PPy and conventional polymer matrix PVC could integrate the versatility of PPy with conventional polymers’ features of low cost and easiness in film formation. This made me look forward to utilizing the synergistic effect between the two and broadening the application field of the membrane. I was responsible for researches on the effects of PVC-PPy on water flux and conductivity. Having compared materials with different ratios of PVC-PPy, I concluded that PVC-PPy (23.8%) had the maximum water flux and conductivity. I found it incredible that such fragile films could degrade pollutants and we could lengthen their service life through conducting electricity to them to strengthen their pollution-resistance.

My curiosity in water treatment technology prompted me to read Water 4.0, the masterpiece by David Sedlak. As introduced in the book, people have endeavoured to improve the water supply and drainage system and promote water purification since the 19th century. I was deeply impressed and became more aware of the fourth urban “water revolution”. We have to upgrade sewage treatment facilities and save water through better approaches following the principle of 3R (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle). Finishing the book, I was eager to learn more about water treatment.

The course, Water Pollution Control Engineering, began in the second semester of my junior year. In the final practicum, I decided to design a sewage treatment process for a dyehouse. I compared the characteristics of three treatment processes: traditional activated sludge process, biological contact oxidation process, and SBR process, and concluded that all these processes could make wastewater reach the effluent quality. As my designed treatment should remove BOD5, SS, COD5, and chroma, I chose the traditional activated sludge process for its convenience and low-cost. Additionally, the anaerobic tank and oxidation ditch treatment process required a larger area, more investment, and higher water quality and stability. There was a large amount of dye wastewater. It had high organic pollutants content, deep chroma, high pH value, and great water quality fluctuation. Thus, I took the approach that combined the anaerobic process and aerobic process, namely the A/O method. Due to the high COD content and poor biodegradability of the sewage, I added the hydrolysis acidification unit after the primary treatment. The hydrolysis acidification tank played an anaerobic role, and the aerobic aeration tank an aerobic role. This combination could pre-treat wastewater, improve its biodegradability, and absorb and degrade some organic matter. Also, it could digest the remaining sludge of the system and reduce the amount of sludge produced. This process better solved the problem of PVA treatment in dye wastewater. However, I felt frustrated. It seemed I had played the accomplice of the dyehouse which calculated the cost and discharged the treated sewage according to the minimum discharge limit, letting it pollute the environment at a slower pace. I realised that I only achieved the Reduce Waste of the 3R principle and there was more to be done.

With further consideration of the 3R principle, I set the topic of my graduation thesis as Research on the Adsorption Performance of Microwave Combined with Acid Modified Fly Ash for Inorganic Phosphorus in Water. I am going to use the L16(45) orthogonal test to explore the influence of the concentration and amount of H2SO4, the impregnation time, and the microwave power and time on the adsorption effect of fly ash. And I take the adsorbent dosage, the pH value of the solution, and the initial mass concentration of phosphate as single-factor variables in my experiment. In the end, the best modification conditions and best adsorption conditions for fly ash will be obtained. I hope we can apply this technology to use waste acid discharged from chemical plants to modify the fly ash with microwave assistance. The saturated fly ash could be used as phosphate fertiliser to improve farmland or as synthetic geological materials. Therefore, we can treat waste through waste and achieve environmental protection. I have stepped into the Reuse of the 3R but this is just the reuse of valuable components in water. I am wondering if I could go further in this field.

I find TU Delft, the best environmental research institution in the Netherlands. When I read that the professional goal of TU Delft Environmental Engineering is “designing technical solutions for disruptions in the water cycle due to human actions”, I am determined this is my future. Your programme, Environmental Engineering, has a number of courses related to water treatment and each quarter has a clear course arrangement. From water treatment basics to water treatment practical research, I could establish a more complete water treatment knowledge framework and comprehensively understand the water cycle. Moreover, you have a comprehensive assessment method of course performance, and the high proportion of oral reports can fully demonstrate students’ learning effect. Your Emeritus, guest researchers and visitors, like Dr. Willem Zaadnoordijk, Prof. Theo Olsthoorn, Prof. Gang Liu and Dr. André Arsénio, are leaders in government agencies, research institutes and commercial projects related to environmental technology. I hope to get the latest news about the urban water revolution and gain advice on future career planning from them.

Achieving the three principles of 3R simultaneously or integrating the principle with my future work, I aspire to be a promoter of the fourth urban "water revolution". I take the Netherland as my destination and discover my dream company, World Resources Institute. I aspire to be a member of its subsidiary, AQUEDUCT, and conduct qualitative and quantitative analysis and research for companies and countries, studying company water risk, impact, reporting, target setting, management, and evaluation.

I have a great longing for Dr. E. Abraham's Integrated Project: Leapfrog Environmental Degradation. This course would simulate the scenario of my future career. As an employee in AQUEDUCT, a small and medium-sized enterprise. I aspire to be familiar with the entire process of a project from design to delivery. I'm looking forward to delivering a small research project perfectly. Besides, I am delighted that this course will be opened in the first two quarters after enrollment, helping me to explore my precise personal interests. And the comprehensive assessment can make me better cooperate with my team.

For my hypothetical thesis project, I wish to research in three directions in TU Delft: membrane technology, water and health, and remote sensing of water resources. I aspire to continue my study in membrane technology and develop biofilms suitable for different treatment environments. This year, affected by the covid-19 pandemic, I aspire to explore how to use water treatment technology to reduce the impact of pathogenic microorganisms in the environment on human health. I aspire to monitor the real-time status of water resources and make predictions by high-performance computer and satellite resume monitoring network.

Furthermore, I hope to get an internship opportunity at the World Resources Institute in Hague during my graduate study. As speaking fluent Dutch is necessary when working in the Netherland, I have learned all the Dutch content on Duolingo. To further improve my Dutch, I will read "Dutch in Three Months" and practice on the MVV exam website. My goal is to use professional environmental engineering technology to assess the water risk of a certain industry or region. I will gradually participate in the formulation of financing recommendations, support innovative choices related to financing and marketing AQUEDUCT products and participation opportunities. I would use the Integrated Water Resources Management philosophy to reduce global losses caused by issues like floods, water shortage, and water pollution, put the 3R principle in a broader context so that governments and regional planners of various countries have enough data to make appropriate decisions on water management, and ultimately, with the help of technology, achieve the sustainable development of water resources.