Home › Research▻People▻Biological and Chemical Sciences

Biological and Chemical Sciences

Ms Lea Tan

B.Sc., M.Eng

Contact Details

Post-doctoral Researcher
NUI, Microbiology, SNS
Ireland
T: +35391495984
M: +353838902582
E: lea.tan@nuigalway.ie
Skype ID: lea_len_tan; Linkedln: lea-chua-tan-b7598432; Twitter: @leachuatan
 
researcher
 

Biography

I am an engineer focusing on the use of biotechnology for the remediation of a wide range of wastewater and generation of resources from them. My future aim is to immerse myself in biotechnology research application focusing on wastewater treatment and resource recovery.

I obtained my BSc in Chemical Engineering at De La Salle University-Manila, Philippines during 2008 followed by working in the industry for 3 years as a wastewater engineer until 2012. I went to Japan under the government MEXT scholarship and obtained my MSc degree in Environmental Engineering at Hokkaido University, Japan from 2012 to 2014. My MSc research focused on developing a biomarker and evaluating wastewater treatment process for reclamation purposes (i.e. reuse as drinking water). In Dec 2018, I obtained an Erasmus Mundus joint Ph.D. degree from UNESCO-IHE (The Netherlands), University of Paris Est (France) and University of Cassino and Southern Lazio (Italy) as part of the Environmental Technologies for Soil, Solid and Sediments (ETECOS3) Erasmus+ project. My Ph.D. research focused on the anaerobic treatment removal of selenate with sulfate and nitrate. 

Currently, I am a post-doctoral researcher in NUIG under the SFI Research Professorship Grant of Prof. Piet N.L. Lens programme entitled IETSBIO3 (Innovative Energy Technologies for Biofuels, Bioenergy and a Sustainable Irish Bioeconomy). My main project is focusing on the lipid degradation from lipid-rich wastewater for the generation of biomethane. 

Research Interests

My research interest is focusing on the use of biotechnology engineering for the treatment of various wastewaters and resource recovery.
  • Applied application of biotechnology
  • Anaerobic digestion of lipids 
  • Resource recovery
  • Circular economy
  • Nanoparticles 
  • Reactor configuration 

Research Projects

  Project Start Date End Date
IETSBIO3 01-FEB-19 30-SEP-20

Peer Reviewed Journals

  Year Publication
(2018) 'Integrated upflow sludge bed blanket bioreactor and ion exchange column process assessment for the removal of selenate and sulfate from model wastewater'
Calix E.M., Tan L.C. (corresponding author), Rene E.R., Nancharaiah Y.V., van Hullebusch E.D., Lens P.N.L. (2018) 'Integrated upflow sludge bed blanket bioreactor and ion exchange column process assessment for the removal of selenate and sulfate from model wastewater'. Separation And Purification Technology, 54 (8):1387-1399 [DOI] [Details]
(2018) 'Comparison of upflow anaerobic sludge blanket and biotrickling filter bioreactor for the simultaneous removal of selenate, sulfate, nickel in model mining wastewater'
Tan L.C., Papirio S., Luongo V., Nancharaiah Y.V., Cennamo P., van Hullebusch E.D., Esposito G. and Lens P.N.L. (2018) 'Comparison of upflow anaerobic sludge blanket and biotrickling filter bioreactor for the simultaneous removal of selenate, sulfate, nickel in model mining wastewater'. Chemical Engineering Journal, 345 :545-555 [DOI] [Details]
(2018) 'Selenate removal in biofilm systems: effect of nitrate and sulfate on selenium removal efficiency, biofilm structure, and microbial community'
Tan L.C., Espinosa-Ortiz E., Nancharaiah Y.V., van Hullebusch E.D., Gerlach R. and Lens P.N.L. (2018) 'Selenate removal in biofilm systems: effect of nitrate and sulfate on selenium removal efficiency, biofilm structure, and microbial community'. Journal Of Chemical Technology And Biotechnology, 93 :2380-2389 [DOI] [Details]
(2018) 'Amberlite® IRA-900 ion exchange resin for the sorption of selenate and sulfate: Equilibrium, kinetic and regeneration studies'
Tan L.C., Calix E.M., Rene E.R., Nancharaiah Y.V., van Hullebusch E.D. and Lens PNL. (2018) 'Amberlite® IRA-900 ion exchange resin for the sorption of selenate and sulfate: Equilibrium, kinetic and regeneration studies'. Asce Journal Of Environmental Engineering, 144 (11) [DOI] [Details]
(2018) 'Biological treatment of selenium-laden wastewater containing nitrate and sulfate in an upflow anaerobic sludge bed reactor at pH 5.0'
Tan L.C., Nancharaiah Y.V., Lu S., van Hullebusch E.D., Gerlach R., Lens P.N.L. (2018) 'Biological treatment of selenium-laden wastewater containing nitrate and sulfate in an upflow anaerobic sludge bed reactor at pH 5.0'. Chemosphere, 211 :684-693 [DOI] [Details]
(2017) 'Multiple-endpoints gene alternation-based (MEGA) assay: A toxicogenomics approach for water quality assessment of wastewater effluents'
Fukushima T., Hara-Yamamura H., Nakashima K., Tan L.C. and Okabe S. (2017) 'Multiple-endpoints gene alternation-based (MEGA) assay: A toxicogenomics approach for water quality assessment of wastewater effluents'. Chemosphere, 188 :312-319 [DOI] [Details]
(2016) 'Selenium: Environmental significance, pollution, and biological treatment technologies'
Tan L.C., Nancharaiah Y.V., van Hullebusch E.D. and Lens P.N.L. (2016) 'Selenium: Environmental significance, pollution, and biological treatment technologies'. Biotechnology Advances, 34 (5):886-907 [DOI] [Details]

Books

  Year Publication
(2018) Anaerobic treatment of mine wastewater for the removal of selenate and its co-contaminants.
Tan L.C. (2018) Anaerobic treatment of mine wastewater for the removal of selenate and its co-contaminants. London: CRC Press/Balkema, Taylor & Francis Group. [Details]

Book Chapters

  Year Publication
(2019) 'Selenium remediation using granular and biofilm systems'
Lea C. Tan, Joyabrata Mal and Piet N.L. Lens (2019) 'Selenium remediation using granular and biofilm systems' In: Microbial Biofilms in Bioremediation and Wastewater Treatment. London: CRC Press Taylor & Francis Group. [Details]

Conference Contributions

  Year Publication
(2019) Trends Seminar in Biotechnology Series - From research to application: Novel technologies for resource recovery from biomass and organic residues,
Research Unit (2019) The development of novel biotechnological platforms, specifically designed to produce valuable biofuels from organic waste residues are essential for Ireland and the EU to transform the economy from one heavily reliant on imported fossil fuels to a more indigenous low carbon economy, centred on energy efficiency, renewable energy and smart networks. Such platforms will be developed in the SFI Research Professorship “Innovative Energy Technologies for Biofuels, Bioenergy and a Sustainable Irish Bioeconomy”, awarded to Prof. Piet Lens at National University Ireland Galway. Novel and disruptive bioenergy production technologies will be developed by predictive modelling and adaptive process control of the anaerobic digestion of organic matter. The work plan involves three approaches: i) anaerobic digestion for enhanced methane production and direct grid injection; ii) steering the anaerobic degradation of organic matter towards diversification of the biofuel mix, including biohydrogen, bio. [Conference Organising Committee Chairperson], Trends Seminar in Biotechnology Series - From research to application: Novel technologies for resource recovery from biomass and organic residues, Orbsen Building, NUIG , 25-APR-19 - 25-APR-19. [Details]
(2019) Anaerobic Digestion Conference AD16,
IWA, Prof.dr. Merle de Kreuk, Prof.dr. Jules van Lier, Prof.dr. Korneel Rabaey (2019) The theme of the 16th issue of the AD conference is “Accelerating natural cycles with anaerobic digestion.”. [Poster Presentation], Anaerobic Digestion Conference AD16, Delft, The Netherlands , 23-JUN-19 - 27-JUN-19. [Details]
(2017) Biological Treatment of Solid Waste,
G. Esposito, A. Panico, S. Papirio, V. Pastor Poquet (2017) This summer school will train PhD students to understand the whole life cycle of biological waste management, and place it in the context of pollution control, resource recovery and reuse and climate change mitigation, focusing on the novel aspect of energy, organics and nutrients recovery from organic wastes. [Oral Presentation], Biological Treatment of Solid Waste, Gaeta, Italy , 26-JUN-17 - 30-JUN-17. [Details]
(2016) Summer School on Contaminted Sediments: Characterization and Remediation,
Tejaswini Eregowda, Samayita Chakraborty, Eldon Rene Raj, Piet N.L. Lens (2016) ETECOS3 and ABWET PhD summer school with COST training school. [Oral Presentation], Summer School on Contaminted Sediments: Characterization and Remediation, UNESCO-IHE, Delft, The Netherlands , 25-MAY-16 - 27-MAY-16. [Details]
(2015) 4th International Conference on Research Frontiers in Chalcogen Cycle Science & Technology (G16),
Tan L.C., Wadgaonkar S., Bhattari S., Rene E., Lens P.N.L. (2015) Contributions in specific gist areas of Chalcogen-based research are welcomed, that includes the following themes: novel (bio)conversions of chalcogen and metals, chalcogen-metal interactions, analytical techniques, (bio)reactor systems, speciation of chalcogen, production of chalcogen nanoparticles, role of metals in biodegradation, and other emerging research areas for application. [Conference Organising Committee Member], 4th International Conference on Research Frontiers in Chalcogen Cycle Science & Technology (G16), Delft , 28-MAY-15 - 29-MAY-15. [Details]
(2015) Summer School on Contaminated Soils,
Ana Carolina Agnello & Eric D. van Hullebusch (2015) Summer school and course on contaminated soils. [Oral Presentation], Summer School on Contaminated Soils, Amphitheatre Albert Einstein – IUT Building – 2 rue Albert Einstein 77420, Champs-sur-Marne , 29-JUN-15 - 03-JUL-15. [Details]
(2013) 2nd Doctoral Symposium: Water Management in Society with Growing/Grown Population,
Water Quality Control Laboratory members (2013) Student organized symposium focusing on water management. [Conference Organising Committee Member], 2nd Doctoral Symposium: Water Management in Society with Growing/Grown Population, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan , 24-OCT-13 - 26-OCT-13. [Details]

Honours and Awards

  Year Title Awarding Body
2019 Nominated for Best Papers Initiative RSC’s Environmental Science family of journals
2015 Excellent Poster Presentation 4th International Conference on Research Frontiers in Chalcogen Science and Technology (G16)
2013 Excellent Research Award Water-related Laboratories in Engineering, Hokkaido University
2012 PhD Fellowship Grant EU Erasmus Mundus Joint Doctorate
2012 MEXT Japanese Government Scholarship Grant MEXT Japanese Government
2009 License Chemical Engineer Philippine Institute of Chemical Engineers

Professional Associations

  Association Function From / To
International Water Association Member 29-MAR-19 /

Employment

  Employer Position From / To
Ibiden Philippines Incorporated (IPI), Philippines Wastewater Engineer/Assistant Supervisor 01-OCT-09 / 10-DEC-10
Self-employed Freelance private tutor 01-JUN-05 / 31-AUG-08
Emerson Electric Asia Ltd. – Rosemount Analytical Division, Philippines Specialist 2/Field Service Coordinator 10-DEC-10 / 25-AUG-12
Center for Sustainable Development (CeSDR), De La Salle University – Manila, Philippines Research Assistant 01-JUL-11 / 29-FEB-12
NUIG Post-doctoral researcher 01-FEB-19 /

Education

  Year Institution Qualification Subject
2008 De La Salle University Manila BSc Chemical Engineering
2018 Joint Degree - UNESCO-IHE, The Netherlands; Paris-Est University, France; University of Cassino, Italy PhD Environmental Engineering/Technology
2014 Hokkaido University, Japan MSc Environmental Engineering

Languages

  Language
English

Community Engagement

  Title Type From / To
Teaching (e.g. Service learning / comunity based learning) Cell Explorer in NUIG 22-NOV-18 /

Reviews

  Journal Role
Water Science And Technology Reviewer
Critical Reviews In Environmental Science And Technology Reviewer
Chemosphere Reviewer
Biotechnology and Bioengineering Editor

Other Activities

  Description

First Aid Responder