Website: https://www.bgu.ac.il/en
The Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU), located in Beer-Sheva, Israel, is one of the country’s leading research universities, internationally renowned for its innovation in desert studies, environmental sciences, and sustainable technologies. BGU’s Zuckerberg Institute for Water Research (ZIWR), part of the Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, focuses on the development of advanced water treatment and desalination systems, water reuse technologies, and resource recovery solutions for arid and semi-arid regions.
Researchers at BGU integrate environmental engineering, materials science, and chemistry to address global challenges in water scarcity, energy efficiency, and wastewater management. The university’s work combines fundamental and applied research, contributing to both academic excellence and industrial innovation.
Role in the NEWater Project
In the NEWater project, BGU leads Work Package 3 (Effluent Desalination and Nutrients Recovery Lab3). The university is responsible for developing novel reverse osmosis (RO) and nanofiltration (NF) membranes designed to achieve high recovery ratios (>90%) while reducing fouling and scaling during wastewater desalination.
The BGU team, led by Prof. Roy Bernstein, also designs and tests activated nanocomposite hydrochar (AHC) produced from wastewater sludge for nutrient recovery from desalination brines. This research contributes to circular economy goals by converting waste streams into valuable resources such as sustainable biofertilizers.
Through these activities, BGU strengthens the project’s technological foundation and supports the transition toward energy-efficient, low-impact water treatment solutions applicable in Mediterranean and arid contexts.
Key personnel involved
Prof. Roy Bernstein
Professor and Researcher at the Zuckerberg Institute for Water Research (ZIWR), Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU), Israel.
He specializes in the development and modification of reverse osmosis (RO) and nanofiltration (NF) membranes for wastewater desalination, water reuse, and nutrient recovery. His research focuses on mitigating fouling and scaling in membranes, improving energy efficiency, and advancing sustainable water treatment technologies for arid and semi-arid regions.
Prof. Amit Gross
Professor and Head of the Zuckerberg Institute for Water Research (ZIWR) at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU), Israel.
His research focuses on environmental biotechnology, wastewater treatment, and sustainable water reuse for agriculture. Prof. Gross specializes in developing nature-based and bio-technological systems for water purification, nutrient recovery, and contaminant removal, particularly under arid and semi-arid conditions.
He leads multidisciplinary studies on the integration of constructed wetlands, microbial processes, and resource recovery technologies, contributing to the advancement of circular water management and sustainable environmental engineering.