Project properties
Title Application of Shell�s screening toolbox for rapid assessment of effluent risks
Group Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management Group
Project type internship
Credits 24-36
Supervisor(s) Mathijs Smit, Eco toxicologist, Shell International
Paul van den Brink, Wageningen University
Examiner(s)
Contact info Paul van den Brink (paul.vandenbrink@wur.nl)
Edwin Peeters (edwin.peeters@wur.nl)
Mathijs Smit (Mathijs.smit@shell.com )
Begin date 2018/09/10
End date
Description Over the last decade Shell has developed a tiered assessment approach to assess the risk of discharges in a structured way. Within this tiered assessment framework, a set of dedicated tools are available to measure elements of risk (PBT criteria). With the need to become more effective in quickly prioritizing high risk activities, together with the desire to achieve a reduction in animal testing, emphasis has been on the development of quick screening tools for hazardous properties and risks. This has resulted in a simple screening �toolbox� (including e.g. Microtox�, SPME, QSAR models and persistence testing), which can be used in conjunction with other discharge information to improve the measurement of potential environmental hazards of discharges as part of the tiered risk assessment framework.
The objectives of the current project are twofold.
� Test Shell�s discharge toolbox to a selection of assets to assure the toolbox is suited for application in downstream operations.
� Develop/recommend approaches to assess the persistency of the toxicity and bioaccumulation potential of the discharges.
For assets included in part one of the study a brief assessment report needs to be prepared that evaluates the results of the assessment that will help the asset determining its risk position. The second part of the project will hopefully result in a set of recommendations for further improvement of the Effluent Toolbox.
As an MSc the student is encouraged to critically evaluate the existing toolbox and come up with their own ideas for improving particularly related to the assessment of persistence properties. Anticipated starting time of the student project is September 2018. The practical part of the work will be executed at the Shell Technology Centre in Amsterdam, while the theoretical part of te work might be executed at Shell�s headquarters in The Hague.
Used skills
Requirements