Prof. Dr. Urs Baier

Management role

Head, Environmental Biotechnology

Position at the ZHAW

Lecturer

www.zhaw.ch/icbt/umweltbiotech

Expertise and research interests

Domestic & Industrial Wastewater Treatment / Ecological Sanitation
Ecotoxicology / Biodegradation / Bioplastics
Aerobic & Anaerobic Waste Treatment / Biogas / Composting
Biomass Management / Biofuels

Educational background

1987 PhD ETHZ, Zurich
1982 dipl. sc. nat. ETHZ, Mayor in Biotechnology, Zurich

Professional milestones

1986 - 1994 Head R&D, UTB Umwelttechnik Buchs AG, Buchs, CH

Membership of networks

• SCCER BIOSWEET - Biomass for Swiss Energy Future
• Biomasse Suisse - Schweizer Branchenverband für die sinnvolle Nutzung von Biomasse
• IWA International Water Association
• DWA Deutsche Vereinigung für Wasserwirtschaft, Abwasser und Abfall
• vsa Verband Schweizer Abwasser- und Gewässerschutzfachleute
• WWF World Wildlife Fund
• Greenpeace International
• EMK Evangelisch Methodistische Kirche

• SFOE mandate for the "Energy from biogas" working group of the International Energy Agency (2019-2021) / Project leader / Project ongoing
• Food Waste Indicators and Data Monitoring Concept / Team member / Project ongoing
• Operational optimization of a composting plant in Costa Rica / Project leader / Project ongoing
• BIOMAT (Integrated Bio-based Materials Value Chains) / Team member / Project ongoing
• CarbonATE - microbiological methanation / Project leader / Project ongoing
• DACH Neocallimastigomycota / Deputy project leader / Project ongoing
• MOSTCH4: Mini Onsite System To valorize manure in methane / Deputy project leader / Project ongoing
• HTC Innovationscampus Rheinmühle - Pilotanlage zur Hydrothermalen Karbonisierung / Project leader / Project ongoing
• SCCER BIOSWEET - Biogas / Project leader / Project ongoing
• Energy from Biogas / Project leader / Project completed
• BioCat Nutrient supplementation / Project leader / Project completed
• LeMiG - Food waste in Swiss green waste / Project leader / Project completed
• Biogas2Algae / Team member / Project completed
• Persistence of Neophytes in anaerobic Digestion and composting / Team member / Project completed
• Vergärung von TNP der Micarna AG / Team member / Project completed
• Microbial Hydrolysis of fibre-rich Biomass prior to Anaerobic Digestion / Project leader / Project completed
• New Markets for liquid digestate / Project leader / Project completed
• Evaluation of the suitability of Bioplastics for anaerobic digestion and composting / Project leader / Project completed
• Renewable Methene for Transport and Mobility / Project leader / Project completed
• Schwermetalle in Schweizer Grüngut / Project leader / Project completed
• Heavy Metals in Biowaste in Switzerland / Project leader / Project completed
• Microbial hydrolysis of unsorted municipal solid waste / Team member / Project completed
• Emission Potential of liquid Digestate / Project leader / Project completed
• Organis Wastes in the Swiss Food Industry / Project leader / Project completed
• Process Intensification of anaerobic digestion of manure / Project leader / Project completed
• Biogas from Animal Byproducts / Team member / Project completed
• Optimization of an anaerobic membrane digester / Project leader / Project completed
• Hygiene Risk of liquid Digestate / Project leader / Project completed
• Digestate Post Treatment / Project leader / Project completed
• Recycling of Vegetable Proecessing Wastewater / Project leader / Project completed
• Biogenic Goods in Switzerland - Update 2014 / Project leader / Project completed
• Material Flow Analysis of Biogenic Goods in the Canton of Glarus, Switzerland / Project leader / Project completed
• Optimization of anaerobic digestion / Project leader / Project completed
• Organic Waste Treatment Plants as Hygiene Barriers / Project leader / Project completed
• Management of Biomass and Nutrient Flows in Switzerland / Team member / Project completed
• Anaerobic Treatment of Domestic Wastewaters / Project leader / Project completed
• Biomass Pollutants in Switzerland / Project leader / Project completed
• Manure Digestion in a Membrane Bioreactor / Project leader / Project completed

Articles in scientific journal, peer-reviewed

• Burg, Vanessa; Bowman, Gillianne; Haubensak, Michael; Baier, Urs; Thees, Oliver,

  2018.

  Valorization of an untapped resource : energy and greenhouse gas emissions benefits of converting manure to biogas through anaerobic digestion.

  Resources, Conservation and Recycling.

  136,

  pp. 53-62.

  Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2018.04.004

• Holliger, Christof; Alves, Madalena; Andrade, Diana; Angelidaki, Irini; Astals, Sergi; Baier, Urs; Bougrier, Claire; Buffiere, Pierre; Carballa, Marta; de Wilde, Vinnie; Ebertseder, Florian; Fernandez, Belén; Ficara, Elena; Fotidis, Ioannis; Frigon, Jean-Claude; de Laclos, Hélène Fruteau; Ghasimi, Dara S. M.; Hack, Gabrielle; Hartel, Mathias; Heerenklage, Joern; Horvath, Ilona Sarvari; Jenicek, Pavel; Koch, Konrad; Krautwald, Judith; Lizasoain, Javier; Liu, Jing; Mosberger, Lona; Nistor, Mihaela; Oechsner, Hans; Oliveira, João Vítor; Paterson, Mark; Pauss, André; Pommier, Sébastien; Porqueddu, Isabella; Raposo, Francisco; Ribeiro, Thierry; Rüsch Pfund, Florian; Stromberg, Sten; Torrijos, Michel; van Eekert, Miriam; van Lier, Jules; Wedwitschka, Harald; Wierinck, Isabella,

  2016.

  Towards a standardization of biomethane potential tests.

  Water Science and Technology.

  74(11),

  pp. 2515-2522.

  Available from: https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-1267

• Beretta, Claudio; Stoessel, Franziska; Baier, Urs; Hellweg, Stefanie,

  2013.

  Quantifying food losses and the potential for reduction in Switzerland.

  Waste Management.

  33(3),

  pp. 764-773.

  Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2012.11.007

Book parts, peer-reviewed

• Baier, Urs,

  2011.

  Waste generation, treatment options and environmental impact of single-use systems

  .

  In:

  Eibl-Schindler, Regine; Eibl, Dieter, eds.,

  Single-use technology in biopharmaceutical manufacture.

  London:

  Wiley.

  pp. 173-182.

Other publications

• Rüsch, Florian; Nägele, Hans-Joachim; Baier, Urs,

  2018.

  Restmethanpotenzial auf Biogasanlagen.

  Aqua & Gas.

  2018(9),

  pp. 48-53.

• Baier, Urs; Moser, Yves; Edelmann, Michael,

  2017.

  Methodenentwicklung zur Kunststoffanalytik in organischen Düngern [paper].

  In:

  "Bioabfall Getrenntsammlung", Pratteln, 16. März 2017.

• Baier, Urs; Treichler, Alexander; Warthmann, Rolf; Hersener, Jean-Louis; Meier, Urs; Büeler, Elmar; Hommes, Gregor,

  2017.

  Steigerung des Biomethanpotentials von Rindergülle Feststoffen durch gezielte Vorbehandlung [paper].

  In:

  Biogas - Expo & Congress 2017, Offenburg, Deutschland, 8.-9. Februar 2017.

• Krautwald, Judith; Baier, Urs,

  2016.

  Biologische Methanisierung : Methanogenese als mikrobiologische Alternative zur katalytischen Methanisierung.

  Aqua & Gas.

  96(7/8),

  pp. 18-23.

  Available from: https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-1174

• Lohri, Christian; Zabaleta, Imanol; Rohr, Manuel; Baier, Urs; Zurbrügg, Christian,

  2016.

  Improving the energy-related aspects of biowaste treatment in an experimental hydrothermal carbonization reactor.

  Waste and Biomass Valorization.

  9(3),

  pp. 429-442.

  Available from: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12649-016-9746-3

• Baier, Urs,

  2016.

  Neue Möglichkeiten bei der Verwertung von biogenen Abfällen [paper].

  In:

  VVEA-Tagung 1.0 - Recycling lohnt sich, Bern, 31. Mai 2016.

• Baier, Urs; Mosberger, Lona; Gröbly, Dominik; Buchli, Jürg; Müller, Claudia,

  2016.

  Schlussbericht Organische Verluste aus der Lebensmittelindustrie in der Schweiz : Massenflussanalyse nach Branchen und Beurteilung von Vermeidung / Verwertung.

  Winterthur:

  Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften.

  Available from: https://www.bafu.admin.ch/dam/bafu/de/dokumente/abfall/externe-studien-berichte/organische-verlusteausderlebensmittelindustrie.pdf.download.pdf/organische-verlusteausderlebensmittelindustrie.pdf

• Baier, Urs; Kühni, Martin; Wanner, Rahel; Krebs, Rolf,

  2015.

  Behandlung des Prozessabwassers aus hydrothermal karbonisiertem Klärschlamm vor der Einleitung in eine ARA.

  GWF. Wasser, Abwasser.

• Baier, Urs; Cunningham, Michael; Fink, Andrin,

  2015.

  Methanemissionen auf Kläranlagen.

  Aqua & Gas.

  95(3),

  pp. 60-62.

• Edelmann, Werner; Engeli, Hans; Baier, Urs; Rüsch, Florian,

  2015.

  Nachbereitung von Gärgut: Stoffflüsse, Umwelt- und Hygieneaspekte sowie Ökonomie : Beispiel einer schweizerischen Biogasanlage [paper].

  In:

  Biogas - Expo & Congress 2015, Offenburg, Deutschland, 25.-26. November 2015.

• Baier, Urs; Fuchs, Jacques; Berner, Alfred; Schleiss, Konrad,

  2015.

  Waste biomass and organic fertilizers as a source of pathogens [paper].

  In:

  Minisymposium «Environmental Microbiology & Biomass», Strasbourg, France, 10 April 2015.

• Fuchs, Jacques; Baier, Urs; Berner, Alfred; Philipp, Werner; Schleiss, Konrad;

  2014.

  Abschätzung des hygienischen Risikos im Zusammenhang mit der Anwendung von flüssigem Gärgut in der Schweiz.

  Frick:

  Forschungsinstitut für biologischen Landbau.

  Available from: http://orgprints.org/27645/1/fuchs-etal-Bericht-GaergutHygiene-Endfassung_de.pdf

• Krebs, Rolf; Baier, Urs; Deller, Annica; Escala, Marina; Floris, Julien; Gerner, Gabriel; Hartmann, Frank; Hölzl, Britta; Kohler, Christoph; Kühni, Martin; Stucki, Matthias; Wanner, Rahel,

  2013.

  Weiterentwicklung der hydrothermalen Karbonisierung zur CO2-sparenden und kosteneffizienten Trocknung von Klärschlamm im industriellen Massstab sowie der Rückgewinnung von Phosphor.

  Schriftenreihe Erneuerbare Energien, Bodenökologie und Ökotechnologie

  .

  Winterthur:

  ZHAW Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften.

  Available from: https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-4975

• Baier, Urs,

  2012.

  Biogene Güter - Wer liefert was? : Update der Güterflussanalyse von Biogenen Gütern in der Schweiz.

  Aqua & Gas.

  92(10),

  pp. 48-52.

• Baier, Urs; Warthmann, Rolf; Kühni, Martin,

  2010.

  Energieautarke ARA ist technisch möglich.

  Umwelt Perspektiven.

  2010(3),

  pp. 14-17.

• Baier, Urs; Baum, Sebastian,

  2008.

  Biogene Güterflüsse in der Schweiz 2006.

  Bern:

  Bundesamt für Umwelt.

  Available from: https://www.bafu.admin.ch/dam/bafu/de/dokumente/abfall/uw-umwelt-wissen/biogene_gueterfluessederschweiz2006.pdf.download.pdf/biogene_gueterfluessederschweiz2006.pdf

• Baier, Urs; Baum, Sebastian; Biollaz, Serge; Judex, Johannes; Schneebeli, Jörg,

  2007.

  Methanverluste bei der Biogasaufbereitung.

  Gas, Wasser, Abwasser.

  87(9),

  pp. 689-696.

• Long-de-Vallière, C. Lee; Petrozzi, Sergio; Zürrer, D.; Baier, Urs; Dunn, Irving J.,

  1989.

  Methods of anaerobic degradation of toxic compounds in chemical and industrial wastewaters.

  Advances in Biotechnological Processes.

  1989(12),

  pp. 35-72.

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