MSc. Biology Andreas Schönborn

Work at ZHAW

Position

Head Ecological Engineering Group

Focus

• Biochar and toxic elements in circular systems
• Applications of ecological sanitation
• Conceptual Development of Ecological Engineering

Teaching

• Lecturer
• Supervisor PhD student (1)
• Supervision of Master`s theses (18 since 2016)
• Supervisor of > 100 Bachelor's thesis (since 2007)

Experience

• Co-founder / head of research
  ZHAW-Spinoff planar4 GmbH, Stäfa, Switzerland
  12 / 2017 - today
• Lecturer and researcher
  ZHAW Wädenswil
  09 / 2012 - today
• Co-president
  International Ecological Engineering Society IEES
  08 / 2016 - 04 / 2023
• Co-Organizer “Closed Cycles and Circular Society 2023
  Technical University of Chania, Crete
  2023 - 2023
• Main organizer “Closed Cycles and Circular Society – The Power of Ecological Engineering” (3-day online IEES Symposium)
  ZHAW Wädenswil, Switzerland
  2020 - 2020
• Head of specialization “Renewable energy & ecotechnology” (BSc)
  ZHAW Wädenswil
  2015 - 2020
• Member of Advisory Board
  Ecotox Centre, Dübendorf, Switzerland
  2012 - 2016
• Research associate
  ZHAW Wädenswil, Switzerland
  01 / 2007 - 08 / 2012
• Main organizer, Eco-Cities and Ecological Engineering (3-day IEES Symposium
  ZHAW Wädenswil, Switzerland
  2012 - 2012
• Editor of website and newsletter
  International Ecological Engineering Society IEES
  1999 - 2012
• Director / owner
  armadillo media gmbh Udligenswil, Switzerland
  01 / 2000 - 12 / 2007
• Research associate ETH Zurich
  Institute of Terrestrial Ecology Schlieren, Switzerland
  08 / 1999 - 06 / 2000
• Research associate
  EAWAG, 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland
  06 / 1997 - 08 / 1999
• Project assistant
  Dr. Johannes Heeb GmbH, Wolhusen, CH
  01 / 1999 - 06 / 1999
• Co-Organizer "Recycling the Resource - Ecological Engineering for Wastewater Treatment" (5-day conference)
  Hochschule Wädenswil, Switzerland
  1995 - 1995
• Project manager
  Centre of Applied Ecology Schattweid, 6114 Steinhuserberg, Switzerland
  01 / 1994 - 04 / 1994

Education and Continuing education

Education

Biologist (Dipl.-Biol., equivalent to MSc Biology) / Limnology (major), biochemistry, microbiology, soil science (minors)
Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, Germany
10 / 1986 - 06 / 1993

Continuing Education

Exchange year
University of Massachusetts at Amherst, USA
05 / 1990

Network

Membership of networks

• Circular City (Member of working group 3 Resource Recovery)
• International Ecological Engineering Society IEES
• COST Action - CA 23104 "Water4Reuse"

ORCID digital identifier

ORCID ID: 0000-0002-7432-2040

Social media

LinkedIn

Projects

• Low-tech decentralised wastewater treatment for self-sufficient and climate-resilient water systems / Project leader / ongoing
• REPIC – Decentralized biochar production based on climate friendly sludge processing / Deputy project leader / ongoing
• From Toilet to Field: Ecological Sanitation & Soil Regeneration in Guatemala / Deputy project leader / ongoing
• From linear to circular planning - steps towards a new paradigm in the planning professions / Project leader / ongoing
• Value Next – Transdisciplinary Research for a Circular Water Future / Team member / completed
• Evaluation of methods for monitoring the quality of treated domestic grey water for water re-use / Team member / completed
• Green!Tea: Renewable Energy for the Vietnamese tea sector / Deputy project leader / completed
• Casa Circolo – Direct recycling of greywater using the example of the KREIS-Haus / Deputy project leader / completed
• Development of multi-functional, modular green wall systems with 3D rapid prototyping for circular cities / Team member / completed
• Hydrothermal carbonization as a sustainable solution for faecal waste treatment / Team member / completed
• Ecological Engineering Living Lab: Insights into the lab of Ecological Engineering / Team member / completed
• Local Water Loop / Team member / completed
• Biochar for urban Trees / Team member / completed

Publications

Articles in scientific journal, peer-reviewed

• Bergman, A. J., Arturi, K., Schönborn, A., Hollender, J., & Vermeirssen, E. L. M. (2024). Effect‑directed analysis of genotoxicants in food packaging based on HPTLC fractionation, bioassays, and toxicity prediction with machine learning. Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, 417, 131–142. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-024-05632-y
• Wiesinger, H., Bleuler, C., Christen, V., Favreau, P., Hellweg, S., Langer, M., Pasquettaz, R., Schönborn, A., & Wang, Z. (2024). Sicheres und nachhaltiges Recycling braucht Kontrollen und mehr Transparenz – eine Fallstudie zu PVC-Bodenbelägen. Mitteilungen der Fachgruppe Umweltchemie und Ökotoxikologie, 30(1), 24–27. https://www.gdch.de/fileadmin/downloads/Netzwerk_und_Strukturen/Fachgruppen/Umweltchemie_Oekotoxikologie/mblatt/2024/Heft124.pdf
• Wiesinger, H., Bleuler, C., Christen, V., Favreau, P., Hellweg, S., Langer, M., Pasquettaz, R., Schönborn, A., & Wang, Z. (2024). Legacy and emerging plasticizers and stabilizers in PVC floorings : impacts of an industrial transition and recycling. Environmental Science & Technology, 58(4), 1894–1907. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.3c04851
• Bergmann, A. J., Breitenbach, M., Muñoz, C., Simon, E., McCombie, G., Biedermann, M., Schönborn, A., & Vermeirssen, E. L. M. (2023). Towards detecting genotoxic chemicals in food packaging at thresholds of toxicological concern using bioassays with high-performance thin-layer chromatography. Food Packaging and Shelf Life, 36(101052). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fpsl.2023.101052
• Saluz, A. G., Bleuler, M., Krähenbühl, N., & Schönborn, A. (2022). Quality and suitability of fecal biochar in structurally stable urban tree substrates. Science of the Total Environment, 838, Part 3(156236). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156236
• van Hullebusch, E. D., Bani, A., Carvalho, M., Cetecioglu, Z., De Gusseme, B., Di Lonardo, S., Djolic, M., van Eekert, M., Griessler Bulc, T., Haznedaroglu, B. Z., Istenic, D., Kisser, J., Krzeminski, P., Melita, S., Pavlova, D., Plaza, E., Schoenborn, A., Thomas, G., Vaccari, M., et al. (2021). Nature-based units as building blocks for resource recovery systems in cities. Water, 13(22), 3153. https://doi.org/10.3390/w13223153
• Bühler, D., Antenen, N., Frei, M., Koller, C., Rousseau, D. P. L., Schönborn, A., & Junge, R. (2021). Towards water and energy self-sufficiency : a closed-loop, solar-driven, low-tech laundry pilot facility (LaundReCycle) for the reuse of laundry wastewater. Circular Economy and Sustainability, 1(3), 1037–1051. https://doi.org/10.1007/s43615-021-00077-2
• Dale, G., Dotro, G., Srivastava, P., Austin, D., Hutchinson, S., Head, P., Goonetilleke, A., Stefanakis, A., Junge, R., Fernandez, J. A., Weyer, V., Truter, W., Bühler, D., Bennett, J., Liu, H., Li, Z., Du, J., Schneider, P., Hack, J., & Schönborn, A. (2021). Education in ecological engineering : a need whose time has come. Circular Economy and Sustainability, 1(1), 333–373. https://doi.org/10.1007/s43615-021-00067-4
• Schönborn, A., & Junge, R. (2021). Redefining ecological engineering in the context of circular economy and sustainable development. Circular Economy and Sustainability, 1(1), 375–394. https://doi.org/10.1007/s43615-021-00023-2
• Bleuler, M., Gold, M., Strande, L., & Schönborn, A. (2020). Pyrolysis of dry toilet substrate as a means of nutrient recycling in agricultural systems : potential risks and benefits. Waste and Biomass Valorization, 2020(12), 4171–4183. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12649-020-01220-0
• Bergmann, A. J., Simon, E., Schifferli, A., Schönborn, A., & Vermeirssen, E. L. M. (2020). Estrogenic activity of food contact materials : evaluation of 20 chemicals using a yeast estrogen screen on HPTLC or 96-well plates. Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, 412(19), 4527–4536. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-020-02701-w
• Kisser, J., Wirth, M., De Gusseme, B., Van Eekert, M., Zeeman, G., Schönborn, A., Vinnerås, B., Finger, D. C., Kolbl Repinc, S., Bulc, T. G., Bani, A., Pavlova, D., Staicu, L. C., Atasoy, M., Cetecioglu, Z., Kokko, M., Haznedaroglu, B. Z., Hansen, J., Istenič, D., et al. (2020). A review of nature-based solutions for resource recovery in cities. Blue-Green Systems, 2(1). https://doi.org/10.2166/bgs.2020.930
• Gold, M., Cunningham, M., Bleuler, M., Arnheiter, R., Schönborn, A., Niwagaba, C., & Strande, L. (2018). Operating parameters for three resource recovery options from slow-pyrolysis of faecal sludge. Journal of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Development, 8(4). https://doi.org/10.2166/washdev.2018.009
• Schönborn, A., Schmid, P., Bräm, S., Reifferscheid, G., Ohlig, M., & Buchinger, S. (2017). Unprecedented sensitivity of the planar yeast estrogen screen by using a spray-on technology. Journal of Chromatography A, 1530, 185–191. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chroma.2017.11.009
• Schönborn, A., Kunz, P., & Koster, M. (2015). Estrogenic activity in drainage water : a field study on a Swiss cattle pasture. Environmental Sciences Europe, 27(17). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12302-015-0047-4
• Schönborn, A., & Grimmer, A. A. (2013). Coupling sample preparation with effect-directed analysis of estrogenic activity : proposal for a new rapid screening concept for water samples. Journal of Planar Chromatography - Modern TLC, 26(5), 402–408. https://doi.org/10.1556/JPC.26.2013.5.3

Written conference contributions, peer-reviewed

• Bühler, D., Barmettler, R., Schönborn, A., Junge, R., & Rousseau, D. P. L. (2025, March). Off-grid water treatment and reuse of rain- and greywater on household level : pilot operation at the example of KREIS-Haus, Switzerland. 14th IWA International Conference on Water Reclamation & Reuse, Cape Town, South Africa, 16-19 March 2025.
• Wolfram, E., Graf, M., Schlicht, R., Schilling, S., Schönborn, A., & Weiss, S. (2023). Planar umuC assay : a novel effect-directed analysis kit for screening of genotoxic potential of plant extracts [Conference poster]. Planta Medica, 89(14), 1396–1397. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0043-1774184
• Schönborn, A., & Saluz, A. G. (2021). Biochar in city tree substrates : an element for closing water and nutrient cycles in cities? [Conference paper]. In E. Mugellini & E. Carpanzano (Eds.), Proceedings of the 2nd FTAL Conference 2021 Sustainable Smart Cities and Regions. CEUR Workshop Proceedings. https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-26783
• Merki, R., Schönborn, A., Pihan, L.-A.-M., & Wolfram, E. (2019). Screening for active substances with TLC bioautography : challenges with artefacts. 12th BioDetectors Conference 2019 : Abstract Book.
• Brüll, A., van Bohemen, H., Costanza, R., Mitsch, W. J., van den Boomen, R., Chaudhuri, N., Heeb, J., Jenssen, P., & Schönborn, A. (2011). Benefits of ecological engineering practices [Conference paper]. Procedia Environmental Sciences, 9, 16–20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proenv.2011.11.004

Other publications

• Bühler, D., & Schönborn, A. (2021). Das KREIS-Haus : die grosse Kreislaufvision im Miniformat. Transfer, 2021(2), 12. https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-24755
• Bühler, D., Antenen, N., Frei, M., Krähenbühl, N., Barmettler, R., Schönborn, A., Brändle, T., Balducci, A., Mezek, K., Zybach, C., Bleuler, M., & Junge, R. (2020). Local Water Loop : Vorstudie für einen energie- und wasserautarken Waschmaschinenbetrieb. ZHAW Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften. https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-28824
• Bergmann, A., Simon, E., Schifferli, A., Schönborn, A., & Vermeirssen, E. (2020). Comparison of yeast estrogen screening on HPTLC and in microtiter plates. Camag Bibliography Service, 125(2), 14–15. https://www.camag.com/article/comparison-yeast-estrogen-screening-hptlc-and-microtiter-plates
• Schönborn, A., & Mainetti, T. (2018). How effect-based activity profiling can contribute to safer irrigation water : the example of the planar-YES. Proceedings Xenowac II - Challenges and Solutions Related to Xenobiotics and Antimicrobial Resistance in the Framewaork of Urban Wastewater Reuse.
• Bergman, A. J., Simon, E., Schifferli, A., Vermeirssen, E., & Schönborn, A. (2018, May). Performance of measuring estrogenicity with planar-YES compared to 96-well plate YES. SETAC Europe 28th Annual Meeting, Rome, Italy, 13-17 May 2018.
• Sennhauser, D., Schönborn, A., Grimmer, A. A., Mainetti, T., & Durisch-Kaiser, E. (2017). Der Östrogenisierung der Umwelt auf der Spur : Wirkprofile östrogen-aktiver Substanzen in kommunalem Abwasser. Aqua & Gas, 2017(5), 64–71. https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-2168
• Schönborn, A., & Bleuler, M. (2017). Biochar-based life support loop (SpaceLooP). ZHAW Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften. https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-3480
• Schönborn, A. (2016). Umwelt im Herzen, Gebäude im Fokus : die neue Vertiefung Erneuerbare Energien und Ökotechnologie. IUNR intern, 2016(1), 6–7. https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-7251
• Köster, O., Schubert-Ulrich, P., Schönborn, A., & Schulz, W. (2016). OXISCREEN – Wirkungsbezogene Analytik : zur Detektion von Reaktionsprodukten bei der Trinkwasseraufbereitung mit O3, O3/H2O2 und CL2/CLO2. Aqua & Gas, 2016(12), 32–41. https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-2167
• Schönborn, A. (2015). Feurige Schüssel : vom Amazonas zum Null-Abfall-Klo. IUNR intern, 2015(2), 22–23. https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-3777
• Schönborn, A. (2012). Östrogene aus der Nutztierhaltung. Oekotoxzentrum News, 2012(4), 4–5.
• Hebler, T., Schönborn, A., & Bally, A. (2012). Naturnahes Wasserrecycling im Zoo Zürich : Leistungsfähigkeit eines bepflanzten Sandfilters. Aqua & Gas, 2012(10), 62–69. https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-7313
• Graber, A., Schönborn, A., & Junge, R. (2011). Closing water, nutrient and energy cycles within cities by urban farms for fish and vegetable production. IWA Specialist Group on Use of Macrophytes in Water Pollution Control: Newsletter, 2011(37), 37–41. https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-1619
• Schönborn, A. (2007). Stensund wastewater aquaculture : what can we learn from it today? EcoEng Newsletter, 2007(9).

Oral conference contributions and abstracts

• Schönborn, A. (2020, September). The wonders of closed cycles : an introduction. IEES Symposium “Closed Cycles and the Circular Society – the Power of Ecological Engineering”, Online, 2-4 September 2020. https://zhaw.mediaspace.cast.switch.ch/media/t/0_cr53wd5o/7551
• Schönborn, A., & Bulant, N. (2015). Biochar from human waste : steps towards a new sanitation approach. 15th Annual Meeting of the American Ecological Engineering Society, Stillwater, 3-5 June 2015.

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