The engineer with one foot in sales and the other in R&D 

Altenburg’s role as a Technical Sales Engineer is all about delivering nutrient recovery innovations to new corners of the European market. As part of the business development team, he meets with potential clients to discuss their current challenges and needs, looking for areas where EasyMining’s technology can add value.

The work is a natural fit for the currently Barcelona-based engineer. Originally from the Netherlands, Altenburg has long had a knack for process optimisation and sustainability. After earning his bachelor’s in chemical engineering, he began researching wastewater treatment techniques to reduce sludge and lower energy consumption. In 2020, he moved to Uppsala to pursue a master’s in industrial management, approaching innovation from a market perspective with a focus on customers.

That’s when EasyMining caught his eye.

– When I came to Sweden and got to know EasyMining, I realised it was a combination of all the worlds I’d worked in before, from wastewater treatment to producing organic fertilisers, says Altenburg.

He landed a temporary R&D position with their phosphorus recovery (Ash2Phos) pilot in Uppsala in 2022. That became a permanent role as an R&D Engineer, where he began working with the Aqua2N process as well. In 2023, once that nitrogen-recovery technology was ready for the market, Altenburg joined the business development team to help with the rollout.

Sido Altenburg and his colleague Stephan Liefeldt at EasyMining's pilot hall in Uppsala.

Adding value through recovered nitrogen

The Aqua2N process removes and recovers up to 95% of nitrogen from wastewater, offering a circular and sustainable solution. Traditional nitrogen management involves extracting it from the air to produce fertilizers, which cycle through crops, food, and wastewater before being released back into the atmosphere. Unfortunately, conventional biological nitrogen removal at wastewater treatment plants often emits nitrous oxide, a potent greenhouse gas. Aqua2N disrupts this cycle by recovering nitrogen directly from wastewater, significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting a more sustainable approach.

Because Altenburg was involved in the R&D, he brings a layered perspective on how Aqua2N can help optimise a client’s processes. As he explains, not only does the technology produce a fertiliser without releasing any nitrous oxide, but it recovers a higher percentage of nitrogen compared to other recovery technologies.

– On top of that, our process is easy to implement at wastewater treatment plants. In contrast to conventional biological nitrogen removal technologies, the chemical nature of Aqua2N allows it to handle very high concentrations of nitrogen and withstand temperature changes. It’s more flexible in that regard and also for work sites with limits on energy consumption. Those are major ways Aqua2N is unique, he says.

In his sales role, Altenburg’s goal is to create win-win situations. Engineering has taught him how nuanced and individualised a client’s needs can be, and he considers it crucial for an innovation to truly add value. He looks for partners where Aqua2N can address as many needs as possible, whether that’s improving capacity, saving energy, or reducing environmental impact.

“A global team allows for bigger perspectives”

For Altenburg, collaborating with international colleagues makes his work more dynamic and exciting. The business development team is spread across Gothenburg, Berlin, and Barcelona, so remote meetings are the norm. But because they regularly cross paths at conferences and trade shows, they still enjoy the chance to connect and catch up.

And with different backgrounds represented on the team, Altenburg sees more opportunity to reach potential clients, too.

– At EasyMining, having a global team has been very important as it allows for bigger perspectives. That’s helped us connect with our clients in a better way, he explains.

What he most enjoys is how varied each workday can be. Along with client visits and conference presentations around Europe, he might join a meeting in Brussels about EU regulations or engage with Swedish public agencies that support sustainability work.

– It’s not like many other positions where you know more clearly what you’ll be doing each day. I get involved in a lot of different aspects, not only the sales part. This makes my work very diverse and interactive, he says.