Twinning to address the PFAS challenge in Serbia

Project Information

PFAStwin

Grant agreement ID: 101059534

DOI

10.3030/101059534

Project closed

EC signature date 7 April 2022

Start date 1 September 2022

End date 28 February 2026

Funded under

• Widening participation and spreading excellence

Total cost

€ 1 182 431,25

EU contribution

€ 1 182 431,25

Coordinated by

HEMIJSKI FAKULTET, UNIVERZITET U BEOGRADU
Serbia

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - PFAStwin (Twinning to address the PFAS challenge in Serbia)

Reporting period: 2022-09-01 to 2023-11-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are synthetic chemicals widely used for more than 60 years to make plastics, firefighting foams, and lubricants and help create stain-resistant, waterproof, and nonstick products. However, they ended up in the environment and can now be found in the soil, water, and sediment, accumulated in human bodies, and represent a worldwide challenge. Thus, to the broader audience, they are known as chemicals which cause "forever pollution". The Serbian national chemicals legislation recognises these chemicals, but none of the existing scientific or governmental institutions analysed these compounds before the beginning of the PFAStwin project. In addition, a solution to the challenge of remediation of polluted environment is not in sight, not only in Serbia but worldwide. Based on a number of publications in peer-reviewed journals, a number of international projects, and many students, the University of Belgrade-Faculty of Chemistry (UBFC) is one of the leading scientific institutions in Serbia. PFAStwin project aims to enhance networking activities between UBFC and two top-class counterparts, who are leaders in PFAS analysis (IQOG-CSIC from Spain) and innovative (bio)remediation of emerging pollutants (BRGM from France). In addition, this project focuses on strengthening the research management capacities and administrative skills of the Grant Office from UBFC. This is conducted through the development of a scientific strategy for dealing with PFAS (WP1), knowledge transfer in the field of analysis and (bio)remediation of emerging pollutants (WP2), networking and promoting joint research integrating creativity and developing new approaches for PFAS remediation (WP3), capacity building of the UBFC Grant Office (WP4), and through dissemination, exploitation and communication (WP5). The expected impact of PFAStwin is to enhance the reputation, research and administrative profile, and networking channels of UBFC and improve its capability to compete successfully for national, EU, and international research funding while simultaneously benefiting partner institutions through new contacts, skills, and collaborations.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

The PFAStwin team created the Scientific Strategy and Action Plan for PFAS analysis and bioremediation at UBFC, serving as a guiding framework for enhancing UBFC's PFAS research capabilities over the next decade. Following this roadmap, UBFC will strategically bolster its expertise across various PFAS research domains, from analysis to physical, chemical, and biological degradation, positioning itself as a leading center of excellence in PFAS research in Serbia.
To further enhance UBFC staff excellence through "train the trainer" programs, they received training in the latest PFAS methods at partner institutions, leading to the creation of Best Practice Manuals (BPMs). These documents will serve as essential references for collaborative research endeavours. The outcomes of these training sessions and the BPMs have been presented at UBFC to broaden their reach. The organization of summer schools, a second planned initiative, has already commenced, contributing to the expansion of UBFC's network and scientific capabilities.
As a vital step toward recognising UBFC in the PFAS research, LC-MS/MS at the UBFC set up for the PFAS analysis with strong support from colleagues from CSIC. To contribute to the monitoring and risk assessment of these compounds in Serbia, a sampling plan was devised in collaboration with governmental, industrial, and scientific stakeholders from Serbia, and it will be implemented in the following months. Additionally, after setting up the new state-of-the-art instrument – bioreactor, investigation of potential methods for combining abiotic and biotic remediation has started, with significant advances in isolating microbial strains capable of PFAS degradation. These steps mark the beginning of the journey toward acknowledgement for UBFC as a center of excellence in the PFAS field.
Simultaneously enhancing UBFC's scientific reputation, an action plan was formulated to improve the efficiency of the grant office, ensuring effective support for researchers in obtaining funding and executing projects. To facilitate staff development, short-term staff exchanges were organized with partner institutions, along with a series of lectures on proposal writing and project management for UBFC researchers. As a result, a significant increase in proposal submissions and successful funding was observed during this period. In response to the increased workload, an additional staff member was hired to the grant office.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

Collaborating with two leading European partners ensures that UBFC researchers gain experience in applying beyond state-of-the-art techniques in PFAS analysis and remediation. This will lead to the development of an advanced PFAS pollution remediation process, positioning UBFC as a regional leader in this field.
Key impacts of the project include:
• Strengthening UBFC's research and innovation capabilities in PFAS research.
• Enhancing the attractiveness of UBFC for retaining research talents, reducing brain drain.
• Fostering connections between academia, government, and industry.
• Increasing success in mobilizing national and European resources for UBFC's strategic investments.
• Contributing to society and public health.
To date, these impacts have been achieved by outlining a development roadmap, organizing researcher training, establishing collaborations with governmental and industrial stakeholders, and engaging with PIs and researchers from other HE-funded projects in Serbia and the EU. Public awareness about PFAS pollution and preventive measures in Serbia has also increased.
UBFC will continue to organize impactful events like workshops, lectures, summer schools, and seminars to build capacity in PFAS research. The long-term impact of PFAStwin is expected to garner greater public support for scientists' efforts to mitigate PFAS's negative effects, engage policymakers, and encourage industry adoption of cutting-edge scientific solutions.

Logo of the PFAStwin project