Periodic Reporting for period 2 - TwiNSol-CECs (TWINNING FOR ENHANCING THE SCIENTIFIC EXCELLENCE OF FACULTY OF TECHNOLOGY NOVI SAD FOR INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS TO PROTECT ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES FROM CONTAMINANTS OF EMERGING CONCERN)
Reporting period: 2023-11-01 to 2025-11-30
TwiNSol-CECs is an EU-funded twinning action that strengthened the research excellence of the Faculty of Technology Novi Sad (TFNS) at the University of Novi Sad through close partnership with Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and NOVA University Lisbon (UNL). The action reduces the regional R&I gap by transferring advanced analytical and treatment know-how and embedding TFNS more deeply in European research networks.
Contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) are a fast-evolving set of chemicals (for example pharmaceuticals, PFAS and current-use pesticides) that can reach rivers and wastewater through everyday use. Many occur at trace levels and are not routinely monitored, while conventional wastewater treatment is often not designed to remove them efficiently. Evidence has been particularly fragmented in parts of the Western Balkans, where advanced infrastructure and monitoring coverage have been limited. By upgrading equipment, harmonizing methods and strengthening analytical skills, the project increased TFNS’s ability to generate decision-ready evidence and experimentally supported mitigation options aligned with Europe’s Zero Pollution ambition.
A key outcome is TFNS’s 2024–2028 scientific strategy (“Road Map: Be part of a solution for the CECs pollution”), accompanied by an Action Plan and a Quality Assurance System with measurable KPIs. The Road Map guided planning and monitoring across work packages and advanced five directions: proposal-writing and transversal skills; higher-impact research and visibility; stronger involvement of young researchers; strengthened institutional research support (RMAU); and structured stakeholder engagement.
In the 2nd reporting period, joint work intensified through targeted meetings, trainings and short-term scientific exchanges. TFNS operationalized upgraded chromatography/HRMS and membrane-related equipment, harmonized analytical protocols and QA/QC approaches with partners, and improved data-processing routines. Scientific work combined wide-range monitoring of CECs in water matrices with evaluation of advanced removal/treatment solutions (membranes, biomaterials/biosorption and advanced oxidation/catalytic routes).
Contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) are a fast-evolving set of chemicals (for example pharmaceuticals, PFAS and current-use pesticides) that can reach rivers and wastewater through everyday use. Many occur at trace levels and are not routinely monitored, while conventional wastewater treatment is often not designed to remove them efficiently. Evidence has been particularly fragmented in parts of the Western Balkans, where advanced infrastructure and monitoring coverage have been limited. By upgrading equipment, harmonizing methods and strengthening analytical skills, the project increased TFNS’s ability to generate decision-ready evidence and experimentally supported mitigation options aligned with Europe’s Zero Pollution ambition.
A key outcome is TFNS’s 2024–2028 scientific strategy (“Road Map: Be part of a solution for the CECs pollution”), accompanied by an Action Plan and a Quality Assurance System with measurable KPIs. The Road Map guided planning and monitoring across work packages and advanced five directions: proposal-writing and transversal skills; higher-impact research and visibility; stronger involvement of young researchers; strengthened institutional research support (RMAU); and structured stakeholder engagement.
In the 2nd reporting period, joint work intensified through targeted meetings, trainings and short-term scientific exchanges. TFNS operationalized upgraded chromatography/HRMS and membrane-related equipment, harmonized analytical protocols and QA/QC approaches with partners, and improved data-processing routines. Scientific work combined wide-range monitoring of CECs in water matrices with evaluation of advanced removal/treatment solutions (membranes, biomaterials/biosorption and advanced oxidation/catalytic routes).
During the 2nd reporting period, the consortium consolidated technical upgrades and implemented harmonized workflows for monitoring and treatment research. TFNS ran validated wide-scope analytical pipelines, including improved HRMS data processing and structured approaches for targeted analysis, suspect (non-target) screening. Membrane equipment and laboratory procedures were integrated into routine research practice, enabling systematic high-pressure treatment experiments under varied operating conditions and comparability with partner laboratories.
Joint research focused on two complementary scientific lines. First, multi-campaign sampling and analysis generated new datasets on CEC occurrence in Serbian surface waters; risk-oriented interpretation supported evidence-based prioritization of compounds and locations for follow-up monitoring and management. Second, coordinated experiments across TFNS research groups evaluated removal performance of membrane processes and assessed complementary mitigation routes based on biomaterials/biosorption and advanced oxidation/catalytic routes, strengthening the technical basis for selecting promising solution pathways for different CEC classes and water matrices.
Joint research focused on two complementary scientific lines. First, multi-campaign sampling and analysis generated new datasets on CEC occurrence in Serbian surface waters; risk-oriented interpretation supported evidence-based prioritization of compounds and locations for follow-up monitoring and management. Second, coordinated experiments across TFNS research groups evaluated removal performance of membrane processes and assessed complementary mitigation routes based on biomaterials/biosorption and advanced oxidation/catalytic routes, strengthening the technical basis for selecting promising solution pathways for different CEC classes and water matrices.
TwiNSol-CECs advanced beyond the previous regional state of the art by combining wide-scope HRMS surveillance, risk-oriented interpretation and experimentally supported comparison of several advanced removal routes. Before the action, regional studies were often sporadic, limited to small target lists and difficult to compare across laboratories. Harmonized protocols and quality assurance enabled TFNS to generate datasets and conclusions closer to mainstream EU practice, reducing the regional R&I gap and strengthening the European evidence base for zero-pollution objectives.
Potential impacts include: (i) more comprehensive and comparable occurrence and risk evidence (including identification of risk-driving compounds and hotspots); (ii) a lab-validated portfolio of mitigation options that supports selecting and optimizing treatment trains; and (iii) a durable capability upgrade (infrastructure, protocols and trained staff) sustaining follow-up research, doctoral work and international cooperation.
Key needs for further uptake and success: extend monitoring to additional matrices (e.g. wastewater influent/effluent, sediments and irrigated soils) and broader geographic coverage; run pilots/demonstrations with real waters/wastewaters to validate performance, costs and operational robustness; continue protocol harmonization, QA/QC and inter-laboratory comparability; and strengthen valorisation/IPR support where relevant together with utility/industry implementation pathways.
Overview of results (end of project): Road Map + Action Plan + KPIs/QAS and an operational RMAU; 10 OA manuscripts submitted/9 published; 1 open datasets, 1 wating for OA article publications; 64 conference proceedings contributions; four ongoing PhD research tracks; two MoUs expanding cooperation; and stakeholder engagement through three “Club of Interest” meetings (18 stakeholder entities).
Potential impacts include: (i) more comprehensive and comparable occurrence and risk evidence (including identification of risk-driving compounds and hotspots); (ii) a lab-validated portfolio of mitigation options that supports selecting and optimizing treatment trains; and (iii) a durable capability upgrade (infrastructure, protocols and trained staff) sustaining follow-up research, doctoral work and international cooperation.
Key needs for further uptake and success: extend monitoring to additional matrices (e.g. wastewater influent/effluent, sediments and irrigated soils) and broader geographic coverage; run pilots/demonstrations with real waters/wastewaters to validate performance, costs and operational robustness; continue protocol harmonization, QA/QC and inter-laboratory comparability; and strengthen valorisation/IPR support where relevant together with utility/industry implementation pathways.
Overview of results (end of project): Road Map + Action Plan + KPIs/QAS and an operational RMAU; 10 OA manuscripts submitted/9 published; 1 open datasets, 1 wating for OA article publications; 64 conference proceedings contributions; four ongoing PhD research tracks; two MoUs expanding cooperation; and stakeholder engagement through three “Club of Interest” meetings (18 stakeholder entities).