Periodic Reporting for period 1 - 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: 2022-08-01 to 2023-10-31
TwiNSol-CECs is dedicated to creation of the collaborative environment required for boosting the excellence of research capacities of the Faculty of Technology Novi Sad (TFNS), Serbia, in the field of CONTAMINANTS OF EMERGING CONCERN (CECs), by its twinning with two EU research intensive institutions, CSIC, Spain, and UNL, Portugal.
CECs are heterogeneous group of chemicals, which occurrence in the environment is inevitable due to hugh number of compounds used in every segment of our societies every day; they are not controlled nor are under the scope of regular monitoring schemes, so full extent of their distribution and resulting effects on humans and biodiversity are not known. The European Commission requires information on these contaminants to develop regulations for protection of ecosystems and people in line with an ambition of the European Green Deal for enabling the transition towards a toxic-free environment and zero pollution. Just in recent decades with the latest advances in analytical instruments, increasing amounts of data on the CECs occurrence in the environment have appeared primarily in the most developed countries, while very expensive equipment and demanding analytical skills largely lack in lagging regions, so data on the CECs environmental presence from regions such as Western Balkans (WBs) are sporadic and rather limited in scope. To achieve comprehensive, discernible results which will lead to the long-term prevention and mitigation solutions for environmental and health concerns, it is necessary to fully mobilize available research, innovation, and technological capacities across Europe, including those “excellence pockets” in WBs, as only harmonized research activities can bring solutions to systematic and ubiquitous problem of constant emission and accumulation of numerous CECs in the environment.
TFNS researchers have a strong expertise in monitoring of different environmental contaminants by conventional analytical methods, the so-called target analysis. They also have a background in innovative green approaches in removal of contaminants from waste streams such as wastewaters. However, to be involved in the main research streams for CECs wide-scope screening surveillance and the removal technologies, there is a need to reinforce the TFNS capacities towards innovative methodologies through collaborations with the EU top-class leading institutions; TwiNSol-CECs is created in a way to unlock these capacities of TFNS.
The project activities towards enhancement of TFNS capabilities for strategic and sustainable research activities within European Research Area (ERA) consider setting of the scientific strategy within the field of TwiNSol-CECs interest and of the Research Management and Administration Unit (RMAU). Enhancement of scientific competences for raising the profiles of the TFNS researchers and the whole institution has been realized through upgrading of the existing analytical instruments and membrane-separation equipment, trainings important for upgrading the knowledge and skills, and short-term staff exchanges with the EU partners for the joint research, publications, and preparation of new research endeavors, the regional summer schools, etc.
TwiNSol-CECs makes the TFNS R&I system stronger, more innovative, and competitive for fast responses to some of the global challenges and contemporary research priorities. In the short term, an increase in the number of publications with high impact and visibility is expected, as well as the submission of common project proposals with the EU teams. Over the medium and long term, the goal is sustainable, active participation in research and innovation networks dealing with different environmental issues, bringing the WB region closer to ERA, and further recognition of TFNS as an important party in supporting relevant national regulations and the regional sustainable development.
CECs are heterogeneous group of chemicals, which occurrence in the environment is inevitable due to hugh number of compounds used in every segment of our societies every day; they are not controlled nor are under the scope of regular monitoring schemes, so full extent of their distribution and resulting effects on humans and biodiversity are not known. The European Commission requires information on these contaminants to develop regulations for protection of ecosystems and people in line with an ambition of the European Green Deal for enabling the transition towards a toxic-free environment and zero pollution. Just in recent decades with the latest advances in analytical instruments, increasing amounts of data on the CECs occurrence in the environment have appeared primarily in the most developed countries, while very expensive equipment and demanding analytical skills largely lack in lagging regions, so data on the CECs environmental presence from regions such as Western Balkans (WBs) are sporadic and rather limited in scope. To achieve comprehensive, discernible results which will lead to the long-term prevention and mitigation solutions for environmental and health concerns, it is necessary to fully mobilize available research, innovation, and technological capacities across Europe, including those “excellence pockets” in WBs, as only harmonized research activities can bring solutions to systematic and ubiquitous problem of constant emission and accumulation of numerous CECs in the environment.
TFNS researchers have a strong expertise in monitoring of different environmental contaminants by conventional analytical methods, the so-called target analysis. They also have a background in innovative green approaches in removal of contaminants from waste streams such as wastewaters. However, to be involved in the main research streams for CECs wide-scope screening surveillance and the removal technologies, there is a need to reinforce the TFNS capacities towards innovative methodologies through collaborations with the EU top-class leading institutions; TwiNSol-CECs is created in a way to unlock these capacities of TFNS.
The project activities towards enhancement of TFNS capabilities for strategic and sustainable research activities within European Research Area (ERA) consider setting of the scientific strategy within the field of TwiNSol-CECs interest and of the Research Management and Administration Unit (RMAU). Enhancement of scientific competences for raising the profiles of the TFNS researchers and the whole institution has been realized through upgrading of the existing analytical instruments and membrane-separation equipment, trainings important for upgrading the knowledge and skills, and short-term staff exchanges with the EU partners for the joint research, publications, and preparation of new research endeavors, the regional summer schools, etc.
TwiNSol-CECs makes the TFNS R&I system stronger, more innovative, and competitive for fast responses to some of the global challenges and contemporary research priorities. In the short term, an increase in the number of publications with high impact and visibility is expected, as well as the submission of common project proposals with the EU teams. Over the medium and long term, the goal is sustainable, active participation in research and innovation networks dealing with different environmental issues, bringing the WB region closer to ERA, and further recognition of TFNS as an important party in supporting relevant national regulations and the regional sustainable development.
The TwiNSol-CECs team has performed numerous activities in accordance with the original work plan. The upgrade of the analytical instruments has enabled broadening of the analytical scope of the existing instruments (UHPLC-MS/MS, GC-MS); in particular, new software tool for HRMS data allows implementation of advanced analytical approach in CECs surveillance such as suspect screening and non-target screening. New unit for lab-scale membrane separation processes has been installed at TFNS, enabling improvement of the TFNS technical abilities to conduct high-pressure driven processes such as reverse osmosis or nanofiltration of water samples, also harmonized with the research capacities at UNL. On several occasions, CSIC and UNL researchers held training sessions (onsite, online) to the TFNS researchers on various important aspects for CECs monitoring in environmental samples, and the innovative CECs removal technologies.
Joint research of TFNS, CSIC, and UNL has been conducting on different aspects of problems induced by the presence of CECs in water: validation and application of wide-range analysis of CECs in water samples taken from Danube in Serbia; study of membrane-based process in removal of selected CECs from water at different process conditions; determination of various biomaterials efficiency in CECs removal from model water systems. Majority of experiments have been conducted at the TFNS labs, but also at CSIC and UNL during the visits of the TFNS researchers.
Several trainings on soft skill have been organized at TFNS, while senior TFNS researchers also have been introduced in developed infrastructure at UNL for research support. Research strategy has been proposed for sustainable building of the TFNS scientific and innovation excellence in domain of CECs research, taking into consideration the current knowledge and future needs for developments in water management and pollution control. Ground for establishment of RMAU has been set. New research proposals have been discussed within the consortium and extended network of EU contacts.
Joint research of TFNS, CSIC, and UNL has been conducting on different aspects of problems induced by the presence of CECs in water: validation and application of wide-range analysis of CECs in water samples taken from Danube in Serbia; study of membrane-based process in removal of selected CECs from water at different process conditions; determination of various biomaterials efficiency in CECs removal from model water systems. Majority of experiments have been conducted at the TFNS labs, but also at CSIC and UNL during the visits of the TFNS researchers.
Several trainings on soft skill have been organized at TFNS, while senior TFNS researchers also have been introduced in developed infrastructure at UNL for research support. Research strategy has been proposed for sustainable building of the TFNS scientific and innovation excellence in domain of CECs research, taking into consideration the current knowledge and future needs for developments in water management and pollution control. Ground for establishment of RMAU has been set. New research proposals have been discussed within the consortium and extended network of EU contacts.
The results of wide-range surveillance of CECs in surface water of Serbia will contribute to previous sporadic studies, leading to new data important for assessing the extent of chemical pollution of surface water in the WB region, known for poor wastewater management and discharge of wastewater without any treatment into the water resources. Surveillance data will give evidence on distribution of numerous CECs, including some of those listed within the current EU Watch list, and in this way, it will serve to the future prioritization efforts. Lab-scale investigation of different membrane and biomaterials-based technologies for removal of various CECs will give valuable data for further scale-up studies and improvements of pollution control measures.