Project description DEENESFRITPL An intensified process to remove micro- and nanoplastics from water Micro- and nanoplastic particles (MNPs) are increasingly found in our oceans and freshwater reserves, and subsequently in the stomachs of aquatic organisms and even humans. Plastic debris is increasingly threatening biodiversity and safe water supplies. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the PlasticOX project will develop advanced oxidation processes for the effective removal of MNPs from water. The Fenton oxidation process has been successfully used to oxidise organics and improves their biodegradability, solubility and coagulation. PlasticOX will harness Fenton processes and intensify them to overcome the barrier in mineralising pollutants that are insoluble in water and were not designed to be degradable, addressing a growing global threat. Show the project objective Hide the project objective Objective Plastic debris, including micro and nano-sized particles, is considered a top environmental problem that might affect human ability to preserve biodiversity and the availability of safe water supplies in the future. Hence, there is a clear and urgent need for the development of targeted treatment processes for the effective removal of micro(nano)plastics (MNPs) from water. Although advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) have been widely studied for the treatment of different emerging and recalcitrant water pollutants, their application for MNPs removal have been scarcely addressed. Among them, Fenton-based AOPs display significant implementation advantages, which will be explored and optimized in the present project. The main challenge consists in mineralizing pollutants that do not dissolve in water and were designed to be hardly degradable. To face this problem, PlasticOX pursues the development and intensification of advanced treatment strategies, such as homogeneous Fenton and photo-Fenton processes, to age and mineralize MNPs in water. This project seeks to tackle many of the knowledge gaps in the research field of this hot topic. The MNPs degradation will be assessed in terms of fragmentation, polymer deterioration, process efficiency, intermediates identity and kinetic models based on particles with decreasing diameters. Moreover, the effect of particle size, shape and composition will be explored in depth. My unique research background, which includes material science, catalysis, reactor engineering and a preliminary training in polymer science, will allow me to perform this ambitious project. Moreover, I will collaborate and learn from my Supervisors, who have a vast experience in the field. The Marie Curie fellowship will enhance the potential of my future career perspectives empowering me to take leading positions in the field of Wastewater Management worldwide. Moreover, I expect to develop a lasting scientific cooperation with the European host group. Fields of science engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringwater treatment processeswastewater treatment processesnatural scienceschemical scienceselectrochemistryelectrolysisnatural scienceschemical sciencespolymer sciencesnatural sciencesbiological sciencesecologyecosystemsnatural scienceschemical sciencescatalysis Programme(s) HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Main Programme Topic(s) HORIZON-MSCA-2021-PF-01-01 - MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2021 Call for proposal HORIZON-MSCA-2021-PF-01 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme HORIZON-AG-UN - HORIZON Unit Grant Coordinator UNIVERSIDAD AUTONOMA DE MADRID Net EU contribution € 82 656,48 Address Calle einstein 3 ciudad univ cantoblanco rectorado 28049 Madrid Spain See on map Region Comunidad de Madrid Comunidad de Madrid Madrid Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Other funding € 0,00
