Electro-adsorption of Naturally Occurring Radionuclides (NORM) from wastewater of hydraulic fracturing with functionalized carbon aerogels as electrodes

Objective

Extraction of unconventional oil and natural gas by horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing (HF) is a real alternative to worldwide oil and gas production to guarantee the energy independence as well as the transition from non-renewable to sustainable energy. However, the large amount of wastewater generated, rich in natural toxic pollutants such as heavy metals, naturally occurring radionuclides (NORM), salts, etc.; concerns both stakeholder and public, especially from the radiological point of view. At present, the water treatment methods available are not capable to remediate the radioactive contamination of HF wastewater (WW). Nowadays, electro-adsorption is emerging as a powerful alternative to make more effective and sustainable the removal of pollutants, like heavy metals from WW. The main reason is that electro-adsorption has shown excellent advantages like minimal water waste, low operation cost, environmental friendly, high-energy efficiency, high removal efficiency, among others. However, little is known about removal of radionuclides by electro-adsorption, therefore, it is necessary to develop new electrodes increasing the adsorption surface, the pollutant selectivity, the stability, the regeneration as well as decreasing the resistance to ensure the removal of radionuclides. In this context, the aim of ElectroNORM project is to develop novel functionalized carbon aerogel as electrodes for the removal and isolation of highradiotoxic naturally occurring radionuclides from HF-wastewater by electro-adsorption.

Fields of science

• engineering and technology › environmental engineering › water treatment processes › wastewater treatment processes
• engineering and technology › environmental engineering › energy and fuels › renewable energy
• engineering and technology › environmental engineering › energy and fuels › fossil energy › natural gas
• natural sciences › chemical sciences › nuclear chemistry › radiation chemistry

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 DE GRANADA

Net EU contribution

€ 181 152,96

Address

Cuesta Del Hospicio Sn
18071 Granada
Spain

Region

Andalucía › Granada

Activity type

Higher or Secondary Education Establishments

Links

Non-EU contribution

No data