SMART-WORKFLOW developed a workflow that allows a rapid evaluation of any wastewater treatment in terms of organic pollutants removal and transformation products generated. It significantly contributes to increase knowledge on the performance of wastewater treatment plants, to detect their potential weaknesses and to plan the integration of novel technologies according to the specific needs of each facility. The research carried out contributed also to a better understanding of the fate and behavior of pollutants during the wastewater treatment processes. The originality and novelty of this project are clear since both, the workflow and the underlying concept behind are completely new. Other innovative aspect was the identification of new substances in the matrices of interest and the powerful developed methodologies that contribute to expand the knowledge on wastewater composition.
In accordance with dissemination plan drafted in project proposal, major vectors for dissemination of the results are publications in highly esteemed peer-reviewed international journals as well as presentations in prestigious international conferences.
The identification of relevant organic pollutants using ultimate target and non-target strategies was fully achieved. The main contribution of the project to this field is reflected in the publication:
• Gago-Ferrero, P., Bletsou, A.A. Damalas, D.E. Aalizadeh, R., Alygizakis, N.A. Singer, H.P. Hollender, J., Thomaidis, N.S. 2020. Wide-scope target screening of >2000 emerging contaminants in wastewater samples with UPLC-Q-ToF-HRMS/MS and smart evaluation of its performance through the validation of 195 selected representative analytes. J. Hazard. Mater. 387, 121712.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2019.121712(se abrirá en una nueva ventana)The developed strategies were also applied to investigate effects on chlorination in the following publication:
Sanchís, J., Jaén-Gil, A., Gago-Ferrero, P., Munthali, E., Farré, M.J. 2020. Characterization of organic matter by HRMS in surface waters: Effects of chlorination on molecular fingerprints and correlation with DBP formation potential. Water Research. 176, 115743.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2020.115743(se abrirá en una nueva ventana)Other main outcomes of the project were presented at the16th International Conference on Environmental Science and Technology (CEST 2019), held in Rhodes (Greece). In this conference the fellow was member of the Scientific committee and chairman of a session.
• Gago-Ferrero P., Alygizakis N.A. Velo-Gala I., Sbardella L., Gernjak W., Petrovic., M. Evaluation of innovative water treatments at molecular level based on high resolution mass spectrometry and advanced statistical analysis tools. 16th International Conference on Environmental Science and Technology. Rhodes (Greece), 2019.
Additionally, the fellow was invited to give the following lectures:
• Invited to give the lecture: “Suspect and non-target strategies to evaluate source water, water treatment and the formation of transformation products”. PhD course: Summer school on SMART treatment water treatment. July 2019. University of Ferrara (Italy).
• Closing invited lecture: “New environmental analytical tools towards a comprehensive understanding of organic pollutants in the environment”. Workshop and Conferences in Environmental Sustainability INGURU-DOK 2019. Vasc Country University, Bilbao (Spain)
Additional two peer reviewed publications on related to the evaluation of innovative water treatments at molecular level are in process of drafting and will be submitted once completed.
