Joint PhD Laboratory for New Materials and Inventive Water Treatment Technologies. Harnessing resources effectively through innovation

Project Information

NOWELTIES

Grant agreement ID: 812880

DOI

10.3030/812880

Project closed

EC signature date 29 January 2019

Start date 1 February 2019

End date 31 January 2023

Funded under

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Total cost

€ 3 422 141,64

EU contribution

€ 3 422 141,64

Coordinated by

FUNDACIO INSTITUT CATALA DE RECERCA DE L'AIGUA
Spain

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - NOWELTIES (Joint PhD Laboratory for New Materials and Inventive Water Treatment Technologies. Harnessing resources effectively through innovation)

Reporting period: 2021-02-01 to 2023-01-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The NOWELTIES PhD laboratory has designed a research program aimed at the development of new materials and inventive water treatment technologies that offer opportunities and innovative concepts to tailor water qualities to local demands arising from the implementation of a true circular economy with a plethora of interconnected streams while closing local and regional water cycles. The issue of organic micropollutants (OMPs) requires decisive legislative action to prevent deterioration of water resources and establishment of environmental quality standards (EQS), as well as drinking water quality standards regarding OMPs. Meeting such new standards requires the adaptation of current wastewater treatment approaches and the provision of new processes capable of delivering high quality water, including efficient elimination of OMPs.
Recent technological and methodological developments offer a range of opportunities for transitioning to smart water management and adopting treatment approaches capable of significantly enhancing the degradation of OMPs whilst exhibiting a low energy footprint and residual stream:
Opportunity #1: Enhancing existing biological treatment by exploiting microbial, metabolic and biocatalyst diversity
Opportunity#2: Advancing physico-chemical treatment based on oxidation
Opportunity #3: Exploring the potential of new materials, specifically by nanotechnology
Opportunity #4: Innovation in hybrid systems offer effective barriers against a broad spectrum of contaminants
Therefore, NOWELTIES aims to fill in the gaps and improve our understanding of a new generation of wastewater treatment processes and ability to solve future challenges.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

The work performed within 5 research work packages and obtained results are the following:

The two different denitrifying systems were operated: i) one novel biological treatment with biomass enriched with nitrite-dependent denitrification coupled to anaerobic methane oxidation (n-DAMO); ii) a more conventional process using heterotrophic denitrifying biomass which was obtained from an activated sludge reactor.
Two passive dosing tools were developed.
The energy requirement of a microbial community under oxic and oligotrophic conditions, as well as the biotransformation of OMPs by different microbial communities adapted to different carbon sources under oligotrophic and oxic conditions has been evaluated.
Two distinct cold atmospheric plasma sources (1-pin electrode and 3-pin electrode-APPJ) serving as a chemical-free advanced oxidation processes were optimized for the treatment of model contaminants. The electrical and optical properties of both plasma sources were investigated. Elucidation of chemical reactions in plasma and transformation pathways responsible for degradation of recalcitrant per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) has been concluded. The methodology for PBT risk assessment for PFAS, elaboration of the prioritization list, predictions based on PBT properties, evaluation and calculation of the toxicity of PFAS parent compounds and their possible transformation products have been conducted.
The evaluation of UV-LED-based photolysis and photocatalysis for the removal of pharmaceuticals from water continued using the optimal lab-scale photoreactor design has been performed. A full-factorial design using 4 independent variables (water matrix, duty cycle, light wavelength, and presence of TiO2) showed that the fastest pollutant degradation was obtained either for UV-A photocatalysis or UV-C photolysis, depending on the target compound.
Modified adsorbents, based on natural zeolite – clinoptilolite and nano magnetite particles, have been tested for the removal of OMPs. Plasma treatment of zeolite was tested as a perspective technique for modification and improvement of adsorption properties.
Feasibility studies of catalytic composites with superparamagnetic properties has been performed. Composites were based on magnetite nanoparticles in combination with a biocatalyst or a photocatalyst component. The explored photocatalytic components were based on titanium dioxide and zinc oxide.
Several types of novel photocatalyst have been synthesized and characterized: (i) nitrogen-doped TiO2 (N/ TiO2) composites modified with with GO and rGO and (ii) the sandwich-type composite included TiO2 and α-Fe2O3 with different layer configurations. Photocatalytic activity under solar irradiation of the prepared composites was assessed by treating targeted pharmaceutical compounds in the presence and absence of additional oxidants; hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and persulfate (S2O82-).
The enhancement of OMP removal efficiencies in MBR coupled to PAC systems, assessment of the impact of graphene oxide (GO) addition an anaerobic reactor in a systematic fed-batch study, application of a hybrid ultrasonic systems (US) for PFAS degradation, and to design a hybrid process where catalytic ozonation and membrane filtration are combined in order to increase the efficiency of organic micropollutants (OMP) removal in wastewater tertiary treatment´
A report summarizing gained knowledge and performing a comparative assessment of novel technologies with an appropriate benchmark technology has been delivered.
An overview of the road to market of all ESR projects is prepared including a concise business model canvas.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

Expected results and contribution of Nowelties are the following:
Better understanding and adapting underlying biotransformation mechanisms. Elucidation of enzymes/enzymatic activities responsible for the biotransformation of OMPs by establishing more suitable operating conditions during treatment of wastewater that represent a high selective pressure for the up-regulation of target enzymes.
Development and optimization of advanced oxidative processes based on atmospheric plasma treatment and elucidation of oxidative transformation pathways and their ecotoxicological implications. Exploiting the opportunities generated by novel light sources (LEDs).
Development and application of novel nanomaterials and composites, such as plasma modified graphene oxide, reduced graphene oxide, functionalized zeolites as adsorbents; immobilized photocatalysts based on modified and doped TiO2 composites, tailor-made magnetic nanocatalyst and magnetic nanobiocatalysts.
The combination of innovative physico-chemical and biological processes into hybrid systems offers tremendous opportunities to establish robust barriers against the large spectrum of different OMPs as well as other constituents of concern, including pathogens and nutrients, while minimizing by-product formation and carbon foot-prints.

Impact
So. far two ESR received double doctorate, two have scheduled thesis defense. 18 scientific publications have been published and more than 20 are in submission or in preparation. Also extensive communication and outreach activities have been undertaken.
The project website (https://nowelties.eu/) is active from month 3 and is constantly updated. The Project's accounts of Twitter and LinkedIn have been created and linked to the main website, containing up-to-date information. All ESRs regularly contributed to writing blog articles since its launchand participated in a number of outreach activites.The research has received great interest from the water industry and it is anticipated that help planning wastewater systems of the future.

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