Descrizione del progetto
Un nuovo processo enzimatico microfluidico rimuove gli interferenti endocrini dall’acqua potabile
Con l’evoluzione dei prodotti chimici utilizzati nei prodotti industriali e di uso quotidiano, gli impianti di trattamento delle acque reflue devono aggiornare continuamente le tecnologie per rimuovere le sostanze nocive dalle acque reflue prima di restituirle all’ambiente. Tra le sostanze inquinanti che ottengono un interesse sempre maggiore ci sono gli interferenti endocrini (IE), sostanze chimiche naturali o artificiali che imitano o interferiscono con le azioni degli ormoni dell’organismo. Si trovano nei prodotti di uso quotidiano, tra cui alcune materie plastiche, detergenti, ritardanti di fiamma, giocattoli, cosmetici e pesticidi. Gli IE sono legati a problemi dello sviluppo e dei sistemi riproduttivo, immunitario e nervoso e possono degradarsi lentamente, aumentando così il loro impatto nel tempo. Il progetto M3R, finanziato dall’UE, sta sfruttando il trattamento enzimatico più promettente in un sistema microfluidico che potrebbe consentire la rimozione ad alto volume, economica e sostenibile di tre importanti IE dall’acqua potabile.
Obiettivo
The rapidly growing impact of xenobiotic chemicals (Endocrine disrupting compounds) on the environment has prompted the development of new processes for the treatment of wastewaters produced by industries and municipalities. Recently, European Commission voted to re-examine its drinking water and commission decided to include three Endocrine disrupting compounds (Bisphenol A, Nonylphenol, and 17β-Estradiol) in the list of benchmark parameters for drinking-water monitoring, in line with latest recommendations of the World Health Organisation (WHO). Recently, the capability of lignin-modifying enzymes for degradation of xenobiotics and recalcitrant pollutants has generated a considerable research interest in this area of industrial/environmental microbiology. Lignin-modifying enzymes can be also used to break down and reduce the harmful activity of hazardous substances, due to the similarity of their chemical structure with that of lignin. The goal of this innovative project is to relate the expertise of the ER in ligninolytic enzymes with the expertise of a start-up in microfluidics and microfluidic systems. By combining these two technologies, we aim at creating a superior, more efficient system able to rapidly perform the treatment of wastewaters. The resulting system should be small, energy-efficient (involving low pressures, typically below 200 Pa), and made of a high number of microfluidic layers to allow for a high wastewater volume treatment (typically up to 50 m3/day). The high-volume high-efficiency target will be made possible using a microfluidic technology developed and patented by the host company. The resulting technology is foreseen to address the current challenge of increasing water pollution and bring affordable, sustainable solutions for all communities, large and urban or small and rural alike.
Campo scientifico
- natural sciencesphysical sciencesclassical mechanicsfluid mechanicsmicrofluidics
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringwater treatment processesdrinking water treatment processes
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringwater treatment processeswastewater treatment processes
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesmicrobiology
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculesproteinsenzymes
Parole chiave
Programma(i)
Argomento(i)
Meccanismo di finanziamento
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)Coordinatore
75015 Paris
Francia
L’organizzazione si è definita una PMI (piccola e media impresa) al momento della firma dell’accordo di sovvenzione.