Microfluidic Multi-Micropollutant Remediation

Project Information

M3R

Grant agreement ID: 882816

DOI

10.3030/882816

Project closed

EC signature date 16 March 2020

Start date 1 March 2021

End date 28 February 2023

Funded under

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Total cost

€ 196 707,84

EU contribution

€ 196 707,84

Coordinated by

EDEN TECH
France

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - M3R (Microfluidic Multi-Micropollutant Remediation)

Reporting period: 2021-03-01 to 2023-02-28

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

At present, the favored options for eliminating micropollutants in wastewater treatment involve activated carbon and membrane-based technology. These methods capture the micropollutants and concentrate them, which later necessitates their disposal into a waste sludge that still requires management. Although techniques such as ozonation based advanced oxidation process (AOP) that degrade (i.e. eliminate) pollutants are effective, large concentrations of ozone may be necessary since it rapidly converts to oxygen. The primary aim of the project is to create a novel, sustainable technology and approach for eliminating micropollutants, specifically EDCs, from urban and industrial wastewaters utilizing TiO2/UV photocatalyst. This project tackles the growing challenge of treating urban and industrial wastewater polluted, and provide a sustainable, resource-efficient, and transportable solution to enhance access to safe drinking water for everyone.

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

AKVO is a cutting-edge solution that utilizes a unique proprietary microfluidic technology inspired by the vascular circuitry of human lungs and kidneys. The microfluidic pollutant-removing device features a disk design that has been optimized for maximum efficiency and is composed of a stacked column of engraved AKVO-core disc microfluidic units connected into smart energy networks. The system comprises 20 stacks of 200 CDs each and requires only 2m3 of space to treat 4000 m3/day, making it suitable for use in an average municipality. AKVO is a compact, modular solution that is easy to connect to existing water treatment equipment, and its modular configuration can be adapted and optimized to meet specific customer requirements. The AKVO System includes a pump, UV-LED light, and other necessary auxiliary components, such as temperature and pressure sensors at the inlet and outlet to detect various water clogging. The AKVO solution incorporates photocatalytic units that integrate standard TiO2, which trigger photocatalysis through the use of UV-LED lamps embedded in the AKVO photocatalytic unit. This process degrades molecular pollutants by in-situ production of highly reactive hydroxyl radicals, which non-selectively react with most organic molecules, including pesticides, biocides, endocrine disruptors, and antibiotics, among others. The photocatalytic water treatment with TiO2 belongs to the Advanced Oxidation Process (AOP) along with ozonation technology, but AKVO has an advantage over ozonation due to the short lifetime of reactive radicals, which limits their interaction with pollutants. In AKVO, the microscale confinement increases interaction between the reactive radicals and micropollutants, greatly enhancing efficiency. The successful implementation of AKVO in the water treatment industry will revolutionize the status quo, making the European Union a pioneer in next-generation water technologies. As water becomes an increasingly strategic resource due to global warming, EDEN TECH's mission to reduce energy consumption, increase water reuse, and improve water and food quality is more important than ever.

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)

This study involved designing a microfluidic chip with TiO2/UV to target micropollutant lab level treatment, and HPLC data analysis showed a treatment capacity of over 99%. The experiments included modelling the capacity of the AKVO microfluidic photocatalyst system using ki values and remediation yield for various targeted micropollutants. Eden Microfluidics will promote the innovative technology developed in this project worldwide to maximize its impact. The prototype satisfies the requirements of EU partners in wastewater treatment, offering small, energy-saving, highly efficient micropollutant remediation systems that are compact and miniaturized. The technology adheres to IP protection standards and has the potential to create additional patents connected to Eden Microfluidics' first key. To introduce the prototype to potential end-users and stakeholders, the first step in the dissemination plan is to present it to a local wastewater treatment plant. These results will showcase the prototype's advantage and demonstrate its efficiency, especially in the Clean Tech industry. A successful implementation of AKVO in water treatment will revolutionize the industry and make the EU a leader in next-gen water tech. Addressing the growing demand for energy and water and improving water and food quality aligns with the United Nations central focus on sustainable development, the Food Energy Water (FEW) Nexus. Eden's mission is to reduce energy consumption, increase water reuse, and improve quality to solve the challenges of the FEW Nexus.

Optical microscopic image of the microfluidic chip with TiO2 coated substrate