Descripción del proyecto
Nueva metodología para el tratamiento de aguas residuales farmacéuticas
Las farmacéuticas contribuyen en gran medida a la contaminación de las aguas. Los agentes o medios de contraste yodados para rayos X se emplean en dosis elevadas en cada operación de obtención de imágenes de la imagenología de tejidos blandos. Dichos agentes son resistentes al tratamiento convencional de las aguas residuales y se han detectado en altas concentraciones no solo en los efluentes de las plantas depuradoras de aguas, sino también en el agua potable. El proyecto financiado con fondos europeos REMEDI formará a investigadores noveles y futuros profesionales en el ámbito del uso competitivo de recursos hídricos dentro de un entorno industrial, centrándose en la escasez de agua provocada por la contaminación farmacéutica. El proyecto es un esfuerzo conjunto entre la empresa medioambiental Tauw GmbH, la Universidad Politécnica de Milán y la Universidad de Warwick.
Objetivo
REMEDI trains future professionals and scientists in the area of competitive use of water resources within an industry centered environment, targeting the problem of scarcity of water resources due to contamination by pharmaceuticals. Enhanced loading of water resources with pharmaceuticals is a key challenge in meeting the objectives of the EU Water Framework Directive. Iodinated X-ray contrast medium agents (CMA) are one type of the pharmaceuticals being used for the imaging of soft tissues which are typically administered in elevated doses for each imaging operation and excreted mainly nonmetabolized. The CMA are persistent during conventional biological wastewater treatments and therefore, CMA have been detected at elevated concentrations in the effluents of waste water treatment plants, surface waters, groundwater, and even in drinking water. Tauw GmbH is an environmental company which recognizes that design of strategies for treatment of water resources requires solid knowledge leading to new methods and approaches to trap pharmaceutical components in water treatment systems and in the sediments of lakes and rivers. Tauw GmbH does not have in-house resources to undertake the body of research required to set and develop. It has stimulated the REMEDI EID action, jointly with Politecnico di Milano and University of Warwick, to address these issues. Trapping of CMA involves the application of iron(Fe)- containing by-products from drinking water treatment. REMEDI aspires the ideas of a circular economy and aims at recovering the retained X-ray Contrast Media agents in water treatment systems, rivers and lakes. Novel technologies will be developed to convert CMA-loaded Fe-minerals into marketable products whose suitability will be evaluated. 5 ESR projects address these challenges with a level of interaction and synergy among academic and non-academic players leading to forming a cadre of scientists with skills apt to unravel complex environmental scenarios.
Ámbito científico
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringwater treatment processesdrinking water treatment processes
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringwater treatment processeswastewater treatment processes
- medical and health sciencesbasic medicinepharmacology and pharmacypharmaceutical drugs
- natural sciencesearth and related environmental scienceshydrology
- social scienceseconomics and businesseconomicssustainable economy
Palabras clave
Programa(s)
Régimen de financiación
MSCA-ITN - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Innovative Training Networks (ITN)Coordinador
20133 Milano
Italia