Removal of persistent polar polutants through improved treatment of wastewater effluents

Objective

The increasing efforts necessary for drinking water preparation are mainly due to the presence of trace organic compounds in the raw wastewater. These polar persistent pollutants (PPP= P-THREE) originate from wastewater discharges in partly closed water cycles and were not removed in wastewater treatment. The scarcity of pristine waters for drinking water supply makes reuse of water necessary and increasing and controlled closing of water cycles is an essential part of sustainable water resources management. These needs require an improved removal of P-THREE from municipal wastewaters (WW).

P-THREE attains this by a tried approach:

i) Improving the elimination of P³ from urban WW by applying and optimising novel membrane bioreactors (MBR) with respect to P-THREE encountered in municipal wastewater and comparing it with conventional activated sludge systems;

ii) Evaluating and improving the potential of advanced oxidation procedures (AOP) towards the removal of P-THREE as a pre-treatment step in industry that discharges into the sewer system and iii) Reducing the emission of P-THREE into sewer systems by initiating reduction and substitution measures. The results will help to improve WW treatment and surface water quality and is a prerequisite for future indirect potable reuse of municipal wastewater in the EU.

Programme(s)

• FP5-EESD - Programme for research, technological development and demonstration on "Energy, environment and sustainable development, 1998-2002"

Topic(s)

• 1.1.4.-1. - Key action Sustainable Management and Quality of Water

Funding Scheme

Coordinator

Participants (8)