Project description
Photocatalyst approach for microplastic degradation
Plastics are a major environmental concern as they break down into microplastics (MPs), which harm human, animal, and plant life. When externally energised, metal oxide semiconductors act as photocatalysts by generating charge carriers that lead to the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the presence of water and oxygen. Further research is needed to understand ROS mechanisms. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the TREX-MPs project aims to investigate the photodegradation of MPs using metal oxide semiconductors through ROS interactions. The project combines theoretical and experimental approaches, focusing on the degradation of polystyrene MPs using TiO2 and CeO2. The results will contribute to efforts to reduce MPs in wastewater on a larger, environmentally friendly scale.
Objective
Plastics has become one of the most urgent environmental issue due to their resistance to natural degradation. Over time, they break down into microplastics (MPs), which, at lengths less than 5 mm which bring a serious problem, especially due to air and water pollution, causing serious complications to the quality of human, animal, and plant life. Several emerging strategies are being explored to combat MPs pollution, with metal oxide semiconductors emerging as effective and sustainable photocatalysts for degrading MPs, offering promise in addressing this social and environmental challenge. Metal oxide semiconductors, when energized externally, act as photocatalysts by generating charge carriers, which, in the presence of water and oxygen, lead to the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Therefore, in-depth research on ROS generation and how to improve the photodegradation efficiency of these materials is an essential factor in translating viable new technologies from the laboratory to the market. Regarding MPs, there is a lack of molecular models for ab initio calculations and knowledge about how ROS function and their mechanisms in the photodegradation process, which presents significant challenges. Therefore, the TREX-MPs project aims to investigate the photodegradation of MPs using metal oxide semiconductors thought ROS interaction. This will be achieved applying theoretical and experimental approaches, with a focus on studying the degradation of polystyrene MPs using TiO2 and CeO2. The results will contribute to the literature in this direction, and will facilitate the remediation of MPs in wastewater, which can be used in water treatment systems more effectively, at a scalable level, and in an environmentally beneficial manner. Thus, there is an urgent need of knowledge on how to deal with MPs, from their generation to their elimination, following the criteria of green chemistry.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- engineering and technology environmental engineering water treatment processes wastewater treatment processes
- natural sciences chemical sciences catalysis photocatalysis
- engineering and technology materials engineering amorphous solids organic amorphous solids
- natural sciences earth and related environmental sciences environmental sciences pollution
- natural sciences physical sciences electromagnetism and electronics semiconductivity
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2023-PF-01
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
75006 Paris
France
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.