Project description
Bioelectrochemical treatment of microplastics in wastewater
Microplastics are not fully removed by wastewater treatment plants and can act as vectors for antibiotic-resistant bacteria and resistance genes, posing risks to both human health and the environment. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the e-BioCLEAR project will address this dual challenge by developing a bioelectrochemical reactor that uses specific bacteria to break down microplastics, reduce the abundance of resistance genes, and generate electricity. The research will involve sampling from polluted sites in Ireland to identify useful bacteria for study through DNA and protein analysis. The system will be tested in a small reactor simulating real wastewater conditions to evaluate its effectiveness and scalability.
Objective
This project will address two major problems in wastewater: microplastics and antimicrobial resistance. Microplastics are not fully removed by treatment plants and often carry antibiotic-resistant bacteria and genes. This creates a risk to human and environmental health. The project will develop a new type of bioelectrochemical reactor that uses special bacteria to break down microplastics and reduce resistance genes. It will also produce electricity during the treatment process. The research has three main steps. First, the fellow will collect samples from polluted sites to find useful bacteria. Second, the fellow will study how these bacteria work using DNA and protein analysis. Third, the fellow will test the system in a small reactor that simulates real wastewater conditions. This will show if the approach can work in practice. The project is the first of its kind in Ireland. It will support the goals of the EPA Research 2030 strategy, Ireland’s AMR Action Plan, and the EU Green Deal. It will help Ireland build new skills in environmental biotechnology and show how science can support cleaner water and better public health.
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 biological sciences microbiology bacteriology
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics DNA
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins
- natural sciences earth and related environmental sciences environmental sciences pollution
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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-2025-PF
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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.
D07 EWV4 Dublin
Ireland
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.