aquality interdisciplinary cross-sectoral approach to ... · (i.e. smat, facsa) and withinthe...

MSCA-ITN Cluster event “Clean Water”-Girona, 22 October 2019

AQUAlity

Interdisciplinary Cross-sectoral Approach to Effectively Address the

Removal of Contaminants of Emerging Concern from Water

This project has received funding from the European Union underthe Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)–Innovative TrainingNetworks Call: H2020-MSCA-ITN-2017; Project N. 765860

1 October 2017 – 30 September 2021

Information: Website: www.aquality.etn-eu

We are on: Facebook: www.facebook.com/AQUAlityITN2017Twitter: @AQUALITY18Instagram, linkedin

http://www.aquality.etn-eu/

http://www.facebook.com/AQUAlityITN2017

7 Universities

3 ResearchInstitutes

8 Companies

7 EU countriesinvolved

The consortium

Who we are


11 Beneficiaries

7 PartnersOrganization

Who we are

ArgentinaBrazil

Ethiopia

Italy

Poland

Romania

Netherland

Bulgaria

Spain

Portugal

Turkey

Greece

Nigeria

15 ESRs

Who we are


https://www.aquality-etn.eu/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Esra-Eray_Picture2.jpg

● Analysis of CECs and their transformation products

● Development of new photochemical materials /processes

● Removal of CECs by hybrid membranes/AOP systems

Topic/scientific area of the research project and its objectives

Attack to CECs in water bodies

Synergy between academics and non-academics to address the challengeto detect, study and abate contaminants of emerging concern (CECs).

CECs: which, where, how much and for how long?

● Prioritization and choice of CECs

● Toxicity evaluation for CECs and theirtransformation products

a list of 25 CECs to be studied has been compiled following the NORMAN prioritization approach

NORMAN prioritization methodology was developed taking into account: lack of open-access databases on CECs in European groundwaters long-time transfer of contaminants presence of transformation products and metabolites impact of diffuse pollution sources

Results achieved so far on…

Untargeted analysis is performed on natural water and wastewaters sampled in 4

countries (Italy, France, Greece and Denmark) and CECs will be evaluated for their

hazardousness and will be eventually added to the former list

untarget analysis in progress to search for new CECs to improve NORMAN database

● PRIORITIZATION AND CHOICE OF PROPER CECS

Work performed by Masho Belay (UPO, Italy), Nuno Goncalves (UNITO, Italy), Cristina Jimenez (UOI, Greece), ZsuszannaVarga (EP, France), Dimitra Papagiannaki (SMAT, Italy).

Results achieved so far on…

►A rapid, simple and green method for the extraction and pre-concentration was developed using a Fabric Phase SorptiveExtraction (FPSE) coupled to HPLC-DAD (Cristina Jimenez, UOI, Greece).

►A new green analytical method is applied for detecting 16 different PFAS compounds (Dimitra’s talk).

►A new software, SPIX, was developed and is now operational for processing very complex mass spectra for reliable determination of emerging contaminants at trace levels in surface and wastewater (ZsusannaVarga, EP, France).

● DEVELOPMENT OF NEW METHODS BASED ON GREEN

ANALYTICAL APPROACHES

TO ELUCIDATE THE PHOTOCHEMICAL REACTIONS IN WATER SYSTEMS

Results achieved so far…

► The degradation of selected CECs was investigated via simulated solar irradiation and natural sunlight conditions in different matrices: MQ water, lake water and effluent from Municipal WWTP.

► New environmental test bacteria have been isolated from aquatic samples and used in comparison with known test

bacteria (Vibrio fischeri, Eschericia coli). A new fluorescent staining procedure for measuring toxic effects in the crustacean

Daphnia magna has been evaluated (Reni Dimitrova, AAU, Denmark).

► Selection of a sensitive test battery for glyphosate and glyphosate based herbicides and examination of UV effects on

natural drinking water samples and glyphosate based commercial herbicides (Dimitra’s talk).

► Vibrio fischeri test was performed on CECs and their TPs (maprotiline, atenolol, noscapine, clotrimazole, 5-tolyltriazole, bisphenol E and S, Nuno Goncalves, UNITO, Italy)

TO ASSESS TOXICITY

● FATE OF CECS AND ASSESSMENT OF THEIR TOXICITY

► The role of dissolved organic matter in different sources on photochemical treatment process and on the self-cleaning of aqueous effluents is evaluated (Davide Palma, CNRS, France).


● DEVELOPMENT OF NEW PHOTOCHEMICAL MATERIALS /PROCESSES

Semiconductors: ► ZnO doped with Ce, Yb, Co, Fe (Nuno Goncalves, UNITO, Italy)► Thin film with fluoride co-doped TiO2 and dyesensitized form of silicon based axial methoxypthalocyanine (Bethel Anucha, KTU, Turkey).

Photoinduced processes involving Iron:► Zero valent iron► Fenton and photo-Fenton at circaneutral pH (Ivan Sciscenko’s talk).

Photosensitizers: ► Acetilated riboflavine and eosine y (Alice Pavanello, UPV, Spain).

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Work performed by Ilaria Berruti (ESR11, PSA, Spain).

Example: ZnO-doped materials used for bacterialinactivation and symazine abatement in wastewater.

INTEGRATION OF MEMBRANE FILTRATION WITH ADVANCED OXIDATION SYSTEMS AND THE

TREATMENT OF POLLUTED WATER


Work performed by Katarzyna Janowska (Aalborg, Denmark), Esra Eray (LigTech, Denmark), Fabricio Borthot Coehlo (UNITO, Italy), Dennis Deemter (PSA, Spain).

● REMOVAL OF CECS BY HYBRID MEMBRANES/AOP SYSTEMS

Example 1: Self-cleanning Ce-doped Zirconia coating

F.E. Bortot Coelho et al., Control of Membrane Fouling in Organics Filtration Using Ce-doped Zirconia and Visible Light.” Nanomaterials, 2019, 9, 534.


Example 2: Nanofiltration of watercontaminated with Bisphenol Asolution (10 mg/L) on a Surfactant-template Al2O3-doped silicananofiltration membrane, whileheating at 50 C.

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Achieved and expected impact

FORMATION OF 15 EXCELLENT ENTREPRENEURIAL RESEARCHERS VIA…..

A joint supervision scheme (all ESRs have an academy and a non academy supervisors).ESRs working on different WPs interact and are aware/skilled on all project objectives.

►Courses on linear economy, circular economy and green economy are provided

►Courses on project management, funds raising and management are provided

10 months of intersectorial secondments (company vs academy) planned in order to maximize ERS’s interactions.

Every 6 months summer and winterschools, conferences on analyticalchemistry, material science, environmemtalengineering, photochemistry.Innovation and entrepreneurship

► Multi/interdisciplinary dimension

►Cross-sectoral dimension

► Exposure to industry and other relevant employment sectors

►Supportive environment

►International dimension

● Impact on ESRs career


Selected experiments collected in an AQUAlity lab presented by ESRs on turns to students of different level and countries (from elementary school to high school).

Seminars to improve the social acceptance of membrane technologies for wastewater treatment

High skill scientists in different countries to be consulted by public bodies for designing and coordinating strategic plans on CECs removal. Policy makers will have new instruments to define mitigation measures.

●Impact on society

INSPIRING YOUNG PEOPLE TO PURSUE A CAREER IN SCIENCE

TO INCREASE SOCIETAL AWARENESS REGARDING CECS AND

ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION

Researcher night (2018 (5 ESRs) and 2019 (8 ESRs) editions) Laboratory practice on environment protection (AQUAlity with other relevant projects on soil remedation and development of sustanaible cities).

IMPROVEMENTS OF ACTUAL TERTIARY TREATMENT PLANTS BASED ON INNOVATIVE AOP/NF TECHNOLOGIES TO GUARANTEE ACCESS TO HIGH QUALITY WATER FOR ALL EU CITIZENS.


Profiles with high formation for the market and for company in the field of water management and treatment.New technologies to be exploited to the companies within the consortium(i.e. SMAT, FACSA) and withinthe Innovation Action (Project O).

●Impact on business benefits

Knowledge and technology transfer:bridging "the Valley of Death" for some of the investigated technologies. Equipment manufacturers will incorporate in their products the new technology and know-how developed in the joint research projects

To foster inter-sectorial collaborations and thus to improve knowledge transfer in EU. Highly skilled scientific and technical personnel in different countries, available to be contracted by companies to develop products inside and outside EU for the elimination of CECs in aqueous systems.

o on Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions - Innovative Training Networks

Policy feedback

ESRs formation

Training on soft skillsUsually well structured in UniversitiesCompanies lack in dedicated courses in soft skills.Possible solution: webinars (by REA?)

Secondments28% of ESRs time spent in secondments implies: Intersectorial ESRs formationLarge part of funds are allocated to cover secondments costs to the detriment of research excellence.

o on links/contribution to the relevant sectoral policies

A policy document on “Contaminants of Emerging Concern in Urban Wastewater” was prepared as a jointNORMAN & Water Europe position paper, reflecting the main conclusions of the workshop “Prioritisation ofEmerging Contaminants in Urban Wastewater” organized on 6 March 2019, (Palaiseau, Paris) by INERIS in theframework of the AQUAlity project.

The position paper is available on the NORMAN website (https://www.normandata.eu/?q=node/342) and will bedisseminated to the Commission services as a “NORMAN & Water Europe Position Paper” for consideration as partof their review of the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive and the fitness check of the EU Water FrameworkDirective.

https://www.normandata.eu/?q=node/342


Thank you for your kind attention!

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