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HEIndividual fellowship2022–2023

PlasticOX · Degradation of micro(nano)plastics in water via Fenton-based Advanced Oxidation Processes under intensified conditions

Horizon Europe — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Duration
2022-09-15 → 2023-10-14
EU contribution
€82,656
Participants
1
Scheme
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF

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Results in brief

Degradation of micro(nano)plastics in water via Fenton-based Advanced Oxidation Processes under intensified conditions

Plastic debris, including micro and nano-sized particles, is considered a major environmental problem, and is recognized alongside climate change as an emerging concern that might affect human ability to preserve biodiversity and the availability of safe water supplies in the near to medium-term future. Hence, the removal of plastic litter and micro(nano)plastics (MNPs) released into the environment is and will remain as a top priority on the political agenda in Europe (The Green Deal and EU’s plastics strategy) and worldwide (UN Sustainable Development Goals) for the next few decades. Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) have been recently identified as an important pathway for MNPs releasing into the environment, needing the development of targeted processes to address this issue urgently. The challenge consists in degrading pollutants that do not dissolve in water, requiring the implementation of intensified and advanced treatment technologies. PlasticOX is focused on the development and optimization of advanced treatment strategies, such as homogeneous Fenton and photo-Fenton processes, to age and degrade MNPs in water. Specifically, it is expect to: i) develop new degradation procedures for micro(nano)plastics and its derivatives; ii) develop kinetic models based on particles with decreasing diameters; iii) create new knowledge in the field of micro(nano)plastics analysis and determination; iv) raise the awareness of the risks of plastic pollution: v) disseminate and communicate the scientific results by using open science practices; vi) boost the scientific career of the researcher by acquiring new skills and training from a top research group and vii) develop a lasting scientific cooperation between the researcher and the European host group at the Autonomous University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union

Project objective

Plastic debris, including micro and nano-sized particles, is considered a top environmental problem that might affect human ability to preserve biodiversity and the availability of safe water supplies in the future. Hence, there is a clear and urgent need for the development of targeted treatment processes for the effective removal of micro(nano)plastics (MNPs) from water. Although advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) have been widely studied for the treatment of different emerging and recalcitrant water pollutants, their application for MNPs removal have been scarcely addressed. Among them, Fenton-based AOPs display significant implementation advantages, which will be explored and optimized in the present project. The main challenge consists in mineralizing pollutants that do not dissolve in water and were designed to be hardly degradable. To face this problem, PlasticOX pursues the development and intensification of advanced treatment strategies, such as homogeneous Fenton and photo-Fenton processes, to age and mineralize MNPs in water. This project seeks to tackle many of the knowledge gaps in the research field of this hot topic. The MNPs degradation will be assessed in terms of fragmentation, polymer deterioration, process efficiency, intermediates identity and kinetic models based on particles with decreasing diameters. Moreover, the effect of particle size, shape and composition will be explored in depth. My unique research background, which includes material science, catalysis, reactor engineering and a preliminary training in polymer science, will allow me to perform this ambitious project. Moreover, I will collaborate and learn from my Supervisors, who have a vast experience in the field. The Marie Curie fellowship will enhance the potential of my future career perspectives empowering me to take leading positions in the field of Wastewater Management worldwide. Moreover, I expect to develop a lasting scientific cooperation with the European host group.

Original text from CORDIS.

Participants

  • UNIVERSIDAD AUTONOMA DE MADRID · MadridCoordinatorSpain

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Data: CORDIS, © European Union