Sunlight active materials to address the emerging contaminants pollution

Project facts

Project promoter:
National Research and Development Institute for Isotopic and Molecular Technologies INCDTIM Cluj(RO)
Project Number:
RO-RESEARCH-0029
Status:
In implementation
Initial project cost:
€1,177,533
Donor Project Partners:
University College of Southeast Norway(NO)
Other Project Partners
Horia Hulubei National Institute for Physics and Nuclear Engineering(RO)
Programme:

More information

Description

The last years face a continuous increase in production and commercialization of a large variety of substances of general use but with high impact on human health such as drugs, cosmetics, household products, pesticides. The United Nations World Water Development Report 2018 states that An estimated 80% of all industrial and municipal wastewater are released to the environment without any prior treatment, resulting in a growing deterioration of water quality with detrimental impacts on human health and ecosystems. As alternative to the current methods for wastewater treatment, the  goal is to develope an experimental laboratory set-up based on solar light active materials for decomposition of contaminants (antibiotics and other drugs, odorizants, pesticides) in aquatic systems. Activities include (a) Identification of the materials with improved activity under visible light exposure t;(b) Identification of the optimal conditions for the contaminant’s degradation catalysed by the active materials exposed to sunlight;(c) The deposition of the active materials on solid surfaces in order to ensure the accessibility and simplicity of the experimental set-up for removal of targeted pollutants. The experimental set-up we are aiming represent, at laboratory scale, a significant step in development of a rapid and green alternative for water remediation - cleaning up emerging contaminants in drinking waters. On long term this means an improvement in quality of life, especially in terms of physical health, as water is a key ingredient for our daily living. The donor partner University of South-Eastern Norway brings the expertise on the active materials fabrication techniques to the EEA project as well as offers fundamental understanding of the catalytic processes for degrading the pollutants under visible light illumination. They also disseminate the research results through Norwegian micro/nano expertise platform, such as NorFab.

Information on the projects funded by the EEA and Norway Grants is provided by the Programme and Fund Operators in the Beneficiary States, who are responsible for the completeness and accuracy of this information.