Saltar para o conteúdo principal

FCCNFCT Digital Services

Access the national information on scientific and technological funding in Portugal

Activity Funded

Engineered solar light driven photocatalytic systems for wastewater purification

Sistemas fotocatalíticos accionados por luz solar para purificação de águas residuais

Reference
PTDC/EQU-EQU/1056/2020
Project Start Date
2021-02-01
Project End Date
2024-10-31
Principal Investigator
Coinvestigator
Scientific Area
Engineering and technology
Funding Program
Concurso para Financiamento de Projetos de Investigação Científica e Desenvolvimento Tecnológico em Todos os Domínios Científicos - 2020

Abstract

The SOLAR2CLEAN project aims at the achievement of a highly efficient engineered photocatalytic system, driven by solar light, of high applicability in real-life, targeting wastewater purification, i.e. the degradation of microplastics and other pollutants (antibiotic residues). It involves a dynamic research plan fostering innovation, technology integration and international collaborations. The SOLAR2CLEAN project arises in the framework of a scientific collaboration between IST-ID and ETH-Zurich, initiated in 2019, with the sabbatical work and staying as academic guest, of Ana C. Marques (PI of the project), within Markus Niederberger´s group, Laboratory for Multifunctional Materials (MFM) at ETH. Marques recently developed a powerful platform to synthesize porous microspheres (MSs) [1], which was able to successfully combine with photocatalytic nanoparticles (NPs) to get solar light driven photocatalysis. Niederberger´s group is specialized on the synthesis of those NPs covering a broad range of properties. The promising preliminary results achieved by the team, together with the challenges needed to be addressed, are at the origin of the concept herein proposed. The ideal photocatalysts require better visible (Vis)-light responsiveness, more efficient separation of photo-generated charge carriers and outstanding reuse performance. This project envisions much more than a conventional photocatalytic system for water purification, which typically rely on photocatalytic NPs dispersed in the liquid reaction medium (slurry, batch reactor) and a time consuming and complex nanofiltration process for recovery of thecatalysts. The SOLAR2CLEAN technology, by dealing with tailored MSs as support materials for the photocatalytic NPs, will allow a continuous flow-through operation and should be robust and stable enough to be handled and reused (recycled). It combines an engineered photocatalytic system consisting of porous MSs with grafted NPs optimized for the Vis region of the solar spectrum, a new set-up for a continuous flow solar reactor tailored for economically viable wastewater purification schemes, and a trifold assessment methodology involving the degradation of a common organic dye methyl orange (MO) for optimization purposes, of an ubiquitous antibiotic (minocycline, supplied by HOVIONE S.A.) and of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) microplastics. It will be pioneering in assessing if LDPE exposed to our photocatalytic system will be more prone to biodegradation, with the goal of establishing the groundwork for enabling biodegradability of conventional “non-biodegradable” plastics. The present concept, truly inspired by real application, sustainability and technology, blends the most recent advances and emergent trends in science, such as: - photocatalytic NPs´ synthesis (ETH Zurich - MFM group) and their synergistic combination with MSs with tailored meso/macro porosity (IST-ID, TPMI group), - solar light harvesting (IST-ID, Photoactive Molecules, Photonics and Functional Materials group), - solar reactors for continuous flow-through operation, photocatalysis assessment and mechanistic studies, expertise of the ETH Zurich - MFM group, - photocatalytic degradation of organic dyes, persistent ubiquitous antibiotics and microplastics (IST-ID and ETH Zurich - MFM group), - photocatalysis mediated aerobic biodegradability assessment of LDPE microplastics and minocycline by-products (IST-ID, Energy, Environment and Engineering group). The SOLAR2CLEAN project contributes with new and affordable technologies and methodologies for better water management and sanitation, less pollution, reduction of recalcitrant chemicals and materials release in the oceans and rivers, through sustainable and modern energy solutions, aligned with goals 6 and 7 of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The clean and environmentally sound technology envisaged in this project is well fitted with the urgent needs for industrial processes, namely in the treatment of effluents, also addressing SDGs 9, 12 and 13, i.e. sustainable industrialization, responsible production and combat climate change. This is further enforced by the letter of support from HOVIONE S.A.. The incursion of such unique engineered structures in the photocatalysis field opens the possibility for a preferred scenario, where the future of water supply must go through water reuse from wastewater treatment plants. This new integrated technology has also potential to be applied to the degradation of emergent and current persistent organic pollutants (POPs) listed under the EU POPs Regulation, and to other sustainable environmental technologies, e.g. solar concentrators, with potential to benefit the developing world, wherein sunlight remains the most prevalent source of energy.

Institutions

Main Institutions

  • Centro de Recursos Naturais e Ambiente (CERENA/IST-ID)
  • Associação do Instituto Superior Técnico para a Investigação e Desenvolvimento (IST-ID)

Other Institutions

  • Universidade de Lisboa Centro de Química Estrutural (CQE)
  • Associação do Instituto Superior Técnico para a Investigação e Desenvolvimento (IST-ID)
  • ETH Zurich, Department of Materials

Funding 249.914,74 €

Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) - Portugal

249.914,74 €