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Innovation & Technologie Angebot

System for the removal of organic micropollutants from wastewater treatment plants

Country of Origin: Spain
Reference Number: TOES20170906001
Publication Date: 6 September 2017

Summary

A Spanish university has developed a new system for the removal of organic micropollutants from wastewater treatment plants. The system uses lignolytic enzymes combined with nanofiltration/ultrafiltration ceramic membrane and it can be used in treatment plants for pharmaceuticals, pesticides, cosmetics, etc. The university is willing to reach licence agreements with companies specialized in wastewater treatment field.

Description

The new technology developed by the Spanish University helps to tackle the adverse effects that the discharge into the aquatic environment of organic micropollutants may cause on animals, plants and people. Among these micropollutants there is a group of substances of natural and anthropogenic sources (e.g. pharmaceuticals, pesticides, cosmetics and personal care products, flame retardants, hormones and other industrial chemicals) that have the ability to alter the functions of endocrine system and, therefore, have adverse effects on an organism or its progeny. Conventional systems for wastewater treatment are not designed to remove these compounds, or their removal is only partial, causing a continuous  release of such chemicals to the environment. This new technology is adapted to remove these kinds of microprollutants in wastewater treatment plants thanks to the use of lignolytic enzymes in combination with a nanofiltration or ultrafiltration ceramic membrane that retains the enzymes in the system. The  system  was  tested in a  bench  scale  reactor where the experiments carried out have shown very good results as more than 80 % of bisphenol A (BPA)  and more than 97 % of nonylphenol (NP) present in the influent were  removed. 

The university is looking for companies dedicated to the treatment of wastewater that would be interested in licencing the technology adapting it to their specific needs.

Advantages and Innovations

Conventional systems are not able to remove organic micropollutants from wastewater or the removal is only partial. For instance, according to the tests made, this new technology can remove more than 97% of bisphenol A (BPA) and more than 80% of nonylphenol (NP) that are two toxic components with estrogenic effects in both wildlife and humans.

Stage Of Development

Under development/lab tested

Requested partner

The university would like to find an industrial partner dedicated to the treatment of wastewater containing industrial chemicals that would be interested in licencing the technolog and adapting it to their specific needs.