Sustainable integrated approach to achieve CECs and PTEs removal from contaminated waters. The aquaculture as case study

This project aims to face the complex challenge of the production of safe and clean water by applying different levels of action, which include the synthesis of green materials for the removal of pollutants, the development of enhanced water treatment technologies, the implementation of effective legal tools against water pollution and the correct management of the present water treatment facilities. Two main goals will be achieved by applying an integrated approach. On one side, the development of new tools useful for eliminating pollutants. On the other side, quality of water will be constantly assessed.
In particular, SusWater will assess the quality of water in a pilot WWTP (in URJC, Spain) and in two aquaculture sites (Italy, Thailand) by monitoring CECs and PTEs in influents, effluents and post-treated waters and by assessing the toxicity through the combination of different bioassays. The monitoring process will involve not only chemical and toxicological analysis performed by high-resolution techniques, but it will be combined with modelling processes aimed to fully assess the fate of pollutants.
Secondly, aquaculture discharge typically contains nutrients rich waste that requires treatment prior to release as, if discharged untreated, it can lead to pollution of surface waters. Among the physical removal strategies, we will use hydrogels, as they can show high adsorption capacity, fast adsorption kinetics, good reusability and low cost. SusWater’s development of photocatalysts and hybrid materials properly designed to absorb visible light will allow achieving abiotic transformation of CECs, PTEs and off-flavors by exploiting the use of natural sunlight.
Furthermore, the biological approaches offer a potential alternative to chemical and physical based techniques. In SusWater, fungi will be used to eliminate contaminant of emerging concern (CECs), with particular focus on antibiotics and some lipophilic compounds responsible of unpleasant taste on fish. On the other hand, potentially toxic elements (PTEs) such as dissolved As, Hg, Pb or Cd species will be captured by exploiting the use of iron, adsorbents derived from biomass and inorganic oxides and photocatalysts jointly linked to strengthen their efficiency.
The highest performing materials will then be supported on membranes or columns and will be tested in water for aquaculture or for reuse. In all sites, we will also assess the quality of water by monitoring CECs and PTEs in influent, effluent and post treated waters and by assessing the ecotoxicity and estrogenicity through the combination of different bioassays. The monitoring process will involve not only toxicological assays and chemical analysis using high-resolution techniques; it will also be combined with modelling processes aimed to fully assess the fate of pollutants.