Periodic Reporting for period 2 - PROMISCES (Preventing Recalcitrant Organic Mobile Industrial chemicalS for Circular Economy in the Soil-sediment-water system)
Okres sprawozdawczy: 2023-05-01 do 2024-04-30
PROMISCES focuses on understanding the origins, pathways and impacts of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and industrial persistent, mobile, and potentially toxic pollutants (iPM(T)s). PFAS, commonly referred to as "forever chemicals", and iPM(T)s pose risks to both human health and the circular economy (CE) resources, such as clean soil and drinking water.
The project aims to support the Zero Pollution Action Plan and facilitates the transition towards a circular economy by developing innovative technologies for monitoring, prevention, and mitigation of chemical pollution in various environmental compartments.
The PROMISCES activities considers CE routes including (i) semi-closed water cycles for drinking water supply at urban and catchment scale; (ii) wastewater reuse for irrigation in agriculture; (iii) nutrient recovery from sewage sludge; (iv) material recovery from dredged sediments and (v) groundwater and land remediation for safe reuse. These activities are centred on seven case studies, including locations in Spain, Italy, Bulgaria, France, Germany and the Danube river basin between Vienna and Budapest.
The project aims to support the Zero Pollution Action Plan and facilitates the transition towards a circular economy by developing innovative technologies for monitoring, prevention, and mitigation of chemical pollution in various environmental compartments.
The PROMISCES activities considers CE routes including (i) semi-closed water cycles for drinking water supply at urban and catchment scale; (ii) wastewater reuse for irrigation in agriculture; (iii) nutrient recovery from sewage sludge; (iv) material recovery from dredged sediments and (v) groundwater and land remediation for safe reuse. These activities are centred on seven case studies, including locations in Spain, Italy, Bulgaria, France, Germany and the Danube river basin between Vienna and Budapest.
PROMISCES develops, tests and demonstrates new technologies and innovations to prevent, monitor and remediate PFAS and iPM(T)s within the soil-sediment-water system under real-life conditions in the field.
Ten targeted methods for a variety of matrices were developed, and a final set of 57 PFAS can be analyzed. These matrices include surface water, groundwater and drinking water, methods for PFAS and their precursors and transformation products in landfill leachate, sewage sludge, membrane filtration concentrates, stack emissions, plants, sediments and soils. Ongoing works include the development of global PFAS approaches such as the AOF and TOP Assay methods. Additionally, field implementation is underway to demonstrate the efficacy of passive samplers for PFAS monitoring in urban water systems. Initial results from case studies are providing crucial insights into the occurrence and persistence of PFAS in various environments, such as riverbank filtration sites in the Upper Danube basin.
In silico models (QSPR models, artificial intelligence/machine learning approaches) to predict properties of PFAS (solubility, vapour pressure, Koa, Kow, Kaw, kH and Koc, aquatic toxicity) have been developed and published. Existing in silico models that predict properties (e,g, toxicity, solubility) from the structure of the compound (i.e. QSPR models) for PFAS compounds were improved and new ones were developed. Fate and transport modelling approaches are also developed to simulate PFAS transport in saturated and unsaturated zones, and sorption reactions at the air-water interface enhancing our ability to assess environmental risk-based exposure of PFAS and iPM(T)s.
Innovative technologies for the removal of PFAS and iPM(T)s were developed and demonstration phases highlighted their relevance at lab-scale and demonstrated at pilot-scale.
On-site chemical reduction process for the degradation of PFAS has been designed and tested. A process for flushing PFAS in high concentrations out of soils using non-Newtonian liquids (gels and foams) was developed, while upscale of ultrasonic cavitation combined with biological treatment shows promise for effective remediation.
A series of experiments with real groundwater to degrade PFAS and chlorinated compounds with different reagents were conducted (including ferrate, activated persulfate, or zero-valent iron) to evaluate PFAS degradation prior to field test.
A sediment treatment pilot was designed and a washing procedure for PFAS mobilisation has been developed.
Innovative drinking water treatment (DWT) trains capable of removing iPM(T)s and PFAS from water sources with high organic matter background were investigated by testing the removal capacity of multiple adsorptive media such as ion exchange resins, surface-modified clay at laboratory scale and pilot-scale.
To reduce the transfer of iPM(T)s and PFAS during water reuse for agricultural irrigation of WWTP effluent with high share of industrial wastewater, an electro-oxidation process was tested at laboratory and pilot scales to identify optimal operating conditions for removal of target iPM(T) and PFAS. Samples of effluent from several wastewater treatment plants with advanced treatment technologies were analysed for removal of PFAS and iPM(T)s, and a guideline document for operators was written.
Landfill leachate treatment options including pyrolysis, plasma treatment, and membrane filtration to eliminate PFAS emission into water-based CE routes were tested at laboratory scale. Pilot plants for NF/RO treatment of landfill leachate and testing of plasma treatment with PFOA model solutions are advancing towards practical applications.
To design the Decision Support Framework (DSF), available information and expectations from end-users have been collected. A database mapping 492 substances has been developed. Two key-stakeholders workshops have been organised to design solution strategies (Italy and Spain). Policy brief has been submitted for facilitating decision-making on PFAS management strategies.
Initiatives such as the CEN Workshop Agreement on "Solutions Strategies" and the launch of a MOOC (PFAS measurement and Analysis already on line) are fostering knowledge exchange and public awareness.
Ten targeted methods for a variety of matrices were developed, and a final set of 57 PFAS can be analyzed. These matrices include surface water, groundwater and drinking water, methods for PFAS and their precursors and transformation products in landfill leachate, sewage sludge, membrane filtration concentrates, stack emissions, plants, sediments and soils. Ongoing works include the development of global PFAS approaches such as the AOF and TOP Assay methods. Additionally, field implementation is underway to demonstrate the efficacy of passive samplers for PFAS monitoring in urban water systems. Initial results from case studies are providing crucial insights into the occurrence and persistence of PFAS in various environments, such as riverbank filtration sites in the Upper Danube basin.
In silico models (QSPR models, artificial intelligence/machine learning approaches) to predict properties of PFAS (solubility, vapour pressure, Koa, Kow, Kaw, kH and Koc, aquatic toxicity) have been developed and published. Existing in silico models that predict properties (e,g, toxicity, solubility) from the structure of the compound (i.e. QSPR models) for PFAS compounds were improved and new ones were developed. Fate and transport modelling approaches are also developed to simulate PFAS transport in saturated and unsaturated zones, and sorption reactions at the air-water interface enhancing our ability to assess environmental risk-based exposure of PFAS and iPM(T)s.
Innovative technologies for the removal of PFAS and iPM(T)s were developed and demonstration phases highlighted their relevance at lab-scale and demonstrated at pilot-scale.
On-site chemical reduction process for the degradation of PFAS has been designed and tested. A process for flushing PFAS in high concentrations out of soils using non-Newtonian liquids (gels and foams) was developed, while upscale of ultrasonic cavitation combined with biological treatment shows promise for effective remediation.
A series of experiments with real groundwater to degrade PFAS and chlorinated compounds with different reagents were conducted (including ferrate, activated persulfate, or zero-valent iron) to evaluate PFAS degradation prior to field test.
A sediment treatment pilot was designed and a washing procedure for PFAS mobilisation has been developed.
Innovative drinking water treatment (DWT) trains capable of removing iPM(T)s and PFAS from water sources with high organic matter background were investigated by testing the removal capacity of multiple adsorptive media such as ion exchange resins, surface-modified clay at laboratory scale and pilot-scale.
To reduce the transfer of iPM(T)s and PFAS during water reuse for agricultural irrigation of WWTP effluent with high share of industrial wastewater, an electro-oxidation process was tested at laboratory and pilot scales to identify optimal operating conditions for removal of target iPM(T) and PFAS. Samples of effluent from several wastewater treatment plants with advanced treatment technologies were analysed for removal of PFAS and iPM(T)s, and a guideline document for operators was written.
Landfill leachate treatment options including pyrolysis, plasma treatment, and membrane filtration to eliminate PFAS emission into water-based CE routes were tested at laboratory scale. Pilot plants for NF/RO treatment of landfill leachate and testing of plasma treatment with PFOA model solutions are advancing towards practical applications.
To design the Decision Support Framework (DSF), available information and expectations from end-users have been collected. A database mapping 492 substances has been developed. Two key-stakeholders workshops have been organised to design solution strategies (Italy and Spain). Policy brief has been submitted for facilitating decision-making on PFAS management strategies.
Initiatives such as the CEN Workshop Agreement on "Solutions Strategies" and the launch of a MOOC (PFAS measurement and Analysis already on line) are fostering knowledge exchange and public awareness.
The PROMISCES approach is a combination of innovations in controlled conditions and demonstrations in real-world situations, to provide solutions and guidance tools for preventing and mitigating risks associated with the presence of PFAS and iPM(T)s in the soil-sediment-water system, with particular focus on the circular economy.
New analytical methods for, e.g. detecting and quantifying PFAS and iPM(T)s in waters and complex matrices have been validated up to TRL 7-8 to ensure implementation during and beyond the project. Models for toxicological properties, fate and transport and the assessment of human exposure and hence, risk, will be developed to a level of maturity enabling PFAS and iPMT(s) management support at TRL 7 for simple end-use. PROMISCES introduces an integrated set of innovative treatment and remediation concepts for removing PFAS and iPM(T)s from soil, sediments, sludge, groundwater, wastewater, landfill leachate and drinking water. State-of-the-art technologies for the remediation will be brought to TRL 4-6 using a combination of controlled experiments and demonstrators.
The technical solutions developed within PROMISCES as well as other relevant information regarding the effective risk management of PFAS and iPM(T) substances in the soil-sediment-water system will be made available to stakeholders through the online DSF.
New analytical methods for, e.g. detecting and quantifying PFAS and iPM(T)s in waters and complex matrices have been validated up to TRL 7-8 to ensure implementation during and beyond the project. Models for toxicological properties, fate and transport and the assessment of human exposure and hence, risk, will be developed to a level of maturity enabling PFAS and iPMT(s) management support at TRL 7 for simple end-use. PROMISCES introduces an integrated set of innovative treatment and remediation concepts for removing PFAS and iPM(T)s from soil, sediments, sludge, groundwater, wastewater, landfill leachate and drinking water. State-of-the-art technologies for the remediation will be brought to TRL 4-6 using a combination of controlled experiments and demonstrators.
The technical solutions developed within PROMISCES as well as other relevant information regarding the effective risk management of PFAS and iPM(T) substances in the soil-sediment-water system will be made available to stakeholders through the online DSF.