A next generation nano media tailored to capture and recycle hazardous micropollutants in contaminated industrial wastewater.

Project Information

CGM

Grant agreement ID: 805997

DOI

10.3030/805997

Project closed

EC signature date 29 March 2018

Start date 1 April 2018

End date 31 August 2020

Funded under

• INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Leadership in enabling and industrial technologies – Nanotechnologies

Total cost

€ 1 953 701,25

EU contribution

€ 1 367 590,88

Coordinated by

PURAFFINITY LTD
United Kingdom

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - CGM (A next generation nano media tailored to capture and recycle hazardous micropollutants in contaminated industrial wastewater.)

Reporting period: 2018-12-01 to 2020-08-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Our freshwater reserves are increasingly polluted due to the accumulation of certain hazardous chemicals that remain in wastewater after current treatment methods. This leads to increasing water stress, which will affect 47% of the world’s population by 2030. We aim to address this issue with a low-cost, low-energy solution using biological materials. Puraffinity (formerly CustoMem) has developed a granular media (CGM) to specifically bind the target hazardous micropollutants in water such as pesticides, pharmaceuticals and high-performance chemicals. The key objectives of the project are to optimise the production process and application of CGM and validate its suitability for key target markets.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

"During the project, PUraffinity has been focused on completing testing, analysis and definition of ""real world"" scenarios in which the customised granular media can be applied. It is now ready for use in a demonstration with a potential customer, planned as the final step in confirming its market readiness. As with during the first reporting period, Puraffinity implemented a comprehensive communication plan, using its website, blog, newsletters, article releases on other websites and conferences to raise awareness and generate interest among its target audience."

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

CGM is superior to other solutions (such as advanced oxidation processes, adosrption resins, UV treatment, carbon nanotubes) in a number of key parameters. CGM can rapidly capture micropollutants (>90% in ~10 seconds) reducing concentrations to parts per trillion (ppt) levels. It operates like an industrial-scale Brita-type water filter, as drop-in to existing steel tank infrastructure and requiring a smaller footprint than Granular Activated Carbon infrastructure. CGM production and treatment operation are low energy (<0.5 kWh/kg media and < 0.01 kWh/M3 of treated water). CGM tackles the problem of unsustainable water supply through targeted capture of micropollutants from industrial wastewater that are challenging and energy intensive to remove with available technologies. Improving the sustainability of water supply will have a significant societal impact and also presents a large economic opportunity for Puraffinity.

CGM