WP1
Wastewater Lab1 Validation
Lead beneficiary: UPORTO – Dr. Vitor Vilar
Main objectives: Explore the uniquely synergistic relationship between municipal WWTPs and green hydrogen production that is both positive for the environment and partially subsidise hydrogen production via electrolysis and increase its commercial viability.
This WP consists of four tasks aiming at:
| Task 1.1: Optimization of a NF/RO unit for secondary municipal wastewater treatment targeting a high-quality permeate |
| Task 1.2: Assess the impact of water impurities in recycled water on PEM electrolysers |
| Task 1.3: NF/RO retentate treatment for safe discharge into the aquatic system |
| Task 1.4: Simulation and design of the integrated approach to link WWTPs with sustainable green hydrogen energy production by electrolysis |
WP2
Rural Water Lab2 Validation
Lead beneficiary: UNIBAS (Italy) – Dr. Donatella Battaglia
Main objectives: To showcase the development and establishment of a cost-effective, innovative, and environmentally sustainable water & nutrient recycling from domestic WW in rural areas. This will be obtained through: (i) selecting a subgroup of indicator emerging contaminants to evaluate treatments efficiency, (ii) developing & optimising the proposed treatments to improve the removal of emerging contaminants; (iii) the achievement of better and more suitable treatment of non-conventional water resources according to local needs and standards.
This WP consists of three tasks aiming at:
| Task 2.1: Water characterization and definition of the NeWater framework |
| Task 2.2: Assessment of low-cost decentralized wastewater treatment |
| Task 2.3: Modelling |
WP3
Effluent Desalination and Nutrients Recovery Lab3
Lead beneficiary: BGU (Isreal) – Prof. Roy Bernstein
Main objectives: BGU team will modify and investigate low-energy RO membranes for advanced desalination at high recovery ratio (KPI >90%) (TRL3 to 5). We will investigate linear or branched PZI brush coated RO membranes14 to mitigate scaling and fouling for high recovery brackish water and effluent desalination to produce ultra-pure water for hydrogen production. These membranes will be utilized by UPORTO. The team will also develop nanocomposite activated hydrochar (AHC) originating from the WW sludge to recover (by adsorption) N and from the desalination effluent brine (KPI >15 mgN/g hydrochar and >20 mgP/g hydrochar) and applied as a slow release sustainable fertiliser in agriculture (TRL3 to 5). The AHC will be utilised by UPORTO, ICRA, and UNIBAS.
This WP consists of two tasks aiming at:
| Task 3.1: Development of anti-scaling reverse osmosis (RO) membrane for wastewater effluent and brackish water desalination at high recovery ratio |
| Task 3.2: Developing a nano-composite-activated hydrochar for advanced ammonium and phosphate recovery for the effluent desalination concentrate |
WP4
Urban Water Lab4 Validation
Lead beneficiary: ICRA (Spain) – Dr. Meritxell Gros Calvo
Main objectives: The objective will be to test unconventional greywater (GW) reclamation for edible plant production in a decentralised system. The coupling of nature-based solutions with grey-technology will be also considered. Reference crops as well as crops adaptable to dry climates will be tested. Emerging pollutants will be considered and the risk assessment for human health evaluated.
This WP consists of four tasks aiming at:
| Task 4.1: Set-up of unconventional greywater reclamation demonstration for the reference crop production |
| Task 4.2: Coupling of the nature-based solution with a grey technology |
| Task 4.3: Demonstration of greywater reclamation with the selected crop adaptable to dry and hot climates |
| Task 4.4: Human health risk assessment of crops produced with greywater reclamation system |
WP5
Modeling, Social & Economic Benefit
Lead beneficiary: SAPIENZA (Italy) – Loveille Jun Gonzaga
Main objectives: The WP is entirely devoted to the findings of optimal conditions, evaluated on any aspect. Not only the environmental impact and the production yields will be taken into consideration, but either the social impact and the feasibility of the knowledge transfer activity. All the information, in the beginning, evaluated in single tasks, will be then combined and evaluated all together in a very holistic approach. This will conduct a model able to predict any condition and, mainly, to find the optimized process for any specific boundary set.
This WP consists of three tasks aiming at:
| Task 5.1: Economic impacts and returns |
| Task 5.2: Processes modelling and oprimization |
| Task 5.3: LCA, TEA & S-LCA |
WP6
Communication, Dissemination Activities & Stakeholder Engagement
Lead beneficiary: SAPIENZA (Italy) – Dr. Michael Edgardo Pérez Roa
Main objectives: To guarantee the success of the project, a strong Communication, dissemination activities & Stakeholder engagement is vital. Therefore, we intended to design a plan that outlines the core activities aiming to: (a) inform about and promote the project and its results; (b) inform about and ensure results are available for others to use; (c) guarantee the concrete use of research results during and beyond the project duration. The plan will be regularly updated since some additional inputs will result from the research and innovation performed in WPs. This plan will serve as a guide for the project partners and at the same time will provide a variety of communication and dissemination tools/activities to reach all audiences that require the active participation of all partners.
This WP consists of three tasks aiming at:
| Task 6.1: Communication activities |
| Task 6.2: Dissemination activities |
| Task 6.3: Social & Governance activities |
WP7
Coordination and Management Activities
Lead beneficiary: SAPIENZA (Italy) – Prof. Antonio Zuorro
Main objectives: The project’s management structure encompasses 3 formal bodies that retain executive, legislative and judicative powers, respectively.
This WP consists of three tasks aiming at:
| Task 7.1: Management and coordination tools |
| Task 7.2: Knowledge, administrative, financial management |
| Task 7.3: Risk Management and Quality assurance |