Objectives

The scope of the project is to design, develop and validate at laboratory scale a continuous flow, efficient technology, based on Vis/solar-active TiO2-carbon derivatives (graphene oxide-GO, g-C3N4) composite photocatalytic beads, for the advanced treatment of wastewaters with low organic pollutants concentration targeting the water reuse.

  • O1. Design, development and characterization of the VIS-/Solar-active composite photocatalytic beads for the laboratory demonstrator photocatalytic reactor
  • O2. Modelling, design and development of the continuous flow photocatalytic reactor with VIS-/Solar-active composite beads
  • O3. Design, development and validation of the continuous flow photocatalytic technology at demonstrator level.
  • O4. Development and implementation of the managerial framework and of the dissemination and exploitation plan

 

Summary

The project’s scope is to design, develop and validate at laboratory level a continuous flow, efficient technology, based on VIS/solar-active TiO2-GO and TiO2-gC3N4 composite photocatalytic (PC) beads, in suspension, for the advanced wastewater treatment with low organic pollutants load targeting the water reuse.

The demonstration technology has 3 key components: (a) the VIS/solar-active composite thin films based on TiO2 - 2D carbon derivatives with controlled properties, deposited on glass or silica-gel beads with a diameter of 3–5mm (TRL start=2, TRL end=3) integrated in (b) a continuous flow, tubular photocatalytic reactor (1–3 L) (TRL start=2, TRL end=3) to develop (c) the laboratory demonstration technology when the PC beads will be tested in the photocatalytic reactor for the advanced wastewater treatment, for methylene blue and imidacloprid (10 ppm) removal, under simulated (300-1000 W/m2) or natural solar radiation (TRL start=2, TRL end=4). The PC beads’ stability will be tested in up to 3 photocatalytic consecutive cycles (each: 1h dark + 8h irradiation), monitoring the changes in the structural, morphological, optical and photocatalytic properties of the thin films. A regeneration protocol based on multiple rinsing cycles using deionized water (with or without UV radiation) will also be formulated.

The project’s activities correspond to 3 scientific objectives and 1 support objective, leading to the design and development of the individual components and their integration in the major outcome of this project: the novel technology that will be validated at laboratory level.

The dissemination activities target the scientific community, the stakeholders and the general public.