Melhorar a água para um ambiente mais seguro

The continuous and increasing use of different types of pharmaceuticals by the population is the source of their presence and (their metabolites) in the environment. Many of them are poorly biodegradable and are not removed efficiently by the conventional treatments used in WWTP, which may cause potentially hazardous effects on the environment and human health. Another class of EEC is microplastics, which have origin in the daily use of plastics in industrial, agricultural and domestic activities. Their excessive amount, improper disposal, inherent toxicity associated with their chemical composition, easy migration due to their tiny size, and the possibility of carrying other pollutants make them one of the biggest environmental challenges nowadays. The aging of MP due to weathering effects causes changes in their characteristics (size decrease, irregular surface and increase of specific surface area) that enhance their potential for migration and transport of other contaminants. Moreover, their potential chronic hazardous effects on the ecosystems are still unknown. The WISE project has as its main goal to develop efficient, sustainable and cost-effective treatment processes to remove these ECC in urban WWTP, contributing to improving the water quality and environmental safety. Other challenges, such as mitigating climate change effects, implementing circular economy principles, reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and improving energy efficiency and sludge management (energetic and organic valorization) will be pursued, which are framed in the EGD and SDG, and aligned with the European Commission’s Proposal for the Recast of the Urban Wastewater Treatment 91/271/EEC and the Regulation (EU) 2020/741 water reuse. The proposed innovative treatment approach addresses simultaneously the removal of two types of ECC, MP and PH, both from wastewaters and sludge, using green technologies that combine the use of biological processes (phycoremediation, mycoremediation and bioremediation with yeasts) and natural products (vegetal sources). The degradation of the selected ECC through anaerobic digestion and the potential of organic and energetic valorization of the by-products from the biological wastewater treatments studied through anaerobic co-digestion will be also evaluated. The use of microalgae has advantages the nutrient removal and the absorption of carbon dioxide during photosynthesis (reducing GHG emissions) and may be used as co-substrates in anaerobic sludge digestion, balancing the nitrogen-carbon ratio and enhancing biogas production. The fungi's extracellular enzymes will be extracted from a waste of the mushroom production, a lignocellulosic substrate used for their cultivation, allowing its valorization. Also, the use of spent yeasts from the brewery industry to remove ECC is a potential form of valorization. The WISE project stands from previous research as it focuses on finding efficient, sustainable and economical solutions to be implemented in real WWTP to enhance the removal of PH and MP ECC both from wastewater and sludge. The proposed integrated solution will also contribute to the valorization of wastes, following the principles of circular economy, the reduction of GHG emissions and the increase of energetic efficiency of the WWTP. The team’s multidisciplinary, embracing knowledge and extensive experience in analytical monitoring, wastewater treatment and LCA, is the key factor to achieve the WISE project goals.