NanoPerWater

Fabrication of a novel water filtration membrane based on NanoPerovskite for abatement of CECs.


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NanoPerWater Project

Europe is striving for clean surface waters. One of the significant challenges is the pollution of wastewater and surface water with organic micropollutants such as pharmaceuticals, flame-retardants, plasticizers, biocides, and pesticides, known as Contaminants of Emerging Concerns (CECs). At the moment, there is no available process capable of absolute removal or abatement. We want to commercialize the first and unique Silicon Carbaid membrane for water treatment capable of CECs abatement.

Recent research of the European Commission has indicated that exposure to Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CECs) may pose risks to human health, mainly after CECs have been detected, at low levels, in the drinking water in many countries. NanoPerWater’s goal is to introduce innovative multifunctional membranes for water filtration and the abatement of CECs designed to protect the health of current and future generations and ensure sustainability.

The main results of the project will be the production of innovative and unique multifunctional membranes capable for CECs abatement that will be tested and qualified, as well as the development of the business and commercialization plans of the multifunctional membranes Silicon Carbide (SiC) water membranes, coated with perovskite nano-powders, are able to degrade organic water pollutants (CECs) with moderate heating of the filtration stack.

The coating process of SiC membranes will be realized through a sonochemical method resulting in a stable coating with durable functionality. The functionalized membranes will be offered for different applications and installations.

This project will deliver innovative multifunctional membranes for water filtration and the abatement of contaminants of emerging concerns. These membranes will have thermocatalytic properties and will be possible to use in the drinking water sector with more efficient and anti-fouling ceramic membranes.

Haris Kadrispahic

Haris Kadrispahic

Head of Innovation, LiqTech Ceramics

Work Plan

WP1- Synthesis, characterization, and optimization of perovskite nanopowders.

Objective. Synthesis of optimized perovskite nanopowders active as thermocatalyst for the coating monolithic SiC flat sheet membranes Description. CNR will synthesize the perovskite nanopowders based on the target chemical composition Sr0.85Ce0.15FeO3-x (SF). CNR, in synergy UNITO and AAU, will characterize the perovskite nanopowders and optimize their morphology, chemical composition, and surface behaviors as a function of their thermo-catalytic performance. This WP will be developed in conjunction with WP2 and WP3 and WP5 development, taking into consideration: the nanopowder activity, the amounts of nanopowders to be produced per batch, and the nano-safety issues. The development and upscale of the SCS synthesis process will be developed in strict connection with other partners operating in this and other WPs (LQT, BRD (BIU), UTECH, AAU)in order to enable industrial-scale synthesis. In particular, BRD (and BIU) will provide input related to the perovskite coating, to allow selecting the perovskite nanopowders features that are more advantageous for a better coating on SiC monoliths; AAU will perform lab-scale catalytic tests on the SF nanopowders with improved features in order to assess the thermocatalytic activity; LQT will provide select the SiC membranes that best match with the nanopowders and with their coating process.

WP2- Development, and optimization of SiC membranes and coating recipes.

Objective 1. Specify the optimal sonochemical coating recipe to deposit perovskite thermocatalytic nanoparticles on SiC monolith substrate and identify the processing parameter to be monitored, with the specification of sonotrodes.

Objective 2. Design and development of SIC porous membranes suitable for, coating process development and for final beta testing of the pilot units for water purification; obtain the optimal sonochemical coating recipe to deposit thermo-catalytic perovskite NPs on SiC membrane and identify the processing parameter to be monitored for the industrial up-scaled unit.

WP3- Manufacturing of the perovskite NPs synthesis- and of the sonochemical coating- upscaled units.

Objective. Design, develop and manufacture the industrial-scale perovskite nanopowder production and sonochemical functionalization pilot unit for depositing perovskite MPs on SiC monolith membranes for water filtration.

WP4- Process testing and validation, product qualification, and sustainability assessment.

Objective. Qualification of the process and of the products, correlation of functionalities obtained by sonication process with the industrial scale coating unit process parameters to optimize industrial-scale process recipes.

WP5- Business development and commercialization plan.

Objective. Development of the business plan and commercialization plans, based on updated market data and on specific costing and sustainability assessment based on real industrial scale functionalization process.

WP6- Management and Coordination.

Objective. Guarantee the achievements of the whole project objectives through a transparent, efficient, and effective technical and administrative management of the project. Promote the exchange of information among partners and efficient coordination of activities, overseeing the processes and tasks developed in compliance with the description of work. Monitor and assure the accomplishment of tasks and meeting of deliverables deadlines, verification of the project milestones achievement. Oversee the due balance in resources allocation and the proportionality in resources allocation to the actual effort. Support the communication process internally in the Consortium and disseminate results outside the consortium by providing the due communication of publishability or patentability. Implement the exploitation plan towards product commercialization and stimulate the market for future uptake of the multifunctional filtration membranes for CECs abatement.

Beneficiaries

Liqtech Ceramics Logo

LiqTech Ceramics A/S

For more than two decades, LiqTech Ceramics has manufactured products of silicon carbide membranes for gas and liquid purification. Using nanotechnology, we develop proprietary products using patented silicon carbide technology. Our products are based on unique silicon carbide ceramic membranes that facilitate new applications and improve existing technologies. 

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Aalborg Univeristy Center For Membrane Technology Logo

Aalborg University - Center for Membrane Technology

Aalborg University (AAU) has been providing students with academic excellence, cultural engagement, and personal development since its inception in 1974. According to Times Higher Education, AAU is n. 23 in the Top of universities established within the past 50 years. Section of Chemistry-AAU participates in this project by providing expertise in the development and testing of the membrane unit. The section has dedicated machines for film coating, particle size measurements, and an instrument for XRD and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) analysis, various lab-scale filtration units, and equipment to measure contact angle and streaming potential. The institute has been involved in numerous Danish and European projects concerning water purification technologies.

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BRD Logo

Bar-Ilan Institute of Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials

BRD has been working and thus investing in the sonochemical functionalization process of surfaces. Many efforts have been invested in the past years to reach a stable and efficient coating process.

In NanoPerWater project BRD will further exploit this expertise to develop receipts for new nanoparticle coatings, expanding the application to other sectors and new surfaces.

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Università Degli Studi Di Torino Logo

University of Turin

The Torino University is one of the most ancient and prestigious Italian Universities.

Hosting over 79.000 students and with 120 buildings in different areas in Turin and in key places in Piedmont, it can be considered as “city-within-a-city”, promoting culture and producing research, innovation, training, and employment. It is today one of the largest Italian Universities, open to international research and training. It carries out scientific research and organizes courses in all disciplines, except for Engineering and Architecture. It is an integral part of the community, acting for reviving urban and suburban areas, promoting cultural interaction, social integration, and development, encouraging dialogue and insight into current realities. Also, it makes an active stand on a number of social issues, such as environment, drugs, equal opportunities, and rights of people with special needs. It also acts at an international level through partnership arrangements with India, China, developing countries in Asia, Latin America, Eastern Europe, the Mediterranean Area, and with a number of international organizations operating in the region.

Within the Torino University, the Chemistry Department is involved in multi-disciplinary research activities, ranging from analytical and environmental chemistry to industrial chemistry and metallurgy, focusing on the underlying foundations of chemical science-related phenomena.

The Department promotes cooperation and joint research projects with partners both within and outside the University.

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Institute For The Study Of Nanostructured Materials Logo

Institute for the study of nanostructured materials

ISMN is a CNR research institute internationally renowned for its multidisciplinary activities in the field of nanostructured materials and enabling processes and technologies. The institute aims at generating state-of-the-art knowledge in the field of Chemical Manufacturing and Science and Technology of Materials, and at exploiting the research results through the relationship with the industrial and business world.

In a stimulating and dynamic environment, thanks to the presence of many young researchers and PhDs from various countries of the world, ISMN has a prestigious scientific track record and regularly performs industrial research programs focus on specific applications.

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Unitech

Unitech designs and produces high-power ultrasound systems for all typical industrial applications, such as cleaning, mixing, disaggregation, homogenization, sonochemistry, vegetal extraction, disinfection. Unitech is fully dedicated to the research and development of innovative ultrasound solutions very quality and efficiency are the drivers for Unitech activity.

Through a co-design with customers, Unitech develops and manufactures tailored made ultrasound plants, owning an internal design department and a highly specialized and equipped laboratory. The company provides feasibility studies, preliminary simulations, prototype realization, and industrial scale-up and integration. Unitech produces ultrasound generators and transducer for different application sectors such as research and development, renewable energy, medical, cosmetics and pharmaceutical, food and water treatment. Surface treatment is one of the major application sectors for Unitech in the last years, the acquired expertise pushed Unitech to a leading position in the surface treatment sector for continuous research on dynamic and flexible solutions, responding to various requests. Unitech specializes in manufacturing ultrasound generators, transducers, sonotrodes application, and vegetal extraction tanks.

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Partners

Project HUB 360 Logo

Project HUB-360

Project HUB-360 (PRJ) is a consultancy company founded in 2005 that offers solutions to companies and R&D centers in the Design & Development of innovation projects, R&D support, Technology Transfer, Scientific & Technological consultancy, Training & Communication services, and technical brokerage. Our approach is based on integration, sharing, and partnership-based collaboration thanks to the contribution of skilled and experienced professionals in different fields related to science, technology, and communication and a wide European network of Universities, Research Centers, and companies.

PRJ has an assessed experience in the development, participation, and management of European and Regional projects. Thanks to specific internal expertise in quantitative analysis, PRJ performs Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Life Cycle Costing (LCC) to evaluate and monitor the environmental sustainability and demonstrate the economic feasibility of products and processes.

Servicing for marketing and communication with specific experience in communication plan development, events, and seminars organization, are provided to support the implementation of innovative solutions. Moreover, PRJ performs exploitation management roles, gap analysis, and business plans for innovative processes and products.

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