Wastewater Treatment

Development and validation of combined procedures for the removal of natural and anthropogenic pollutants in municipal / industrial wastewater treatment processes;

Industrial research for identifying / optimizing advanced technological solutions for cleaning the specific pollution matrix.

Treatibility tests for development / optimization of drinking technologies (ground and surface sources);

  • Development / optimization of wastewater treatment bio/technologies.
  • Development / optimization of soil remediation bio/technologies
  • Technological validation – experimental verification of treatment / remediation performances;
  • Technological validation – theoretical validation by using modeling-simulation tools;

ADVANCED DEGRADATION OF TOXIC ORGANIC MICROPOLUTANTS FROM WASTEWATER BY SOLAR PHOTOCATALYSIS

Due to their toxic character and increased resistance to degradation, micro-pollutants like chlorinated aromatics and nitro-substituted aromatic derivatives are difficult to be removed from wastewater by classical physical-chemical and biological processes. An alternative advanced treatment method is represented by solar photocatalysis using catalysts based on metals/non-metals doped TiO2, photoactive in visible domain. The oxidative species involved in micro-pollutants conversion are hydroxyl, superoxide and hydroperoxyl radicals generated by sunlight excitation of catalyst.

The main advantages of solar photocatalysis application are as follows:

  • Advanced degradation (≥ 99%) of toxic micro-pollutants to intermediates with improved biodegradability characteristics;
  • Using an unconventional energy source – solar energy;
  • Does not require expensive oxidation reagents;
  • Does not induce secondary pollution.

Projects developed in the field:

  • Contract 642 / 03.10.2005, Excellence Research Program – “Use of nanostructured materials into AOPs processes for the advanced oxidation of prior pollutants from wastewater”
  • Contract 139 / 06.07.2012, National Research Plan II – Partnership in Priority Areas Program – “Oxide nanomaterials with photocatalytic properties applied in the advanced degradation of xenobiotic compounds from water”.

CPatent request in the field:

  • A/00693/03.10.2016 – „Advanced treatment of wastewater contaminated with 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene”, authors: Nitoi Ines, Cosma Cristiana, Dinu Laurentiu, Crisan Maria, Oancea Petruta, Ianculescu Adelina, Constantin Lucian, Cristea Ionut.

Alternative wastewater treatment biotechnologies

Integration of microalgae biomass in biological treatment of municipal/industrial wastewater

Advantages that could be obtained in comparison with activated sludge-based processes:

  • Replacement of the mechanical aeration means with oxygen generated-biological processes
  • Greenhouse gas mitigation, mainly CO2
  • Potential increase of the residual biomass recovery, microalgae biomass being recognized as a valuable feedstock in a wide range of industrial processes
  • Production of biofuels.

Conducted projects in the field of wastewater treatment biotechnologies based on microalgae-bacteria biomass:

  • PN 09-13 03 12 „Alternative solution for wastewater treatment by using microalgae-activated sludge system” (2013-2015)
  • PN-III-P4-IDPCE-2016-0865 “Advanced investigations on microalgae-bacteria relationships within the newly developed granular wastewater treatment system” – ALBAREL – PNCDI III (2017 – 2019)

Patent application:

RO 130247 – A0 “Procedure for obtaining mixed microalgae-bacteria granules for wastewater treatment”