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Life Cycle Assessment application for emerging membrane recycling technologies: from reverse osmosis into forward osmosis.
No full textRecycling end-of-life (EoL) reverse osmosis (RO) membrane modules into forward osmosis (FO) membranes is an innovative alternative to approach membrane science into Circular Economy (CE). Membrane modules are chemically modified and disassembled. This strategy achieves the valorisation of 69% of the membrane area and 63.7% of the plastic components. This study aims to assess the environmental potential of the above-mentioned recycling strategy. Therefore, a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) was conducted with a substitution approach. The recycling strategy was compared with commercial Thin Film Composite (TFC) and Cellulose Triacetate (CTA) membranes at two different solution concentrations. To introduce the membrane performance comparison, a substitutability factor (SF) was developed with the flow ratio. OpenLCA 1.7.4 with Ecoinvent v3.4 and ILCD-midpoint and endpoint impact methods were used. The inventories of the commercial membranes were developed through membrane surface characterisation techniques, patents and lab protocols. One critical point during the inventory development was the estimation of solvent losses through BREF documents. However, a sensitivity analysis was performed to evaluate its relevance in decision making. Results pointed out the interest in almost all ILCD-midpoint categories and all the ILCD-endpoint categories. IR-hh, IR-e and Feu Categories were unfavourable coinciding with low environmental credits of the plastic valorisation. Sensitivity analysis identified solvent losses as a source of error
Electrochemically assisted production of biogenic palladium nanoparticles for the catalytic removal of micropollutants in wastewater treatment plants effluent
No full textBiogenic palladium nanoparticles (bio-Pd NPs) are used for the reductive transformation and/or dehalogenation of persistent micropollutants. In this work, H2 (electron donor) was produced in situ by an electrochemical cell, permitting steered production of differently sized bio-Pd NPs. The catalytic activity was first assessed by the degradation of methyl orange. The NPs showing the highest catalytic activity were selected for the removal of micropollutants from secondary treated municipal wastewater.
The synthesis at different H2 flow rates (0.310 L/hr or 0.646 L/hr) influenced the bio-Pd NPs size. NPs produced over 6 hr at a low H2 flow rate had a larger size (D50 = 39.0 nm) than those produced in 3 hr at a high H2 flow rate (D50 = 23.2 nm). Removal of 92.1% and 44.3% of methyl orange was obtained after 30 min for the NPs with sizes of 39.0 nm and 23.2 nm, respectively. Bio-Pd NPs of 39.0 nm were used to treat micropollutants present in secondary treated municipal wastewater at concentrations ranging from µg/L to ng/L. Effective removal of 8 compounds was observed: ibuprofen (69.5%) 94.3%) 90% efficiency. Overall, these data indicate that the size, and thus the catalytic activity of the NPs can be steered and that the removal of challenging micropollutants at environmentally relevant concentrations can be achieved through the use of bio-Pd NPs
SCHEER (Scientific Committee on Health, Environmental and Emerging Risks), Final Opinion on Draft Environmental Quality Standards for Priority Substances under the Water Framework Directive - Chlorpyrifos, 15-16 June 2022
No full textSCHEER (Scientific Committee on Health, Environmental and Emerging Risks), Preliminary Opinion on Draft Environmental Quality Standards for Priority Substances under the Water Framework Directive - Clarithromycin, 6 May 2022
No full textA Novel Application of Recycled Ultrafiltration Membranes in an Aerobic Membrane Bioreactor (aMBR): A Proof-of-Concept Study
No full textInfluence of microplastics on the bioconcentration of organic contaminants in fish: Is the “Trojan horse” effect a matter of concern?
No full textMicroplastics (MPs) have been shown to act as sorbent phases and thus carriers of organic chemicals in the aquatic environment. Therefore, concerns exist that MP ingestion increases the uptake and accumulation of organic chemicals by aquatic organisms. However, it is unclear if this pathway is relevant compared to other exposure pathways. Here we compared the bioconcentration capacity of two hydrophobic organic chemicals (i. e., chlorpyrifos and hexachlorobenzene) in a freshwater fish (Danio rerio) when exposed to chemicals through water only and in combination with contaminated polyethylene MPs. Additionally, a suite of biomarker analyses (acetylcholine esterase, glutathione S-transferase, alkaline phosphatase, catalase) was carried out to test whether MPs can enhance the toxic stress caused by chemicals. Two 14-day semi-static experiments (one for each
chemical) were carried out with adult fish. Each experiment consisted of (1) a control treatment (no chemicals, no MPs); (2) a treatment in which fish were exposed to chlorpyrifos or hexachlorobenzene only through water; (3) a treatment in which fish were exposed to the chemicals through water and contaminated polyethylene MPs (100 mg MP/L). Two additional treatments were included for the biomarker analysis. These contained MPs at two different concentrations (5 and 100 mg MP/L) but no chemicals. The presence of contaminated MPs in
contaminated water did not enhance but rather decreased the bioconcentration of both chemicals in fish compared to the treatment that contained contaminated water in absence of MPs. This was more pronounced for hexachlorobenzene, which is more hydrophobic than chlorpyrifos. Enzyme activity levels in fish were only significantly altered in the presence of MPs for alkaline phosphatase. This study indicates that MP presence in freshwater ecosystems is not expected to increase the risks associated with chemical bioconcentration in aquatic organisms and that other exposure pathways (i.e., uptake via respiration, skin permeability) may be of higher importance
SCHEER (Scientific Committee on Health, Environmental and Emerging Risks), Final Opinion on Draft Environmental Quality Standards for Priority Substances under the Water Framework Directive - carbamazepine, 20 May 2022
No full textImplementation of Smart Buoys and Satellite-Based Systems for the Remote Monitoring of Harmful Algae Bloom in Inland Waters
No full textPharmaceutical and transformation products during unplanned water reuse: Insights into natural attenuation, plant uptake and human health impact under field conditions
No full textIn urban and periurban areas, agricultural soils are often irrigated with surface water containing a complex mixture of contaminants due to wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluent discharges. The unplanned water reuse of these resources for crop irrigation can represent a pathway for contaminant propagation and a potential health risk due to their introduction in the food chain. The aim of this study is to provide data about the magnitude of attenuation processes and plant uptake, allowing for a reliable assessment of contaminant transfer among compartments and of the human health risk derived from unplanned water reuse activities. Target compounds are 25 pharmaceuticals, including transformation products (TPs). The field site is an agricultural parcel where maize is irrigated by a gravity-fed surface system supplied by the Jarama river, a water course strongly impacted by WWTP effluents. Throughout the 3-month irrigation period, irrigation water and water infiltrating through the vadose zone were sampled. The agricultural soil was collected before and after the irrigation campaign, and maize was sampled before harvesting. All selected compounds are detected in irrigation water (up to 12,867 ng L−1). Metformin, two metamizole TPs and valsartan occur with the highest concentrations. For most pharmaceuticals, results demonstrate a high natural attenuation during soil infiltration (>60%). However, leached concentrations of some compounds can be still at concern level (>400 ng L−1). A persistent behavior is observed for carbamazepine, carbamazepine epoxide and sulfamethoxazole. Pharmaceutical soil contents are in the order of ng g−1 and positively ionized compounds accumulate more effectively. Results also indicate the presence of a constant pool of drugs in soils. Only neutral and cationic pharmaceuticals are taken up in maize tissues, mainly in the roots. There is an insignificant threat to human health derived from maize consumption however, additional toxicity tests are recommended for 4AAA and acetaminophen