NanoTheC-Aba European project aims to deliver an energy efficient new integrated prototype system for water purification, composed of: an ultra-stable silicon carbide (SiC) ultra/nNnofiltration (UF/NF) membrane, a innovative nano-enabled thermocatalytic energy efficient packed-bed reactor (TPBR), and a nano-enabled antimicrobial microfiltration (MF) membrane. The TPBR beads are obtained by recycling SiC membranes scraps deriving from the ordinary production process and will be coated with thermocatalytic perovskite-nanopowders allowing full abatement of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) pathogens at mild temperatures without need of chemicals and light sources. The MF membrane is coated with antibacterial titania-silica-core shell nanoparticles for inactivating AMR bacteria, while removing suspended solids.

The new system is compact, amenable to scale-up, and ease to integrate in mariculture, aquaculture, tannery, hospital, and other industrial wastewaters treatment facilities, providing safe and efficient operation. The integration of the three components allows the optimization of each system unit, both alone and in combination, boosting the efficiency of the process and ensuring high water quality, making it suitable for consumption, by enabling a water and SiC recycling multi-circular model.

Main goals

Development and production of an integrated system for waste water treatment made by three components:

1. Prefiltering unit of SiC membranes with antibacterial functionality (AM-MF) for AMR pathogens abatement;

2. Ultra/nanofiltration membrane (UF/NF) for pre-concentration of the CECs contaminated water;

3. Thermocatalytic packed bed reactor for the generation of OH radicals able to abate CECs and residues of AMR bacteria via an Advanced Oxidation Process (AOP).

Project number: ID 402 – No. 869178

Project duration: September 2021 to August 2024

Total eligible cost: 930 284.00 €

Financial support EU: 749 499.00 €

Project type: ERA-NET

Intervention region: Europe