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Specialised and sustainable technologies based on advanced oxidation processes for wastewater / sludge treatment and capitalisation of renewable resources in wastewater treatment processes – WATERTREAT

Team Leader: Dr. Ing. Lucian Alexandru CONSTANTIN

Short description: The project is focussed on development of environmental technologies (starting from TRL 2 and reaching TRL 4):

Laboratory level technologies / experimental models (EM) based on advanced oxidation processes for municipal wastewater treatment, treatment of sludge generated by food industry, leachates generated by municipal waste storages:

EM1 Hybrid technology using solar photocatalytic membrane reactor (PMR), validated at laboratory level for municipal wastewater treatment and removal of pharmaceutical compounds;
EM2 Emergent technology based on ozone and sodium percarbonate for treatment of liquid sludge generated by food industry;
EM3 Technology for treatment of leachate generated by municipal waste storage deposits

Laboratory level technologies / experimental models (EM) for superior capitalisation of biomass within wastewater treatment processes:

EM4 Validated laboratory technology for renewable hydrogen production from biomass resources used within wastewater treatment processes;
EM5 Technology for metallic ions removal from wastewater using new functionalised cellulose based materials.

Phase 1/2023:

Preliminary research studies on proposed technological concepts.

Specific requirements established for the proposed technological concepts:

Research report (experimental study) on synthesis and characterisation of photo catalysts and polymeric membranes (EM1)
Research report (experimental study) on critical parameters of the experimental model of hybrid advanced oxidation processes with ozone and percarbonate (EM2)
Research report (experimental study) on critical functionalities of bio-oxidation processes (EM3)
Research report (experimental study) on testing conditions and operational parameters (EM4)
Research report (experimental study) on adsorption capacity of synthetic cellulose and maize stalk (EM5)

Phase 2/2023: Elaboration of experimental models

First experimental models available:

Research report (experimental study) on elaboration of solar PMR experimental model (EM1)
Research report (experimental study) on experimental models for percarbonate and ozone treatment (EM2)
Research report (experimental study) on SBR type experimental model (EM3)
Research report (experimental study) on microalgae cultivation experiments and assessment of bio hydrogen generation capacity (EM4)
Research report (experimental study) on experimental model for obtaining materials with complexing properties (EM5)

Phase 3/2024 – Testing of experimental models

Tested and selected experimental models

Research report on testing solar PMR experimental model (experimental study)
Research report on testing experimental model based on percarbonate and ozone treatment (experimental study)
Research report on testing SBR type experimental model (experimental study)
Research report on microalgae integration within wastewater treatment processes (experimental study)
Research report on testing experimental model for obtaining materials with complexing properties (experimental model)

Phase 3/II/2024 – Testing of experimental models – part 2

Tested and selected experimental models – part 2

Tested solar PMR experimental model for wastewater treatment – part 2
Tested experimental model for treatment with percarbonate and ozone – part 2
Tested experimental model for obtaining materials with complexing properties– part 2

Phase 4/2024 – Setting up experimental models parameters

Key parameters established for experimental models phases

Research report on parameters of solar photocatalysis and membrane separation phases (experimental study)
Research report on optimum sedimentation parameters (experimental study)
Research report on parameters of experimental model for post/ore-treatment of biological outflow from leachate biological treatment – oxidation in system Fe(II) / peroxides +/- UV (experimental study)
Research report on the influence of inflows characteristics upon bio-photolysis process and setting up the variation model for hydrogen production along the wastewater treatment sequences (experimental study)
Research report on the parameters of the technology for metals removal from wastewater using new functionalised cellulose based materials (experimental study)

Phase 5/2025 – Optimization of experimental models

Optimised experimental models available

Research report on solar PMR (Photocatalytic Membrane Reactor) experimental model optimisation (optimised experimental model)
Research report on optimisation of parameters for quantitative generation of carboxylic acids (optimised experimental model)
Research report on optimisation of experimental model for post/ore-treatment of biological outflow from leachate biological treatment – oxidation in system Fe(II) / peroxides +/- UV (optimised experimental model)
Research report on association of photo/fermentation with capitalisation of residual biomass (experimental study)
Research report on optimisation of the technology for metals removal from wastewater using new functionalised cellulose based materials (optimised experimental model)

I. Articles ISI-BDI / Patents / Books

M. Marin, G. Dolete, L. Motelica, R. Trusca, O.C. Oprea, A. Ficai, Preparation of eco-friendly chelating resins and their applications for water tretatment, Polymers, 15 (10), article no 2251, 2023, Q1
M. Marin, A new approach of complexing polymers used for removal of Cu²⁺ ions, Polymers, 16 (7), article no. 920, 2024, Q1
A. Constantin, L.A. Constantin, I.A. Ionescu, C.M. Nicolescu, M. Bumbac, O. Tiron, Performance of a solar-driven photocatalytic membrane reactor for municipal wastewater treatment, Processes, 12 (3), article no. 617, 2024, Q2
M. Marin, T. Galaon, L.F. Pascu, Ultrasound-assisted Community Bureau of Reference (BCR) procedure for heavy metal removal in sewage sludge, Materials, 17 (22), article no. 5452, 2024, Q1
M. Marin, Green chemistry applications using complexing materials for water treatment, Polymers, 17 (11), article no. 1467, 2025, Q1
A. Constantin, M.A. Constantin, I.A. Ionescu, M.D. Puiu, Polysulfone and cellulose acetate-based polymeric membranes’ potential application to photocatalytic membrane reactors, Romanian Journal of Ecology & Environmental Chemistry, 5 (2), p. 5-16, 2023
Applications of membranes and membrane based processes in environmental protection / Aplicatii ale membranelor si proceselor membranare in protectia mediului. Gheorghe Batrinescu, Luoana Florentina Pascu, Carol Blaziu Lehr, Lucian Alexandru Constantin, Mirela Alina Constantin, 2023 Ed. Estfalia, ISBN 978-606-757-147-9

II. Scientific events

M. Marin, Degradation of procainamide using enzymatic activity produced by lacasse, 12th International Conference on Environmental Engineering and Management (ICEEM12), 13-16 September 2023, Iasi, Romania
M. Marin, Adsorption of heavy metals onto Amberlite XAD 4 resin chelated with Acid Blue 193, 26th International Symposium The Environment and The Industry, 27-29 September 2023, Bucharest, Romania, Book of Abstracts, p. 14-15, http://doi.org/10.21698/simi.2023.ab01
Dinu, V. Badescu, A.E. Serban, E. Manea, C. Bumbac, M. Stefanescu, M. Sburlis, S. Dinca, Landfill leachate multistage treatment – a case study, 26th International Symposium The Environment and The Industry, 27-29 September 2023, Bucharest, Romania, Book of Abstracts, p. 16-18, http://doi.org/10.21698/simi.2023.ab02
L.A. Constantin, I.A. Ionescu, M.A. Constantin, M. Stefanescu, N.M. Marin, Metal – titanium dioxide doped catalysts for wastewater treatment under simulated solar light, 26th International Symposium The Environment and The Industry, 27-29 September 2023, Bucharest, Romania, Book of Abstracts, p. 21-22, http://doi.org/10.21698/simi.2023.ab04
M. Puiu, G. Cernica, L. Dinu, M. Stefanescu, C. Postolache, Preliminary results in ozone/percarbonate sludge treatment to enhance volatile fatty acids generation, 26th International Symposium The Environment and The Industry, 27-29 September 2023, Bucharest, Romania, Book of Abstracts, p. 23-24, http://doi.org/10.21698/simi.2023.ab05
Kim, R.L. Dinu, A. Cuciureanu, G. Cernica, V. Badescu, Characterizing the membrane concentrate from leachate treatment: hazardousness evaluation and its potential to landfill recirculation, SGEM Vienna Green 2023, 28 November – 1 December, Vienna, Austria, DOI: 10.5593/sgem2023V/4.2/s18.01
D. Constantinov, G. Nechifor, L. Constantin, Comparison of three metal doped titanium dioxide photo-catalysts performance for treatment of municipal wastewater under simulated solar light, 23rd Romanian International Conference on Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, 4-7 September 2024, Constanta, Romania
A. Constantin, P. Simion, M.A. Constantin, M.D. Puiu, I.A. Ionescu, M. Stefanescu, F.D. Constantinov, Asessment of a lab scale photocatalytic membrane reactor performance on removal of organic compounds from real municipal wastewater, 27th International Symposium The Environment and The Industry, 19-20 September 2024, Constanta, Romania, Book of Abstracts, p. 13-14, http://doi.org/10.21698/simi.2024.ab01
M. Puiu, L. Constantin, O. Tiron, Challenges in applying hybrid oxidation with ozone and SPC to residual sludge to generate volatile fatty acids, 27th International Symposium The Environment and The Industry, 19-20 September 2024, Constanta, Romania, Book of Abstracts, p. 23-24, http://doi.org/10.21698/simi.2024.ab06
Buse, O. Tiron, Assessment of the influence of ammonium loading from wastewater on the photosynthetic activity of microalgae, International Conference on Innovative Research EUROINVENT ICIR 2025, 8-9 May 2025, Iasi, Romania, Book of Abstracts, p. 117
M. Marin, Preparation of a novel carbon adorbent for Cd²⁺, Cr³⁺ and Ni²⁺ removal , International Conference on Environmental Engineering and Management ICCEM 13, 17-20 September 2025, Iasi, Romania (accepted paper)
A. Constantin, M.A. Constantin, V.R. Badescu, F.D. Constantinov, Assessment of a lab scale solar driven photocatalytic membrane reactor performance for advanced treatment of municipal wastewater, International Conference on Environmental Engineering and Management ICCEM 13, 17-20 September 2025, Iasi, Romania (accepted paper)

III. Other dissemination activities or knowledge database for other research projects

Ongoing project: Program Horizon Europe, call HORIZON-WIDERA-2023-ACCESS-07-01: Excellence hubs, Grant Agreement: 101184151, acronym WaterWise, title: The WATERWISE HUB: an excellence hub on water in the circular economy
Ongoing project Program HORIZON-WIDERA-2024-TALENTS-03-01; Call: HORIZON-WIDERA-2024-TALENTS-03; Type of Action: HORIZON-CSA; Proposal ID: 101217448; Acronym: Talent Pass; Fostering European talents for widening circular economy
Project under contracting PNCDI IV – Program Challenges, Subprogram Centre of Excellence, PN-IV-P6-6.1-CoEx-2024-0056: Centre of excellence in water management, capitalisation of materials, secondary products and waste for implementation of circular bio-economy, acronym CERSUS
Project proposal Floating powerhouse and expandable solar array and articulated siphon turbine for enhanced hydro energy storage, desilting and water treatment, January 2024 Topic: HORIZON-CL-5-2024-D3-1-16; Call: HORIZON-CL-5-2024-D3-01; Type of Action: HORIZON-IA; Proposal ID: 101172909; Acronym: FloPESASTEH
Project proposal PN-IV-P7-7.1-PED2024-2169, Demonstrator and wastewater treatment technology that use visible active photocatalytic floating microspheres
Project proposal: PN-IV-P7-7.1-PTE-2024-0584: Technology for advanced treatment of mine water and integration with recuperative adaptive processes.

WATERTREAT

Specialised and sustainable technologies based on advanced oxidation processes for wastewater / sludge treatment and capitalisation of renewable resources in wastewater treatment processes – WATERTREAT

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