IMPROVING QUALITY OF BSR WATERS BY ADVANCED TREATMENT PROCESSES

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The project AdvIQwater tests photocatalysis, fungal treatment and biofilms methods to efficiently clean wastewaters from pharmaceuticals. Project summary: Worldwide, the number of people living along the coast is rapidly increasing, resulting in increased wastewater discharges, which is a major source of pharmaceuticals entering aquatic environments. Environmental pollution by active pharmaceutical ingredients has become a serious problem in the Baltic Sea Region. Pharmaceutical residues pertain mostly to marine waters and originate from discharges from municipal wastewater treatment plants and vessels. Despite the increasing presence of pharmaceuticals in marine environments and their potential negative impacts, little research has been reported on the occurrence and removal of these contaminants in the marine ecosystem. Moreover, widely distributed and bioaccumulative contaminants could adversely affect aquatic organisms. In this regard, complex mixtures of pharmaceuticals need to be considered regarding the impact on the environment and water treatment technology, focusing on the analysis of pollutant properties and potential. In the project, combination methods of the solar-driven photocatalysis, fungal treatment, and biofilms will be developed to pilot in order to introduce practical and durable outputs and solutions for sustainable waters.

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