PS FP7 - Biomass valorization with the development of cost-effective hybrid adsorbents for the efficient removal of mixtures of toxic compounds from water (HYBRID-SORBENT)

Kurzfassung

A research team from a Greek Research Centre is preparing a proposal on the valorisation of biomass for the production of hybrid adsorption systems able to remove mixtures of different toxic substances from water. They are looking for partners with technologies for the regeneration of adsorbents, facilities and expertise for production of biochar and activated carbon, lab-scale sorption studies and expertise in design & construction of the pilot plant of a hybrid sorbent.

Details

The extensive pollution of groundwater and surface water by pesticides, fertilizers, industrial and municipal wastes has led to the penetration of toxic compounds (e.g. PAHs, heavy metals, nitrates, chlorinated hydrocarbons, etc) into the food chain creating one of the most important environmental problems worldwide. The sorption of pollutants in suitably prepared porous materials (adsorbents) has widely been used for the decontamination of surface and ground water from various types of pollutants. However, in most studies attention has been paid on the removal of a specific type of pollutant (e.g. heavy metal, pesticide, etc.).

It is well known that surface and ground water may cumulatively be polluted by a mixture of various types of toxic compounds (e.g. heavy metals with PAH, pesticides with nitrates, etc.) because of the occasional release of industrial, domestic and agricultural pollutants. Therefore, the development of hybrid adsorbents that will be able to remediate efficiently waters polluted by mixtures of toxic compounds of different origin is a challenge.
In the present project, hybrid adsorption systems will be developed for the efficient removal of a mixture of pollutants from water. Various types of adsorptive materials will be developed and tested by mixing natural soils with natural organic substances (NOS), biochar (BC) and activated carbon (AC) resulting from simple treatment, pyrolysis, and physical/chemical activation of industrial and agricultural wastes (e.g. activated sludge of wastewater treatment plants, wood sawdust, olive stones, fruit stones, peanut shells, etc), respectively. The synthetic water will be polluted by a mixture of toxic substances of different origin (e.g. organochlorinated solvent / heavy metal / pesticide / etc) and the adsorptive materials that maximize the removal efficiency of each class of pollutants at the minimum energy consumption will be identified.

The main goal of the project will be to set the specifications for the construction of hybrid adsorption systems that maximize the efficiency of water remediation from a mixture of toxic compounds of different origin (pesticides, nitrates, heavy metals, PAHs) and minimize the corresponding energy consumption and greenhouse gases emission. Experimental and theoretical studies will be performed on batch reactors, and continuous flow fixed-beds. The particles of NOS, biochar, and activated carbon, produced from the various types of biomass will be characterized in detail and their microstructural properties (e.g. pore structure, functional groups on surface, etc) will be correlated with their adsorptive capacity. With the aid of numerical simulations, an optimization of hybrid sorbent operation will be done, and a pilot plant will be designed and tested. Based on pre-existing knowledge and lab-scale tests the most sustainable technology will be suggested and tested for the regeneration of hybrid adsorption systems. The viability of the adsorptive systems with respect to existing water purification technologies will be evaluated after a comparative analysis of cost, efficiency and environmental impacts.

Technical Specifications / Specific technical requirements:
CALL Information: FP7-ENV-2011 ENV.2011.3.1.9-1 Eco-innovation (2-stage submission) (deadline of 1st stage: 16 November 2010)

Project proposal development stage:
- Proposal stage, not yet submitted.

Total EU funding requested for the project (approximately):
- Not yet determined

EU funding foreseen for the partners:
-To be determined before project submission. It will depend on the tasks
realized by the partners.

Percentage of EU funding compared to total budget (%):
-Usual FP7 rules apply

Information on the consortium
- The consortium is coordinated by a a Greek Research Centre.

Type and role of the required partner/s:
- SME for production of biochar and activated carbon with pyrolysis of biomass and product activation.

- SME for design & construction of the pilot plant of a hybrid sorbent and testing it for the removal of a mixture of pollutants from water.

- SME or Research Organisation to provide technologies for the regeneration of adsorbents.

- SME to calculate cost benefit analysis with respect to existing sorbents/filters for water purification.

- Research Organisation to do lab-scale sorption studies on batch reactors.

- Research Organisation to do lab-scale sorption studies on fixed-bed reactors (RES).

- SME or Research Organisation to do the characterization of biomass, biochar and activated carbon.

- SME or Research Organisation to provide technologies for the regeneration of adsorbents.

- SME or Research Organisation to do the numerical simulation, optimization and scale-up.