Phase 2 short description

Phase 2 of the SUSTINWATER project has had 3 scientific research activities. All activities were completed in time, which led to the achievement of the 2022 project objectives and overcoming of the project results indicators. A brief description of these activities is provided below.

The first activity of Phase 2 (2022) (A.2.1.) comprised the monitoring of general indicators and priority pollutant concentrations in the Iasi wastewater treatment plant effluent and in some surface waters. This activity was performed during a 6 month period of time, between february and July 2022. The effluent samples were analyzed by LACMED laboratory which is accredited by RENAR for 17 water indicators according to the SR EN ISO/CEI 17025:2018 requirements.

go to top

The second activity in this Phase (A2.2.) has had as objective to investigate the sorption capacity of the 12 composite materials previously synthesized. 8 sorbents were obtained by the layer-by-layer method and 4 other through the one-pot synthesis method. All these materials were first teste in a static conditions for heavy metal adsorption (Cd²⁺, Pb²⁺ și Ni²⁺ ions) from wastewater. To determine the Cd²⁺ ions sorption process characteristics, a parametric analysis was realized for parameters like: pH, initial pollutant concentration, contact time, etc.). Kinetic and equilibrium data modelling was performed by non-linear regression by employing the root means squared error method and the informational criterium. A common characteristic of all the polyelectrolytic materials obtained by LbL method is the rapid drop of the removal efficiency with increasing initial pollutant ions concentration. Sorbents obtained by one-pot have had superior sorption perfomance with 35 to 99.9 % removal efficiency for an initial concentration domain of 2-130 mg Cd²⁺/L. Compared to the LbL method, the one pot synthesis has multiple advantages which include: easiness and rapidity and a bigger organic fraction deposited in one stage. The maximum sorption capacity depends on the amount of functional groups which means it is proportional to the polyelectrolyte quantity deposited onto the silica particle core. Another important practical characteristic of a sorbernt reffers to its regeneration capacity, more exactly its reusability potential. Coacervates obtained by one-pot synthesis have been reused in 3 consecutive sorption-desorption cycles with a drop in removal effieciency of less than 18%.

The performance evaluation of the synthesized sorbents was realized for an anorganic bi-component system ( Pb²⁺or Cd²⁺ ions) and for an organic one (sodium diclofenac DCF-Na) or erythromicin (ERY) in two distinct configurations of the sorption process: sequential and simultaneous sorption. IS/(PEI-PMAA)x (r=1.0) maintains its sorption capacity for DCF-Na after 6 sequential sorption steps, while the retention capacity for Pb²⁺ ions drops. The simultaneous sorption of ERY and Pb²⁺ ions study objecrtive was to obtain optimal values for the influence parameters by means of response surface methodology (RSM). 20 experiments were realized in which initial pollutant concentration and solid-liquid contact time were varied.

go to top

In the third activity (A.2.3.) a life cycle assessment study was performed to analyse the environmental performance of the sorption materials. The general objecive of the study was to evalate the environmental performance of two composite materials: IS/(PEI/PAA)_4.5 (r = 0.1) and IS/(PEI/PAA)_c (r = 1.0) used to eliminate Cd²⁺ from wastewater. Two functional units were defined: 1g of synthesized composite materials and 1 mg Cd²⁺ ions removed from wastewater. All material and energy streams that form the synthesis processes, as well as the exit flows (composite microparticles and pollutants) were considered> life cycle impact assessement was performed with Recipe 2016 method which considers 18 impact indicators.

The environmental profiles for obtaining 1 g of composite material display the significant contribution of the support silica particles in all impact categories, due to the large proportion of silica in the overall particle mass. Beside this, another major contributor is the polyethyleneimine while the utlrapure water used for cleansing generate impacts in the eutrophication category, while all the other chemicals have a minor contribution. It has to be pointed out that both syntheses do not use any energy (electricity or heat whatsoever). When comparing the two materialls by considering the specific amount of eliminated polutant ( Cd²⁺ ions), the differences in performance between the two sorbents are more than evident. The one-pot synthesis method is clearly superior to the LbL route dues to the superior sorption capacity for Cd²⁺ ions of the one-pot synthesised coacervate.

Several improvement scenarios were considered to evaluate different eco-desing improvement options : replacing toxic materials and other chemicals, modifying operational parameters, etc.

go to top

Phase 2 results indicators

Scientific articles

Bucatariu F., Petrila L-M, Teodosiu C*., Mihai M*, 2022. Versatile nanostructured SiO₂/cross-linked polyelectrolyte composites for emerging pollutants removal from aqueous media, Comptes Rendus Chimie pag: 1-14, DOI: https://doi.org/10.5802/crchim.171, (Q3, IF=2.550, ISI Web of Science) (also reported in 2021, updated in 2022).

Morosanu I., Paduraru C., Bucatariu F., Fighir D., Mihai M.*, Teodosiu C*, 2022. Shaping polyelectrolyte composites for heavy metals adsorption from wastewater: experimental assessment and equilibrium studies, Journal of Environmental Management, 321, 115999, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.115999 (Q1, IF=8.910, ISI Web of Science)

Ciobanu R., Teodosiu C.*, Almeida C.M.V.B., Agostinho F., Giannetti B.F., 2022. Sustainability Analysis of a Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant through Emergy Evaluation. Sustainability. 14(11):6461. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su14116461 (Q2, IF=3.889, ISI Web of Science).

Petrila L.-M., Gradinaru V.R., Bucatariu F., Mihai, M.*, 2022. Polymer/Enzyme Composite Materials – Versatile Catalysts with Multiple Applications, Chemistry, 4(4), 1312-1338; https://doi.org/10.3390/chemistry4040087 (indexat in BDI: Scopus, ESCI (Web of Science), CAPlus / SciFinder)

Other publications

Books and book chapters published internationally

Bârjoveanu G., Teodosiu C., Mihai M., Moroșanu I., Fighir D., Vasiliu A-M., Bucatariu F. 2022. Life cycle assessment for eco-design in product development, Chapter of the Book: Assessing the sustainability progress: frameworks, tools and case studies, Editors: Teodosiu C., Fiore S., Hospido A. (Elsevier contract no. 846739), published by Elsevier Netherlands, ISBN: 978-0-323-85851-9, pages: 247-271 (25 pages), DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-85851-9.00012-2 (reported in 2021, published in 2022)

Scientific communications

Ciobanu R., Morosanu I., Fighir D., Paduraru C., Bucatariu F., Mihai M., Teodosiu C.*, 2022. Equilibrium studies for the removal of Cd²⁺ ions from wastewater using silica/polyelectrolyte multilayer core-shell composites, 6th International Conference on Chemical Engineering Innovative Materials and Processes for a Sustainable Development (ICCE6), October 5 – 7, 2022 – online

Barjoveanu G., F., Teodosiu C., Morosanu I., Fighir D., Bucatariu F., Mihai M. 2022. Life cycle assessment as support tool for development of novel materials used in environmental applications, 1st International Conference on Sustainable Chemical and Environmental Engineering (SUSTENG), 31.08.-04.09.2022, Rethymno, Crete, Greece.

Morosanu I., Paduraru C., Bucatariu F., Fighir D., Mihai M., Teodosiu C., 2022. Immobilization of cadmium ions from wastewater onto polyelectrolyte composite sorbents, 12th International Conference on Materials Science & Engineering (BRAMAT 2022), 09-12.03.2022, Brasov, Romania

Mihai M., 2022. Polyelectrolyte-based architectures for targeted applications in water cleaning and medicine, 20th National Symposium Polymers 2022 open to International Participation (POLYMERS 2022), Velingrad, Bulgaria, 5-8.07.2022 (keynote invitat)

Mihai M., 2022. Polyelectrolytes in multicomponent systems. Application in water cleaning and medicine, Conferinta Nationala de Chimie, 04-07.10.2022, Calimanesti Caliulata, Romania (plenary lecture)

Mihai M., 2022. (Multi)functional ionic polymers. synthesis, materials design, application, Conferinta New Trends and Strategies in the Chemistry of Advanced Materials with Relevance in Biological Systems, Technique and Environmental Protection, 20-21.10.2022, Timișoara, România (plenary lecture)

Research stages

Research stage performed by dr.habil. Marcela Mihai between 17.09.2022-01.10.2022 at Theoretical and Physical Chemistry Institute, National Hellenic Research Foundation, Atena, Greece.