T3CE

Artículos científicos

• Cervera-Gabalda L, Gómez-Polo C. Magnetic Fe/Fe3C@C Nanoadsorbents for Efficient Cr (VI) Removal. Int J Mol Sci. 2022 Dec 1;23(23):15135.

Urban waste water contains a lot more than organic waste. Compounds like medications, hormones, cosmetics or cleaning products — known as emerging contaminants — escape traditional purification systems and end up in rivers and aquifers. The T3CE  project, combined photo and magnetic biocatalyser systems for treating tertiary treatment of emerging contaminants in waste water, was born with the goal of developing new, more efficient and sustainable technologies for eliminating them.

Financed in the framework of “Assistance for SINAI agents for carrying out collaborative R&D projects 2022” by the government of Navarre, T3CE brings together researchers from the Navarre Industry Association (AIN) and the Institute for Advanced Materials and Mathematics (INAMAT2) at the Public University of Navarre (UPNA). Its mission is to design more efficient technologies to complement water treatment in purification plants.

The project proposes the development of new photo and biocatalytic materials with a magnetic core that can eliminate complex mixtures of emerging contaminants effectively and sustainably. Those systems can be recovered after use by using an external magnetic field, which facilitates their reuse and reduces the environmental impact.

On one hand, the photocatalysers, developed by the UPNA, combine metal oxides (like TiO₂) with carbon based structures and magnetic cores and they work by being activated by UV-Vis light. On the other hand, AIN has designed biocatalysers that integrate active enzymes on mesoporous magnetic supports that can degrade pollutants like ibuprofen or antibiotics with great efficiency and with the possibility of being reused for several cycles. Currently, both systems have been validated in the laboratory, and work is being done on scaling them up for semi-industrial use.

The project had the collaboration of NILSA on the pilot scale tests of the photocatalytic materials in real facilities, where their technical, economic, and environmental viability were evaluated. This phase made it possible to compare the performance of the solutions proposed in T3CE with conventional tertiary treatments and judge their future industrial implementation.

The differential value of the project revolves around the innovative combination of materials, energy efficiency, and the focus on sustainability. Additionally, the total recovery of the materials after every use cycle avoids waste and the creation of new contaminants, improving performance and lowering costs.

T3CE is dedicated to innovation with a positive environmental impact, strengthening Navarre’s commitment to developing sustainable technological solutions.