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Development of novel hybrid process based on graphene modified smart textile filters and polymer membranes for advanced wastewater treatment – HyprSTEP

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square with tentacles  Project title

Development of novel hybrid process based on graphene modified smart textile filters and polymer membranes for advanced wastewater treatment  – HyprSTEP

outline of the upper man silhouette  Name of Beneficiary/Beneficiaries

Polymemtech sp. z o.o.

Warsaw University of Technology

Hohenstein Institut für Textilinnovation

Atec Automatisierungstechnik

Norafin Industries

briefcase icon  Name of programme

International programmes

newspaper icon  Competition

M-ERA.NET 2 Call 2018

two heaps of coins icon  Project value

PLN 2,442,902.00

hand icon with two circles above it  Funding value

PLN 2,201,138.94

clock icon  Project delivery period

from 1 October 2019 to 31 March 2023

Meet our team

Main contractors in the project representing the Polish consortium

1

dr hab. inż. Maciej Szwast, university professor

 

2

dr inż. Daniel Polak

See the results of our work

One of the most important results of our work was the development of methodology and the creation of various filtration structures modified with an oxidised form of graphene. The developed materials can be used at different stages of wastewater treatment, including pre-filtration, membrane filtration, and purification in membrane bioreactors.

The photo shows, in sequence, modified: non-woven filters, polymer membranes, and ceramic membranes.

3

What problem does our project solve?

The HyprSTEP project focused on developing innovative wastewater treatment processes for use in wastewater treatment plants or on-site treatment facilities.  Compared to currently used wastewater treatment technologies, the key factors were a significant increase in effectiveness and the cost-efficiency of the new treatment processes. The new hybrid process is based on preliminary and final wastewater treatment using smart textile filters combined with tailor-made membrane bioreactors (MBRs). Inefficient wastewater treatment processes in treatment plants are responsible for introducing antibiotic-resistant bacteria and antibiotics into the hydrological cycle (agriculture, food industry, households, etc.). To effectively address these important global issues, the HyprSTEP project aims to implement a new hybrid wastewater treatment process. Key stages of the innovation include adsorptive and biocidal graphene coatings applied to textile filters and the surfaces of polymer and ceramic membranes

Who will benefit from the project's results?

The beneficiaries of the developed technology will primarily be industrial plants operating in areas where the precision of the tools used is particularly important, and in areas where substances particularly harmful to the environment, such as pharmaceuticals, are handled. The most demanding branches of industry include those that produce or use pharmaceuticals in their processes.

What was the biggest challenge for us in implementing the project?

One of the biggest challenges in developing technology that combines interdisciplinary solutions is creating a communication network between experts representing different fields of science. Achieving the project's goals required the knowledge and experience of experts in physics, surface engineering, microbiology, and chemical and process engineering. Establishing an appropriate communication platform enables information to be communicated quickly and accurately, in a way that is understandable to each party, and to respond effectively to problems as they arise.