Transformace procesů čištění odpadních vod v kontextu nové legislativy EU a principů cirkulární ekonomiky

The aim of the project is a comprehensive comparison and development of a detailed benchmarking of wastewater treatment technologies, so-called tertiary and quaternary stage, based on a multi-criteria cost-benefit analysis. The different wastewater treatment technologies will be comprehensively evaluated in terms of i) critical technological parameters, ii) achieved removal efficiency of the (micro)pollutants of interest, iii) economic cost-effectiveness, iv) potential health risks at the level of microbiological indicators and human tissues, and v) environmental criteria (carbon footprint, water footprint and life cycle). On the basis of such a comprehensive and multi-criteria assessment, conclusions and recommendations for technical and technological optimisation as well as operational cost-effectiveness can be made, also taking into account the planned reuse of the treated wastewater. Data acquisition for the comprehensive evaluation will be ensured by the operation and technical and operational optimisation of a number of pilot technologies, which are already largely available to the research team. In order to obtain relevant data, the pilot units will be operated under realistic conditions at selected municipal wastewater treatment plants over a long time horizon. An integral part of the acquisition of the necessary data will also be a complete analytical monitoring, which will target both the currently known and detected spectra of micropollutants and the identification of new as yet unidentified micropollutants that may be formed as reaction intermediates in the quaternary wastewater treatment processes. The project also includes, in line with the new Water Treatment Directive, the development of new advanced sorbents based on cyclodextrins, organosilanes, aerogels and carbon (nano)materials, which represent an important innovative element of this project. Fulfillment of the set goal will be achieved thanks to intensive and effective cooperation of the involved universities (TUL and VSČHT Praha), which have strong knowledge of the bases in the subject area, and technological and application companies such as ENVI-PUR s.r.o., MEGA a.s., EPS biotechnology, s.r.o. or Membrain s.r.o. having, among others, the necessary pilot units and extensive operational experience. The active involvement of Severočeské vodovody a kanalizací a.s. (the second largest operator of water management infrastructure in the Czech Republic) as a direct final application subject of the results of this project is also a significant application contribution to the project.