Development of adsorption processes for the removal of pharmaceutical compounds and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from municipal wastewater, groundwater and drinking water
The presence of micropollutants in different water types is raising increasing concerns, in relation to their harmful effects on human health and ecosystems, and to the growing diffusion of antibiotic resistance genes. The recent European legislation is strongly focused on the attainment of increasingly high-quality standards in water bodies and on the removal of micropollutants from wastewater.
This research activity includes:
All tests are conducted with actual wastewater in order to take into account matrix effects. In the framework of this research line, a 60 L/day fully automated pilot plant aimed at the removal of pharmaceutical compounds from municipal wastewater is currently in operation (June 2025) in a wastewater treatment plant under real-world conditions.