For some time now, scholars interpreting current climate change data have been projecting a widespread equatorial scenario characterised by long periods of drought and intensely rainy phases.
This depiction encourages international scientific research to identify corrective measures-both behavioral and technical-through public and private tools to counteract climate evolution.
Such behaviours and tools are part of a civic education that needs to be intensified, also by demonstrating tangible results with motivational effects.
In the Principality of Monaco, there has been ongoing discussion for years among the most advanced models, aimed at sharing them through conscious promotion, however the water in principality remains contaminated with microplastic and also the fragments of car tyres, and now we have a proven method to eliminate it to the size of 0.01 micron. iranja
Among the most innovative entities are the companies SAPEO OÜ and AQUALAB d.o.o., which have focused on water purification and elimination of microplastic from the water and on the ability to reuse wastewater-both in a potable form and for irrigation purposes.
This is valuable work for environmental and economic sustainability, with immediately evident results.
They have developed a filtration module suitable for installation in urban drinkable and wastewater treatment plants, enabling the removal of microplastic from the tap water to the size of 0.01 micron and additionally the reuse of treated water for irrigating public green spaces during periods of drought as such water does not contain microplastic. That way a water from sewage system will not pollute sea water with microplastic, what is also very beneficial for the port in Monaco.
Thanks to the latest membrane technology, water can be purified to a level that prevents microfibers and contaminants to the size of 0.01 microns. The first layer to address and implement this are water distribution systems on the level of city, or country and second layer to address this is every urban area, that has a pipe with tap water, which can simply install a Hyper filter to prevent the outflow of microplastic and contaminants. The only work for each individual here is a monthly change of membrane, which takes 1 minute of work. Another system that allows reuse (e.g., for irrigating public spaces, agricultural areas, etc.) without the use of disinfectants is installed on the sewage system so the existing sewage system can be upgraded. The device is modular and can be adapted to existing urban infrastructure.
After analysing current water quality and more then 4000 water samples around the world, they concluded that such a circular strategy must first and foremost ensure the purity and safety of drinkable water, as there are segments of car tyres present in such water, which needs to be prevented by all means to protect the human health and adressed on the level on each country, city and household, i.e. individual. Hyper filter can also be used on every holiday, as it is easy to transport and allows each individual to drink water free of microplastic whereever she or he is, just by unscrewing the existing aerator and replacing it with Hyper filter. The research has therefore focused on water purification, elimination of microplastic and urban wastewater treatment, through a combination of the classical system and membrane technology with ozone.
This approach allows for the removal of residual pollutants that traditional systems cannot eliminate, ensuring both highest quality and reliability.
As a result, they developed a hybrid filtration devices for elimination of microplastic from water systems and also equipped with an ozone generator that purifies wastewater by removing: microplastics, total coliform bacteria, and E. coli, which was with cooperation of other partnering companies.
All this in-depth work leads to immediate benefits through resource implementation for water purification, improving the city water quality, upgrading the sewage systems and irrigating green areas, resurfacing surfaces in treatment facilities, street cleaning, and irrigating recreational areas.
The membrane is designed for high flow rates and has a negative charge, reducing the risk of organic contamination and microorganism formation.
The system developed by Aqualab d.o.o. represents a new approach that combines additional treatment with the use of ozone, both for disinfecting water and for the automatic cleaning of the membranes.
The main goal of the research and development was to obtain microplastic-free water for every household and reuse of sewage water for irrigation, starting from treated wastewater coming from a municipal biological treatment plant (final discharge) and preventing the spread into the sea water.
As mentioned, this was achieved by removing microplastics and harmful organisms such as coliform bacteria and E. coli.
The system used includes a membrane filter with optional ozonation. The research carried out was aimed at comparing the effect of filtration both on drinkable and raw wastewater entering the plant and on already treated water.
The results showed that the system is effective in removing suspended solids, microplastics in both cases.
Since the system did not remove biodegradable substances, in the later phases of the research, the company focused on water coming from the treatment plant.
Even in this case, the AQUAREG system removed suspended solids and microplastics to the size of 0.01 microns, and microorganisms such as coliform bacteria and E. coli.
To identify the microplastics, they used an in-house developed system based on special filtration and micrographic analysis of the sample.
The removal efficiency was also studied using FT-IR spectroscopy.
The results showed that the AQUAREG system removed 88% of coliform bacteria and 93% of E. coli bacteria.
After an additional ozonation phase of the filtered water, a total (100%) removal of both coliform bacteria and E. coli was achieved.
In both cases, all remaining microplastics present were completely eliminated within the treatment plant.
This work proves to be functional in the immediate term and is ready to be installed in all water distribution and water treatment facilities.
