Research Proposal UOC

Title: Development of an Adsorption/Ion Exchange Process for the Removal of
Micropollutants from Treated Wastewater, Towards Sustainable Managed

Aquifer Recharge.
State of art
Water scarcity is a pressing global concern, with the demand for freshwater resources surpassing
the available supply. To address this challenge, the reuse of treated wastewater has emerged as a
viable solution to augment water resources. However, the presence of micropollutants in treated
wastewater poses a significant obstacle to its safe and sustainable reuse. Micropollutants include
a wide range of contaminants such as pharmaceuticals, personal care products, pesticides, and
endocrine-disrupting compounds, which are typically present in low concentrations but can have
adverse effects on human health and the environment [1-2].
Researchers have applied several wastewater treatment techniques, including Nanofiltration,

Ozonation, Fenton-like process, adsorption, Hybrid treatment, nonthermal plasma-based AOPs,
Membrane technology, nanocomposites, Wetland floating treatment, and disinfection, are
designed primarily for the removal of conventional pollutants such as organic matter and
pathogens. While these processes effectively reduce the concentration of conventional pollutants,
they often fall short in removing micropollutants due to their complex chemical structures and low
concentrations.Numerous studies have investigated the application of adsorption processes for
micropollutant removal from wastewater. For instance, Rutten et al. (2023) Investigated
Nanofiltration (NF) is seen as a advanced and promising treatment technology to deal with the
growing concentration of micropollutants (MPs) in water sources globally [3].
Kida et al. (2022) studied The Fenton-like process is an advanced oxidation process (AOP) used
for wastewater treatment. It is based on the Fenton reaction, which involves the generation of
highly reactive hydroxyl radicals ( •OH) through the reaction between hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)
and a catalyst, typically iron (Fe2+ or Fe3+ ) [4]. Mojiri et al. (2023) treated natural organic matter
(NOM) and organic micropollutants OMPs, two cutting-edge procedures called ozonation and
adsorption are employed [5].
Loganathan et al. (2022) studied hybrid treatment approaches to enhance the removal efficiency
of pharmaceutical micropollutants by combining multiple treatment techniques [6]. Mustafa et al.
(2022) investigated membrane technology for purifying water from organic micropollutants [7].
Chen et al. (2023) investigated degradation of micropollutants in secondary wastewater effluent

using nonthermal plasma-based AOPs.The nonthermal plasma-based advanced oxidation process
is a promising technology for eliminating micropollutants in wastewater but still needs further
development in view of full-scale industrial application [8]. Zusman et al. (2021) Clay polymer
nanocomposites (CPNs) have been proposed and widely studied in recent years as a promising
sorbent for micropollutant removal [9]. Andres et al. (2023) Wetland floating treatment is an
innovative approach used to treat wastewater using natural processes inspired by wetland
ecosystems. It involves the use of floating platforms or mats planted with wetland vegetation to
mimic the functions of traditional constructed wetlands [10].
Description of the project.

The main objective of this research project is to develop an efficient adsorption process for the
removal of micropollutants from treated wastewater, with the perspective of reusing the water for
managed aquifer recharge (MAR). The project aims to address the challenges associated with
micropollutants contamination in treated wastewater and contribute to sustainable water
management practices.
The research methodology will involve the following steps:
Sampling and Analysis: Treated wastewater samples will be collected from wastewater treatment
plants and analyzed to determine the presence and concentration of various micropollutants.
Adsorbent/Ion Exchange Material Selection: A wide range of adsorbents and ion exchange
materials will be evaluated for their capacity to remove micropollutants. Materials such as
activated carbon, zeolites, and ion exchange resins will be considered.
Batch Adsorption/Ion Exchange Experiments: Laboratory-scale batch experiments will be
conducted to determine the optimal process parameters and assess the removal efficiency of
micropollutants.
Kinetic and Isotherm Studies: The adsorption/ion exchange kinetics and isotherms will be
investigated to understand the mechanism and behavior of micropollutant removal.
Process Optimization: Response surface methodology and statistical tools will be employed to
optimize the process parameters and maximize micropollutant removal efficiency.
Pilot-Scale Demonstration: The most promising adsorption/ion exchange process will be tested
at a pilot-scale to validate its performance under realistic conditions.
Economic and Environmental Assessment: An economic and environmental analysis will be
conducted to evaluate the feasibility and sustainability of the developed process.
Expected Outcomes and Objectives
The proposed research aims to contribute to the development of an effective and sustainable
solution for the removal of micropollutants from treated wastewater, facilitating its safe reuse for
managed aquifer recharge.
The expected outcomes of this research project include:
 Comprehensive understanding of the occurrence and concentration of micropollutants in
treated wastewater for MAR.
 Identification of the most effective adsorbents and ion exchange materials for
micropollutant removal.
 Optimization of process parameters for enhanced micropollutant removal efficiency.
 Development of a cost-effective and sustainable adsorption/ion exchange process for the
removal of micropollutants from treated wastewater.
 Validation of the process performance through pilot-scale demonstration.
 Economic and environmental assessment of the developed process, providing insights into
its viability and potential for implementation.
The outcomes of this study will have several implications:
To address the gaps in the development of an adsorption/ion exchange process for the removal of
micropollutants from treated wastewater, and to further improve the research, the following
strategies can be considered:
 Novel Adsorbent/Ion Exchange Material Synthesis

 Advanced Characterization Techniques
 Process Optimization and Integration
 Real Wastewater Testing
 Long-Term Performance and Stability
 Scale-Up Studies
 Life Cycle Assessment
 Techno-Economic Analysis
 Knowledge Transfer and Collaboration
Sample Outlines for PhD Program
Application Period
Task Year 1 Year 2 Year 3
1-3 4-6 7-9 10-12 1-3 4-6 7-9 10-12 1-3 4-6 7-9 10-12
Literature review
Conduct literature
review on adsorption
Design and conduct

experiments to select
promising sorbents.
Optimize adsorption
process parameters
using statistical
experimental design.
Build a laboratory-
scale adsorption system
and test its performance
Evaluate adsorption
process performance
using real wastewater
characteristics
Conduct continuous
flow experiments with
treated wastewater.
Analyze data and prepare
comprehensive thesis.
Conference
Writing of publications
and reports
Writing of PhD thesis and
defense
References
1. Andres, Y., Gerente, C., Borne, K. & Hanna, A. R. (2023). Recycled cellular concrete to
improve phosphorous removal by floating treatment wetlands: A pilot experiment for meat-
processing factory's wastewater. Journal of Water Process Engineering, 53, 103766.
2. Martin, L.V., Ogden, D.M., Jones, R.M., Trowsdale, A.S., Hall, J.P., & Jensen, S.H.
(2020). Opportunities for coupled electrochemical and ion-exchange technologies to
remove recalcitrant micropollutants in water. Separation and Purification Technology,
239, 116522.
3. Rutten, B.S., Levering, L.V., Leal, H.L., Grooth, D.J., & Roesink, W.D.H. (2023).
Retention of micropollutants by polyelectrolyte multilayer based hollow fiber
nanofiltration membranes under fouled conditions. Journal of Water Process Engineering,
53,103760.
4. Kida, M., & Ziembowicz, S. (2022). Limitations and future directions of application of the
Fenton-like process in micropollutants degradation in water and wastewater treatment: A
critical review. Chemosphere, 296, 134041.
5. Mojiri, A., Zhou, J., Vakili, M., & Le, V.H. (2020). Removal performance and optimisation
of pharmaceutical micropollutants from synthetic domestic wastewater by hybrid
treatment. Journal of Contaminant Hydrology, 235, 103736.
6. Loganathan, P., Kandasamy, J., Jamil, S., Ratnaweera,H., & Vigneswaran, S. (2022).
Ozonation/adsorption hybrid treatment system for improved removal of natural organic
matter and organic micropollutants from water. Chemosphere, 296, 133961.
7. Mustafa, B., Mehmood, T., Wang, Z., Chofreh, G.M.A., Shen, A., Yang, B., Yuan, J., Wu,
C., Liu, Y., Lu, W., Hu, W., Wang, L., & Yu, G. (2022). Next-generation graphene oxide
additives composite membranes for emerging organic micropollutants removal:
Separation, adsorption and degradation. Chemosphere, 308, 136333.
8. Chen, C., Ma, C., Yang, Y., Yang, X., Demeestere, K., Nikiforov, A., & Hulle, V. S.
(2023). Degradation of micropollutants in secondary wastewater effluent using nonthermal
plasma-based AOPs: The roles of free radicals and molecular oxidants. Water Research,
235, 119881.
9. Zusman, B.O., Perez, A., & Mishael, G.Y. (2021). Multi-site nanocomposite sorbent for
simultaneous removal of diverse micropollutants from treated wastewater. Applied Clay
Science, 215, 106300.
10. Andres, Y., Gerente, C., Borne, K. & Hanna, A. R. (2023). Recycled cellular concrete to
improve phosphorous removal by floating treatment wetlands: A pilot experiment for meat-
processing factory's wastewater. Journal of Water Process Engineering, 53, 103766.

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Research Proposal UOC

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Title: Development of an Adsorption/Ion Exchange Process for the Removal of

Micropollutants from Treated Wastewater, Towards Sustainable Managed

Researchers have applied several wastewater treatment techniques, including Nanofiltration,

Chen et al. (2023) investigated degradation of micropollutants in secondary wastewater effluent

Description of the project.

 Novel Adsorbent/Ion Exchange Material Synthesis

Sample Outlines for PhD Program

Design and conduct

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