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April 17, 2025

On May 14, 2025, the Tecnopolo in Reggio Emilia will host the event “The prospects for the wastewater treatment sector in light of the new EU Directive". Innovation and Sustainability with the INTECH4WATER and SO FAN SO FER Projects.” The meeting represents an important opportunity for discussion between the world of research and business, with the aim of exploring innovative and sustainable solutions for wastewater management and treatment in light of the new challenges posed by the European Directive (EU 3019/2024). Among the scheduled presentations is the INTECH4WATER project, by coordinator Prof. Simonetta Pancaldi from the Terra&Acqua Tech laboratory at the Ferrara Technopole and Dr. Magda Blosi from CNR-ISSMC.

The INTECH4WATER project falls within the thematic area of the Circular Economy, with a view to the recovery, reuse, and recycling of wastewater from municipal treatment processes and industrial processes. The project integrates innovative, safe, and sustainable technologies into a single system. The technologies envisaged are designed to enable the almost total elimination of the most common wastewater contaminants (nutrients, emerging (micro)pollutants, microplastics, pathogenic bacteria) and are as follows: ceramic/photocatalytic/adsorbent filters, advanced oxidation processes, UV, ozone, microalgae. The project involves an initial intensive laboratory-scale phase during which the best integration of the technologies to be transferred to a prototype scale in a second phase is developed. All experimental steps are guided by advanced statistical analysis and are accompanied by chemical-biological-microbiological analyses. The expected final results consist of: valorization of treated water for irrigation purposes, secondary raw material to be used as fertilizer or feed, and microalgal biomass for the energy sector.

In fact, given the results it expects to achieve, the project also has cross-cutting value in the agri-food sector, as the technical solutions developed promote almost complete wastewater purification, reducing not only traditional pollutants but also emerging pollutants and bacterial loads, which would inevitably be released into the water bodies used for irrigation. Furthermore, obtaining microalgae-based biological matrices that can be used as recycled fertilizers increases the resilience of agricultural systems to climate change.

The project involves the collaboration of highly qualified research partners coordinated by the Terra&Acqua Tech laboratory, which contributes its expertise in microalgae biology for wastewater treatment. ENEA LEA in Bologna provides its expertise in micro-pollutant purification technologies, and ISSMC-CNR in Faenza develops innovative materials for water treatment. These are joined by PROAMBIENTE S.C.r.l., with expertise in advanced oxidation techniques, and CIRI FRAME of Alma Mater Studiorum in Bologna, which applies artificial intelligence and machine learning to optimize processes and reduce experimentation times.

A fundamental aspect of the project is the involvement of regional companies, including HERA SpA, CIFO Srl of the Biolchim group, and Naturedulis Srl, which play a crucial role in transferring the results obtained from the laboratory phase to industrial-scale application.

The highly innovative nature of the project, resulting from the integration of the individual research activities of the partners involved, is reflected in the creation of a modular prototype that can be adapted and transferred to companies with very different types of wastewater, but all sharing an interest in the recovery, recycling, and reuse of wastewater, with a view to circular economy and environmental and economic sustainability.

The event on May 14 is therefore an ideal opportunity to learn more about the project and its developments, as well as to discuss the recent EU Directive 3019/2024, which poses crucial challenges for the wastewater treatment sector with the aim of protecting the environment and human health in accordance with the “One Health” approach. During the workshop, companies will have the opportunity to better understand the challenges and opportunities arising from the current legislation, discuss business issues and needs directly with research institutions, and discover the latest innovative solutions in the sector.

The event is therefore aimed at all companies active in the wastewater treatment sector, research institutions, public administrations, and professionals interested in discovering the latest technological innovations and discussing the regulatory and operational challenges facing the sector.

Participation is free of charge, subject to registration via the appropriate link.

Program