Innovative Membrane Technologies IMTECH

IMTECH Project

Innovative Membrane technologies for advanced and sustainable wastewater treatment in view of boosting a circular economy approach

Supported by a grant from the Italian Ministry of University and Research (MUR) through the PRIN 2022 PNRR project for research of national interest (Decree No. 1409 of 14 September 2022)
CUP: B53D23027250001 CI: P2022SLCFR

The project

The project aims to develop the next generation of membranes for more efficient wastewater treatment, with improved pollutant removal, resource recovery, and sustainable greenhouse gas emissions management.

This goal will be achieved by optimizing innovative technological solutions at the pilot plant of the University of Palermo’s Water Resource Recovery Facility, with the aim of producing high-quality water for reuse while reducing environmental impact.

Aims

Scale up the proposed membrane technologies through pilot-scale application.
Reuse treated water.
Increase the removal of emerging contaminants (microplastics).
Reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Define mathematical models to optimize dynamic membrane formation processes and verify performance.

1 Living Membrane

The dynamic membrane composed of microorganisms is encapsulated between two meshes of support material, ensuring a stable, compact membrane.

2 Self Forming Dynamic Membrane

A dynamic membrane formed by the deposition of suspended solids, microorganisms, and extracellular polymeric substances on a support material.

3 Project activities

Develop an innovative membrane technology that is more stable than conventional ones and capable of operating continuously without the need for cleaning, thereby ensuring effective fouling control in all membrane filtration systems.
Investigate and develop new technologies to improve performance in order to produce water suitable for reuse. Optimizing the removal of contaminants, including conventional pollutants, microplastics, and pathogens, will enable the treatment of highly polluted water and the production of high-quality effluents for reuse, helping address the water crisis.
Develop a sustainable technology that simultaneously enables greenhouse gas emission management and nutrient recovery. This approach will be guided by the principles of sustainable development and the circular economy, promoting resource recovery and environmental protection.
Develop a modeling tool to better understand operating mechanisms and optimize plant performance in terms of efficiency, costs, and emissions. Adopting a model for the management and upgrading of wastewater treatment plants will support the transition toward a circular-economy-based approach and the transformation of plants into resource-recovery facilities.