PROJECT INFORMATION

The present research program aims to provide a novel and sustainable solution to the treatment of wastewaters of agricultural origin containing pesticides, insecticides, etc. which are characterized for their high toxicity and resistance to biodegradation. The proposed project has as main objective the use of two solar photocatalytic methods to degrade the recalcitrant and toxic components that exist in wastewater. Τhe pre-treated wastewater will then be amenable to complete biological degradation in a constructed wetland thus, reducing the relevant environmental impact and creating water suitable for reuse (e.g. irrigation). Photocatalytic processes, such as TiO₂-photocatalysis or photo-Fenton, are of special interest because natural light can be used for the activation of the catalysts allowing the contribution of solar energy to the process of cleaning and restoring the environment. Solar photocatalytic technologies seem to be particularly suitable to such applications, since the presence of sun and intensive agriculture coexist throughout the Mediterranean area. On the other hand, constructed wetlands are attractive ecological systems for wastewater treatment based on mechanisms and pathways which are similar to those that occur in natural ecosystems. The principal novelty of the project is the combination of a solar photocatalytic method with a natural process also strongly influenced by solar light, allowing the contribution of solar energy to the process of effective cleaning and restoring the environment.

This research has been co-financed by the European Union (European Social Fund – ESF) and Greek national funds through the Operational Program "Education and Lifelong Learning", Action: "Aristeia I".