The project has been structured in six Working Packages (WP). In the WP1: a methodology is applied to identify the sources of organic micro-pollutant in hospital. In WP2 and WP3 innovative biological processes (strictly anaerobic systems with biophors connected with aerobic membrane bioreactors) and advanced oxidation technologies (photo-Fenton, UV-H2O2 heterogeneous photocatalysis) are developed and optimised in the laboratory. In the WP4, the operation of two pilot devices, for the treatment of hospital wastewater flows burdened with resistant micro-pollutions and for the treatment of the mixture of hospital wastewater, is being tested in real world conditions. In the WP5 the system’s ability to remove multi-resistant bacteria and their ecotoxicity are being assessed. Also, is assessed the possible treated hospital wastewater reuse in the hospital gardens. Finally, in the WP6 is carried out an economic, technical and environmental assessment of the treatment hospital wastewater systems and actions are being developed for the commercialization of them.
WP01: Methodology development for the identification of micro-pollutants sources in hospitals and assessment of their species and concentration
Object: The development and application of a methodology for the individual organic micro-pollutants’ sources identification in a hospital and for the assessment of their species and expected concentration in hospital wastewater. The methodology will be applied at Venizelio General Hospital of Heraklion.
Deliverables:
- D1.1. Technical report of activities and hospital wastewater streams at Venizelio General Hospital of Heraklion
- D1.2. Technical report of the estimated (based on the medicine consumption) pharmaceutical substances concentration in the hospital wastewater flows and comparison with the laboratory results
- D1.3. Scientific publications and conference announcements
- D1.4. Development of a website for the project and information of wider audience
WP02: Treatment of burdened flows of hospital wastewater by advanced oxidation processes
Object: The laboratory evaluation of different advanced oxidation processes for the resistant organic micro-pollutants’ removal from burdened hospital wastewater streams and the laboratory evaluation of advanced oxidation processes as the final treatment stage of biologically treated hospital wastewater.
Deliverables:
- D2.1. Results report on the composition and characterization of laboratory photocatalyst
- D2.2. Results report on the performance of advanced oxidation methods in the emerging pollutants’ removal
- D2.3. Scientific publications and conference announcements
- D2.4. Information of wider audience through the publication of an article in the local press, in the website and social media
WP03: Treatment of hospital wastewater by innovative biological processes
Object: The laboratory development and optimization of a system for the treatment of the mixture of hospital wastewater that combines innovative biological processes for the removal of organic micro-pollutants with simultaneous energy production by the exploitation of biogas and production of recovered water.
Deliverables:
- D3.1. Results report on the operation and performance of the hospital wastewater treatment system under different conditions
- D3.2. Results report on membrane blockage during their operation.
- D3.3. Scientific publications and conference announcements
- D3.4. Information of wider audience through the publication of an article in the local press, in the website and social media
WP04: Development and operation of pilot units for the integrated hospital wastewater management
Object: The construction and the operation at Venizelio General Hospital of Heraklion two pilot units that will offer integrated wastewater management. The first one will apply advanced oxidation technology to treat specific overburdened wastewater flows, the second one will apply innovative biological processes, advanced oxidation technology and disinfection to treat totally the wastewater by producing, simultaneously, biogas and recovered water.
- D4.1. Advanced oxidation pilot unit for pre-treatment of overburdened wastewater flows
- D4.2. Operational report of the pilot unit for pre-treatment of overburdened wastewater flows
- D4.3. Pilot unit for the treatment of mixture wastewater
- D4.4. Operational report of the pilot unit for the treatment of mixture wastewater
- D4.5. Scientific publications and conference announcements
- D4.6. Public informing, in situ visits of specific population groups and institutions representatives at the pilots units
WP05: Ecotoxicity and treated wastewater reuse assessment
Object: The study of possible removal of multi-resistant bacteria and resistance genes, the ecotoxicity study of the treated wastewater effluents and the possibility study of their reuse at hospital gardens. The WP5 will focus on bacterial faecal infection markers, which are mentioned in the legislation, as well as bacteria important for the public health, which are distinguished for their multidrug resistance to antibiotics (eg Klebsiella penumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus).
Deliverables:
- D5.1. Results report on the ability of pilot units to remove multi-resistant bacteria
- D5.2. Results report on the ecotoxicity of the wastewater effluents and the risk assessment of their disposal in the environment
- D5.3. Results report on the possibility of wastewater effluents reuse
- D5.4. Scientific publications and conference announcements
- D5.5. Information of wider audience through the publication of an article in the local press, in the website and social media
WP06: Pilot units evaluation and commercialization
Object: The economic and technical evaluation of the proposed wastewater treatment units and the recording of Greek hospitals capacity and the characteristics in order to accelerate the commercialization process of the technology.
Deliverables:
- D6.1. Economic, technical and environmental assessment report
- D6.2. Preliminary plan for the implementation of full-scale wastewater treatment units at the Venizelio General Hospital of Heraklion
- D6.3. Greek hospitals’ capacity and characteristics report
- D6.4. Participation in trade environmental technology exhibitions
- D6.5. Organization of a scientific symposium related to the management of hospital wastewater treatment
- D6.6. Production of 3-minute audiovisual material that will describe the technologies and information of Greek administration legislation on the results of the project
- D6.7. Investigation of the possibility of obtaining a patent
- D6.8. Business exploitation – commercialization plan
The DIANYA project “On-site integrate management of hospital wastewater“, with Project Code: T2EDK-02905, is funded by the National Action: Research – Create – Innovate
[Operational program: “Competitiveness, Entrepreneurship & Innovation (EPAnEK) 2014-2020” (NSRF 2014- 2020), with the co-financing of Greece and the European Union].