Af Clarice Sivesgaard Abacan, AAU Communications and Public Affairs.
Photo: Peter Roslev.

The European Union Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (EU MSCA) project INtegrated Approach TO secure water QUAlity by exploiting Sustainable processes (IN2AQUAS) is addressing one of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time: water pollution.  

The project aims to educate the next generation of scientists to address current and future water treatment and water quality challenges. IN2AQUAS will train 15 doctoral candidates (DCs) to assess the environmental impact of pollutants and develop sustainable treatments for safe and clean water, even in extreme conditions.  

This will be achieved through a structured training-through-research program, combining innovative individual projects with technical and transferable skills education, emphasizing green approaches and excellence in research, management, and innovation. 

Associate Professors Vittorio Boffa and Peter Roslev and three PhD students from the Department of Chemistry and Bioscience at Aalborg University are participating in the program. 

"It's a privilege to be part of IN2AQUAS and to contribute to practical solutions for water sustainability. We are focused on making a real impact for communities and ecosystems that rely on these critical resources by developing innovative technologies and training a new generation of scientists," says Vittorio Boffa, Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry and Bioscience. 

The Water Pollution Crisis 
Water pollution is a critical issue affecting ecosystems, human health, and economies worldwide. Contaminants from industrial, agricultural, and domestic sources are degrading water quality, making it unsafe for consumption and harming aquatic life. The IN2AQUAS program aims to combat this crisis by developing advanced technologies and methods to ensure the availability of clean and safe water. 
 
The overall research goals of the IN2AQUAS project are: 

1. Assessment of water quality and prediction of responses to increasing environmental stresses 
2. Restore water quality while approaching zero-waste discharge 
3. Scale up and process integration of novel water technologies 
4. Recover nutrients and develop tools for water reuse assessment 

Some of the specific research activities at Aalborg University include: 

•  Investigations of UV-based advanced oxidation processes for removal of toxic substances from drinking water and wastewater. The activities will include the use of vacuum UV treatment and assessment of water quality using different bioassays in a zero-toxicity discharge context.
• Removal of off-flavor compounds from recirculating aquaculture systems water by use of UV-based advanced oxidation processes. The activities will include the quantification of major sources and sinks and the development of a numerical model for system description of off-flavor concentration in aquaculture systems. 
• Development and upscaling of photocatalytic membranes to be used in a zero liquid discharge context. The activities will include the fabrication of a novel membrane consisting of (photo)catalytic nanoparticles embedded in a graphene oxide (GO) matrix for simultaneous degradation of pollutants and production of clean permeate and retentate. 

A Vision for the Future 
The AAU research team aims to develop versatile and robust solutions adaptable to different environmental conditions. This approach addresses immediate water management challenges and contributes to the broader goal of sustainable and innovative water solutions globally. 

“We strive to develop novel and innovative water solutions at AAU that can help ensure safe, sustainable, and sufficient water for all,” concludes Peter Roslev, Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry and Bioscience.