Photo by Beth Jnr
Publish Date: 27.12.2021
Category: Outstanding research achievements, Interdisciplinary research, Our contribution to sustainable development goals
Sustainable development goals: 3 Good health and well-being, 6 Clean water and sanitation, 9 Industry, innovation and infrastructure, 12 Responsible consumption and production, 14 Life below water (Indicators)
With the development of an analytical method based on gas chromatography and mass spectrometry for the determination of selected contaminants of emerging concern in the algal aqueous and biomass phase, researchers from the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ljubljana, and their associates have made an important step toward effective purification of wastewater.
Organic contaminants of emerging concern are substances found in wastewater, which enter the environment via drains from purification plants. These include pharmaceuticals, pesticides, active ingredients from personal care products, surfactants and plasticisers - bisphenols. They often have a negative impact on the health of people and the environment, e.g. because of their toxicity and endocrine activity (hormone disruptors). Algal technologies serve as an alternative to conventional biological purification plants, as they support environmentally friendly sustainable development and have the ability to remove various contaminants from wastewater; in addition, they also produce algal biomass which has a reuse potential.
Researcher from Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ljubljana (Franja Prosenc, PhD, Prof. Tjaša Griessler Bulc, PhD, Asst. Prof. Darja Istenič, PhD) in cooperation with researchers from the Jožef Stefan Institute (David Škufca, PhD – now employed at the Faculty of Health Sciences, Prof. Ester Heath, PhD) and the Catalan Institute of Water Research – ICRA (Gianluiggi Buttiglieri, PhD) have developed an analytical method based on gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC-MS) for determining selected contaminants of emerging concern in the algal aqueous and biomass phases, which contributes to the understanding of the mechanisms of their elimination in algal cultures with regard to biodegradation, adsorption and assimilation. At the laboratory level, up to 100% purification effect was achieved for the majority of 28 contaminants of emerging concern. For some, biodegradation was also proved.
This achievement was published in four articles in high impact factor journals, and it is also important from the viewpoint of applicable value in agriculture. The risk management results based on the findings of this study were presented at a training event for agricultural irrigation consultants. The study was done as part of a now completed ARRS project entitled "Closure of substance paths in the purification of public wastewater using green technologies".
Figure: Laboratory experiments on removing contaminants of emerging concern using pure or mixed algal cultures. Author: F. Prosenc
Sources:
1. ŠKUFCA, David, KOVAČIČ, Ana, GRIESSLER BULC, Tjaša, HEATH, Ester. Determination of 18 bisphenols in aqueous and biomass phase of high rate algal ponds: development, validation and application. Chemosphere. 2021, 33 pp. ISSN 0045-6535. DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.129786. [COBISS.SI-ID 48987395], [JCR, SNIP, WoS by 9 Aug. 2021: no. of quotes (TC): 2, pure quotes (CI): 1, pure quotes per author (CIAu): 0,25, Scopus by 1 Sept. 2021: no. of quotes (TC): 3, pure quotes (CI): 1, pure quotes per author (CIAu): 0,25]; IF 7.086
2. PROSENC, Franja, PIECHOCKA, Justyna, ŠKUFCA, David, HEATH, Ester, GRIESSLER BULC, Tjaša, ISTENIČ, Darja, BUTTIGLIERI, Gianluigi. Microalgae-based removal of contaminants of emerging concern: mechanisms in Chlorella vulgaris and mixed algal-bacterial cultures. Journal of hazardous materials. 2021, vol. 418, pp. 126284-1-126284-11. ISSN 0304-3894. DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.126284. [COBISS.SI-ID 66314499], [JCR, SNIP, WoS, Scopus do 15. 9. 2021: no. of quotes (TC): 1, pure quotes (CI): 0, pure quotes per author (CIAu): 0,00]; IF 10.588
3. ŠKUFCA, David, KOVAČIČ, Ana, PROSENC, Franja, GRIESSLER BULC, Tjaša, HEATH, David John, HEATH, Ester. Phycoremediation of municipal wastewater: removal of nutrients and contaminants of emerging concern. Science of the total environment. 2021, 17 pp. ISSN 0048-9697. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.146949. [COBISS.SI-ID 58688003], [JCR, SNIP, WoS do 18. 8. 2021: no. of quotes (TC): 1, pure quotes (CI): 1, pure quotes per author (CIAu): 0,17, Scopus do 19. 6. 2021: no. of quotes (TC): 1, pure quotes (CI): 1, pure quotes per author (CIAu): 0,17]; IF 7.963
4. ŠKUFCA, David, PROSENC, Franja, GRIESSLER BULC, Tjaša, HEATH, Ester. Removal and fate of 18 bisphenols in lab-scale algal bioreactors. Science of the total environment. 2021, 35 pp. ISSN 0048-9697. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149878. [COBISS.SI-ID 74097923], [JCR, SNIP, Scopus]; IF 7.963
5. GRIESSLER BULC, Tjaša, PROSENC, Franja, ISTENIČ, Darja, ŠUNTA, Urška. Zelene tehnologije čiščenja odpadne vode in ponovna uporaba vode in produktov - demonstracijski center CČN Ajdovščina ter zdravstvena tveganja: predavanje na usposabljanju za kmetijske svetovalce s področja namakanja, Kmetijsko gozdarska zbornica Slovenije, 26 Oct. 2020. [COBISS.SI-ID 46201347]