Work Structure & Methodology
WP1: PFAS in the sector of municipal wastewater and sewage sludge management
The role of Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) as pathways of PFAS will be examined under the frame of circular economy. The relevant tasks include collection of wastewater and sewage sludge samples from Greek STPs as well as hens’ eggs and soil from small farms from the surrounding areas. Experiments in the field for the role of wastewater irrigation and sludge application on PFAS soil contamination and PFAS plants uptake will also be conducted.
WP2: PFAS in the sector of municipal solid waste management
Solid waste samples will be collected from the different flows of Municipal Solid Waste Recovery Plants to investigate the occurrence of new-generation and old-generation PFAS in different recovered materials as well as from the leachates of the different processes. Since the compost-like output (CLO) produced by these plants is applied to soil, experiments will also be conducted to assess PFAS mobility and the ecotoxicity of the resulting leachates.
WP3: Development of technologies for PFAS elimination
Hybrid physicochemical treatment technologies will be tested at laboratory scale for the removal of PFAS from heavily contaminated wastewater, while advanced biological and thermal technologies will be applied to PFAS-contaminated organic solid waste residues. The operational costs and environmental footprint of the developed technologies will be assessed.
WP4: Management and dissemination/communication of the results
This WP is responsible for the overall coordination, administrative and financial management, and monitoring of project progress. Dissemination of the results to the scientific community will be achieved through publications in peer-reviewed journals and presentations at scientific conferences. A short video and a podcast will be produced to inform the general public about PFAS and the circular economy.