The videos collected in this page report a brief description of the plant projected and realized by the NanoTheCAba consortium. This innovative prototype consists of four main units, each designed to ensure maximum efficiency in the treatment process:

First Unit: Microfiltration (MF)
The first section is dedicated to microfiltration, utilizing advanced membranes developed by our partner CENTI in Portugal. The system includes two flat sheets of SiC coated with nanoparticles to ensure antibacterial activity in the preconcentration unit.  The membranes are immersed in a tank with a 200 L capacity. After crossflow filtration through the membranes, the permeate is collected in a second compartment tank. 
Second Unit: Ultrafiltration (UF)
This unit consists of a tank,  a filter, two pumps and up to three ceramic membranes placed in this holder. The membranes were manufactured by B4C in Denmark. They were prepared through dip-coating a highly porous SiC in ZrO₂ slurry, followed by sintering at temperatures ranging from 1000 to 1300 °C to produce membranes with an average pore size of 60 nm. These membranes exhibit  excellent  stability under harsh conditions and high temperatures, allowing them to be used for extended periods. Briefly, the feedstock solution passes through these membranes. The collected permeate contains particles with an average size of less than 60 nm. This permeate is then directed to the NF compartment.
Third Unit: Nanofiltration (NF)
This Unit is equipped with a Teflon filter, then two pumps. The second pump can perform at different frequencies to reach the desired TMP pressure. Then a spiral membrane NF90-4040, with a porous sulfone mid layer and an active layer of polyamide. The cut off this membrane is 200 Da. We initially tested this module using synthetic solutions with different molecules: caffeine, paracetamol, methyl orange and sodium chloride and the results have shown the efficiency in producing a permeate able to be discharged directly and a concentrated retentate that will be directed to the last part of this protype to ensure the abatement of contaminants of emerging concern CECs. 
Fourth Unit: Thermo-catalytic Packed Bed Reactor (TPBR)
The Thermo-catalytic packed bed reactor will generate hydroxyl radicals able to abate CECs via an Advanced Oxidation Process (AOP). The scrups placed in this column were prepared in collaboration with CNR Palermo and B4C Denmark. The catalyst supported on the SiC scrups is a perovskite Nano-powder. Preliminary tests have shown good efficiency of the non-supported catalyst for pharmaceuticals removal at a temperature of 60 °C up to 90%. Briefly, the permeate of the UF unit will be the feed stock of the NF compartment. The feedstock solution will pass through the NF membrane module. The retentate is collected in the tank, heated up 70 °C  and directed toward the Thermo-catalytic bed reactor for further abatement of the concentrated contaminates.

  video #1 reports a brief introduction to the plant and the description of the Microfiltration (MF) unit; 

  video #2 report a description and some details of the Ultrafiltration unit (UF); 

  video #3 report a description and some details of the Nanofiltration unit (NF); 

  video #4 report a description and some details of the Thermocatalytic Packed Bed Reactor (TPBR); 

  video #5 describes the command panel and the scheme of the water flow in the plant.

The authors would like to thank the EU and all the National funders for funding, in the frame of the Consortium NanoTheCAba, financed under the ERA-NET AquaticPollutants Joint Transnational Call Nº 869178. This ERA-NET results from the collaboration of the Joint Programme Initiatives on Water (Water JPI), Oceans (JPI Oceans) and Anti-Microbial Resistance (JPI AMR).