Closed-loop wAter Systems in textile industrial distriCts: multimodal orchestrAteD rEmoval of emerging pollutants from textile wastewater

Introduction

The LIFE-CASCADE project aims at developing analytical procedures and wastewater treatment technologies meant to detect and remove the two most critical categories of emerging micropollutants for the textile sector: poly- and per-fluorinated compounds (PFAS) and Microplastics. PFAS are among the most persistent critical micropollutants due to their impact on the environment and on human health.

Background

Microplastics in water are largely connected to the textile production cycle and the deterioration during the use of textile products containing synthetic fibers.

Project Objectives

LIFE-CASCADE will pursue those complementary targets by performing:

1. Lab-scale evaluation of analytical protocols for contaminants detection.
2. Demonstrative-scale testing of selected wastewater treatment technologies aimed at removing PFAS and Microplastics from wastewater.

This will be achieved through a multi-level multi-modal approach, combining close-to-the-factory and centralized wastewater treatment technologies.

Project Outputs

The composite output of the project includes three layers:

• Standardized and multi-lab validated analytical protocols to detect and quantify PFAS and Microplastics contaminants in heterogeneous textile wastewaters.
• A modular set of wastewater treatment units to be installed at factory- and central treatment plant-levels for the removal of the target emerging micropollutants.
• An orchestrating methodology meant to support the design and implementation of the best combination of treatment modules according to the textile district configuration and wastewater characteristics.

Demonstration Solutions

The project's demonstration solutions will be installed and tested in the Como Textile District, and lab-scale experiments will also be carried out in cooperation with the Portugal textile district.