Research project GreenWaterTech鈥2 is an international research project addressing one of the most pressing challenges in water management today: the removal of persistent per鈥 and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), often referred to as 鈥渇orever chemicals,鈥 from water. Funded under the Water4All 2024 Joint Transnational Call and aligned with the EU鈥檚 transition toward a circular water economy,
GreenWaterTech鈥2 is an international collaboration uniting universities, research institutes and industry partners from across Europe. The consortium includes leading organisations from Sweden, France, Estonia and the Czech Republic, working together across disciplines such as chemistry, materials science and water engineering. This transnational partnership combines scientific excellence and industrial expertise to accelerate innovative, scalable solutions for PFAS鈥慺ree water treatment.
PFAS are widely detected in surface water, groundwater, and drinking water supplies, owing to their exceptional chemical stability, high water solubility, and resistance to degradation. In Europe alone, a substantial proportion of drinking water is sourced from groundwater, exposing millions of people to potential PFAS contamination. Existing removal methods—such as activated carbon, membranes, and conventional adsorbents—are often costly, energy鈥慽ntensive, generate secondary waste, and struggle to address short鈥慶hain PFAS. GreenWaterTech鈥2 responds to these limitations by aiming not merely to capture PFAS, but to eliminate them in a more effective and environmentally responsible way.
At the core of GreenWaterTech鈥2 is the development of modular hybrid technology (MHT) systems that integrate advanced nanoadsorbents, thermo鈥憄hotocatalytic units, and advanced oxidation processes (AOPs). These modules are designed to work in synergy, enabling efficient PFAS removal while allowing in鈥憇itu regeneration of treatment materials and minimizing waste generation. The project evaluates these technologies using both model waters and real wastewater streams, with the goal of transforming contaminated water into water of drinking quality and supporting circular water reuse. By generating robust experimental data and involving industry partners from the outset, GreenWaterTech鈥2 contributes practical solutions that can inform future PFAS regulations, accelerate technology deployment, and significantly reduce the environmental spread of these harmful substances.
