CBI Pro-Akademia

Cathodic Plasma-Driven Solution Electrolysis (CPDSE) is considered one of the advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), while also being a potentially highly efficient method for hydrogen generation. This combination enables direct treatment of wastewater contaminated with a wide range of organic pollutants, including aromatic compounds, dyes, solvents, surfactants, pesticides, and pathogenic microorganisms with simultaneous production of gaseous energy carriers, like hydrogen. Hydrogen production via CPDSE exhibits significantly higher Faradaic efficiency, often surpassing conventional water electrolysis, depending on the organic pollutant concentration. Recent integration of ultrasonication with CPDSE has demonstrated a double synergistic effect, reducing overall energy consumption by nearly 50%. This combined CPDSE-ultrasound (US) process, called CombiSonoPlasma® (abbreviated CSP, with the trademark registered by RIC Pro-Akademia in 2025), has been successfully tested for the degradation of oil in hypersaline produced water originated from the oil extraction industry, achieving over 80% reduction in total organic carbon (TOC). 

In the ACE-WATER project, the CSP-based eco-innovation is proposed for the treatment of tannery and textile wastewater. The primary aim of the project is to advance the CSP process as an AOP for textile and tannery wastewater treatment, focusing on organic pollutant degradation, hydrogen production, desalination, and the recovery of critical raw materials (CRMs) such as Ni, Mg, Mn, B, Cu, and Sb. Concurrently, the process aims to reduce heavy metal concentrations, which are harmful to the environment, such as chromium (Cr) and cadmium (Cd). The research, implemented in collaboration with project partners from Poland, Italy, Hungary and Denmark, will investigate the relationship between process parameters, hydrogen production efficiency, and the effectiveness of wastewater treatment, while leveraging the CSP process for desalination and CRM recovery. The project will culminate in the design and testing of an upscaled CSP reactor capable of processing 300 L/h of real textile and tannery wastewater, achieving simultaneous hydrogen production, desalination, and CRM recovery effect. Feasibility of the upscaled wastewater treatment system will be validated by LCA and techno-economic analysis. 

The proposed project aligns with topics 1.2 and 3.1 of the WATER4ALL Joint Transnational Call 2024: “Water for Circular Economy”, focusing on developing innovative processes for wastewater treatment and reuse, as well as integrated approaches for recovering valuable resources (CRMs) and energy from wastewater. This innovative approach to wastewater treatment, hydrogen production, desalination and material recovery is expected to support the energy transition, circular economy principles, and wastewater reuse strategies. 

Co-funded by the European Union