This project focuses on the sustainable use and protection of existing water resources and how atmospheric pressure plasma can help. Our colleagues from RnD and Microbiology are working on this project together with other partners.

The aim of SPOWAR is to strengthen the innovative power of Euregional companies in the field of "New Materials and Materials" by developing new technologies for the inactivation and degradation of e.g. antibiotic-resistant bacteria, multi-resistant pathogens (MRE) and ecotoxicologically critical substances in industrial and waste water. Contamination and emissions to the environment are to be reduced or, if possible, avoided.

The project participants hope to develop strategies and solutions for efficient and resource-saving water treatment without the use of consumable chemicals (e.g. biocides) based on activatable bi-super catalysts, which can be used in combination with plasma or high-pressure processes. New processes for the degradation of specific pharmaceutical residues and methods for the quality control of the treated water will be developed. The results of the project will improve the quality of the natural resource water (green investment, risk prevention) and protect human health.

Potential applications include
- Decentralized treatment of wastewater from high-risk facilities (medical facilities, slaughterhouses, livestock farms, etc.) prior to discharge into the municipal sewer system and of process water prior to reuse
- Centralized treatment of wastewater prior to discharge into the environment
- Decentralized removal and recovery of ecotoxicologically critical pharmaceutical residues
- New water quality control methods

Plasmatreat's patented Openair-Plasma and PlasmaPlus will be used, as it has been shown in the past that the reactive plasma species are chemically reactive and have an inactivating effect on microorganisms. Tests with different parameters and settings of the plasma treatment should lead to chemically reactive and functionalized filter surfaces that can inactivate microorganisms and degrade critical substances in contaminated wastewater.

Other partners are WfK - Institut für Reinigungstechnik e.V., University of Bonn, University of Groningen and others.