WATER DECONTAMINATION BY SUNLIGHT-DRIVEN FLOATING
PHOTOCATALYTIC SYSTEMS

Over 70% of earth is covered by water, but less than 1 % of freshwater is actually accessible to us. Its pollution affects not only drinking water but also rivers, lakes and oceans all over the world.

There are numerous substances that contaminate water basins, which are regulated according to the European Union Directive 2013/39/EU and the Watch List of Decision (2015/495/EU).

Among the priority substances (PSs) and contaminants of emerging concern (CECs), the highest concentrations are found for:

1. The PSs atrazine, alachlor, trifluralin, Heptachlor, hexachlorocyclohexane, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate.
2. The CECs azithromycin, clarithromycin, erythromycin, diclofenac, 17α-ethinyl-estradiol, imidacloprid and 2-ethylhexyl 4-methoxycinnamate.
3. Other unregulated organic compounds, such as caffeine, naproxen, metolachlor, estriol, dimethoate, terbuthylazine, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, trimethoprim, ciprofloxacin, ketoprofen, atenolol, bisphenol A, metoprolol, carbofuran, malathion, sulfamethoxazole, carbamazepine and ofloxacin.

Due to their toxicity, these pollutants can cause various environmental problems, adversely affecting the aquatic biota and increasing biochemical oxygen demand, negatively affecting the aquatic ecosystem and aquatic organisms.

In addition, these compounds can also harm human heath being carcinogenic, teratogenic, mutagenic, and interfering with the endocrine system. The huge impact of anthropogenic organic substances that are released into the environment must be mitigated through the development of suitable approaches for water remediation.

SUNFLOAT fits into this scenario by providing a new device to fight water pollution in remote locations in developing countries fighting with water shortage and lack of access to safe water.