Water treatment
The discharge of toxic and persistent contaminants into the environment is a well-documented reality which constitutes a real threat to the ecosystems and quality of water resources. Pharmaceuticals are amongst the most relevant environmental pollutants. The development of alternative and economically feasible water treatment options is urgently needed which is the main area addressed by RemPharm.
Why waste wastes?
RemPharm aims to contribute to the mitigation of two sound environmental problems: the protection of water resources and the sustainable management of industrial residues. To approach these problems, RemPharm proposes to use industrial wastes from Pulp and Paper industry as new resources to produce ativated carbons to be applied in water treatment.
RemPharm studies the use of wastes to treat wastes. Why waste wastes when they can be a valuable resource?
The presence of pharmaceuticals in aquatic ecosystems is proven to result in observable effects that have a direct impact in the natural equilibrium of the living systems. By improving and diversifying waste water treatment technologies, RemPharm is also contributing to reduce the environmental risks that arise from the occurrence of these pollutants.
Environmental protection
The management of industrial wastes in an environmentally friendly manner is a challenge for a large number of industries. It is the case of Pulp and Paper industry which produces annually millions of tons of solid residues. These wastes are usually incinerated or landfilled, practices that are being progressively discouraged. Using these industrial wastes as a resource constitutes a new option of their management.
Waste management
RemPharm is line with zero waste approaches as it uses industrial wastes as precursors to new products. Most of the times, wastes are considered as non-valuable sub-products and are seen as a burden by the industries being discarded when they still have economic value and are valid resources. The zero waste approach allows to maximize the value extracted from natural resources.
Zero waste
A greener and sustainable economy is only possible in a circular model where the residues are minimized and systematically re-inserted into the productive chain. This model contraposes the world´s current model, based on a linear economy where the products are made, used and disposed.
Circular economy
The global market of activated carbon generates millions of tones of this material by making use of natural resources as raw materials. The use of pulp and paper mill solid residues to produce activated carbon transforms these industrial by-products into added value products that can actually compete with the available market alternatives.
Added value products
The activated carbons are made by subjecting the pulp and paper mill sludge to chemical and high temperature treatments.
The resulting product is a powdered or granular carbon which has an impressive superficial area. Only 5 to 6 g of the carbon has the same area of a football field due to its extremely porous structure.