Nanoculture project
D4RUNOFF
D4RUNOFF overall goal is to create a novel framework for preventing and managing diffuse pollution from urban water runoff through the data driven design of hybrid nature based solutions adapted to the current and future risk scenarios solutions. This innovative approach will support water utilities, urban planners and policy makers in defining urban runoff and storm water management plans to enhance the quality of the water discharged to water bodies, considering the Climate Change. Water Quality research group will be involved in the development of cost effective advanced online sensors for targeted CECs, metals and microplastics for improving the monitoring of the water pollution derived from urban runoff.
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FRONTSH1P
FRONTSH1P is a project that form part of the call “Building a low-carbon, climate resilient future: Research and Innovation in support of the European G2een Deal (H2020-LC-GD-2020). FRONTSH1P is centred in the Polish region of Łódzkie and contributes to further the green and just transition of the region away from its current linear model of economic development, towards the region’s decarbonisation and territorial regeneration. It does so by demonstrating four circular systemic solutions (CSSs). Each CSS will be implemented in the region and targets an economic sector that is itself aiming towards decarbonisation: Wood Packaging, Food & Feed, Water & Nutrients, and Plastic & Rubber Waste. Another major goal in the demonstration of the CSSs is their replicability. Water Quality group contribution will be centred on the development of Surface-enhanced Raman scattering-based sensors for the CO2 detection, which will be implemented in the CSSs of Water & nutrients. A feat that will be proven during the project by their implementation in four other European regions: Campania (Italy), Stereá Elláda (Greece), Região do Norte (Portugal), and Friesland (the Netherlands). FRONTSH1P will apply a circular governance model and create circular regional clusters, which will involve a wide range of local, regional, and national stakeholders, both from the public and private sphere.
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OPTIRAS
OPTIRAS (Optimization of the control of water quality in Recirculating Aquaculture Systems) is a multidisciplinary consortium that will contribute to improve technology and protocols for land-based farming of sole and Atlantic cod significantly, with respect to productivity, animal health, production conditions, environmental benefits and sustainability. In particular, OPTIRAS aims at contributing to more sustainable growth in the aquaculture sector by developing innovative sensor technologies for operationally critical water quality parameters, and thus, generating new jobs related to a blue economy growth in Portugal.
The Water Quality group will develop and deploy an online monitoring system for chemical parameters relevant for the control of the water quality and the ozone demand.
OPTIRAS has received funding from the European Economic Area Financial Mechanism under the EEA Grants Portugal.
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AIHABs
AIHABs is a multidisciplinary innovative initiative aimed at developing an integrated evaluation system to forecast the risk derived from the presence of emerging cyanotoxins in inland and coastal ecosystems. The innovation of this proposal resides at merging tools as last generation Artificial Intelligence (AI), remote sensing, nanosensors, hydrodynamic modelling and massive genetic sequencing with the joint purpose of providing an early warning system to decision making authorities in terms of risk to the population. The predicting modelling effort will allow a timely action to minimize the risks of consuming surface waters or using them as recreational resources when the
waterbodies are prone to produce toxic cyanobacterial blooms. Water Quality group leads the WP3, Sensors and WP5, Integration and Validation where new sensing systems to monitoring cyanotoxins will be developed and validated in the laboratory and in a reservoir case study.
Aquatic Pollutants has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 869178-AquaticPollutants
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LABPLAS
The ambitious and overarching objective of LABPLAS is understanding the sources, transport, distribution and impacts of plastic pollution in all environmental compartments (freshwater, marine, terrestrial, biological and atmosphere) by applying technological advances (sampling, analysis, quantification), promoting truly biodegradable novel materials when appropriate, developing innovative and up-scalable models, and presenting results for decision making (which will connect plastics to the above characteristics). Special emphasis, but not limited to, will be placed on the small micro and nanoplastics (SMNP) (≤ 100 µm). The LABPLAS project assumes the following: 1. Most plastic pollution can be traced back to land-based sources of plastic waste; 2. The environmental impact of plastic particles is driven by their composition and size (e.g., polymer properties, shape and chemical additives determine environmental fate and ecotoxicological effects).
Water Quality group leads the WP4, Smart Hubs, where new technologies to analyse the smallest fractions from environmental SMNPs and their additives will be established, as well as new methodologies in remote sensing for meso- and macroplastics.
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R&W CLEAN
The R&W Clean (new solutions for sensing environmental and biological parameters and to assist to demedicalization of agricultural sector) project aims to investigate, develop and validate an integrated solution for monitoring critical biological and environmental parameters to support the demedicalization of agricultural holdings. The solution to be developed can be structured in two distinct main blocks: one related to the monitoring of the rumen pH, and another dedicated to the monitoring of animal's drinking water. These blocks will subsequently be integrated into a multi-component monitoring solution that will support decision-making processes. In this way, it is intended to increase the degree of awareness of producers for the reduction of medication in animals and to collect critical information for the animal feed supplier, which, based on the data collected, may develop formulations especially targeted at certain identified conditions. R&W Clean is promoted by a consortium of four entities: two business entities - DIN (lead promoter) and EXATRONIC - and two non-business entities from SI&I - the University of Porto (through its organic unit Instituto Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar) and the International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory.
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NGQC IoRT: Next-Gen Quality Control IoRT System
The project aims to develop a new IIoT/IoRT (Industrial Internet of Things / Internet of Robotic Things) ecosystem applicable in a transversal and flexible way to the process of visual inspection and quality control in complex production lines of the automotive industry, including environmental and energy monitoring, waste water and gas treatment. Collaborative robotic systems (with integration of robotic manipulators and controllers) and artificial vision mechanisms integrated in a IIoT/IoRT sensing ecosystem will be investigated and developed, namely: (i) collaborative robotic system of visual inspection and quality control in dynamic regimes and ( ii) robotic system in a mobile and portable unit for identification and analysis of non-conformities, which integrate with artificial vision algorithms, in order to achieve properties of versatility, flexibility and transparency in the identification of non-conformities including the ability to self-reprogram/self-reconfiguration through intelligent self-learning. The proposed solution will enhance pilot sensing in an industrial environment at Stellantis Group in Mangualde, within the new concepts of Industry 4.0.
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SbDToolBOX
SdDToolBox will address the current general scarcity of methods and tools to obtain the relevant data encompassing the specific properties that differentiate nanomaterials from chemicals and paying special attention to the differential needs of the diverse impact and application areas, namely health, food or environment. Three types of tools will be developed during the project: i) analytical methodologies and devices for the identification and quantification of nanomaterials (including nanoplastics) in complex environmental matrix; ii) fit-for-purpose adapted methods for nanotoxicology assessment making use of advanced micro/nanofabrication and microfluidics for lab-on-a-chip devices; iii) in silico models for safe-by-design and life cycle assessment of nanomaterials fed by reliable de novo (eco)toxicology data obtained using the most recently accepted guidelines for the test of nanomaterials. The produced methods, guidelines and devices will help to support the development of new standard operation procedures for the harmonization of the test of nanomaterials safety and provide reliable data for adequate risk assessment and regulatory purposes.
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DIGIRAS
Modern RASs are highly complex aquatic environments and up to date, a lack of reliable data on individual parameters, interactions and impact on productivity and fish welfare, still prevents the technology from exploiting its full potential for sustainable aquaculture operations. The main aim of DIGIRAS is to close knowledge gap by digitalization of parameters and processes in RAS, which in turn will lead to more sustainable production under special attention of fish health and welfare.
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SbD4Nano
NanoUptake aims the development of a validated rapid hazard profiling module, coupled to a new exposure-driven modelling framework to reduce toxicity. The safe-born material also undergoes a cost-benefit analysis algorithm to find the best compromise between safety and an industrially convenient technical performance. Finally, a new software interface where product information can be exchanged between the supply chain participants is the tool that wraps up, finishing the collaborative spirit of NanoUptake between regulators, researchers and industry.
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Nanoculture
The objective of NANOCULTURE is to advance in knowledge, risk assessment and mitigation of environmental presence of the most-used engineered nanoparticles (ENPs): titanium dioxide (TiO2) and silver (Ag) in market products. The focus of the project are the aquatic ecosystems related to aquaculture, a sector of high economic relevance in the Atlantic area. NANOCULTURE will investigate the effects of ENPs on aquaculture products, their bioaccumulation and assess its impact in human intake. In addition, NANOCULTURE will develop SERS-based sensors for these ENPs. These sensors will enable Atlantic aquaculture to make use of the digital revolution and provide real time on-site monitoring.
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ACUINANO
The general objective of the project is to advance in the knowledge of the possible toxic effects of metallic nanoparticles (NPs) of titanium dioxide and silver in aquatic ecosystems related to the aquaculture sector, as well as in the study of possible effects in the growth and welfare of cultured fish and molluscs. In addition, it is also of great importance the control of these species that are used as food for man, being therefore essential to ensure their food security. Case studies for aquacultured species of special relevance in Galicia and North of Portugal.
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SAFE-N-MEDTECH
SAFE-N-MEDTECH will build an innovative open access platform to offer to companies and reference laboratories, the capabilities, knowhow, networks and services required for the development, testing, assessment, upscaling and market exploitation of nanotechnology-based Medical and Diagnosis Devices. This across the whole Life Cycle.
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