Through the Competence Center "Clean & Circle" – "Clean Technologies for Sustainable Development – Water, Waste, Energy for a Circular Economy," Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski" is actively involved in the European project PROMISCES, "Preventing the Spread of Persistent Organic Chemicals in the Soil-Sediment-Water System for a Circular Economy."
The project aims to find sustainable solutions to address pollution by collaborating with various institutions, including the Sofia Waste Treatment Enterprise.
PROMISCES encompasses multiple research activities focused on innovative methods for treating landfill leachate. The team from the Competence Center is working on Work Packages WP4 and WP5, exploring and analyzing new technologies to reduce contamination. These activities include analyzing ten municipal landfills and testing plasma treatment under laboratory conditions to reduce persistent organic chemicals, particularly PFAS, also known as "forever chemicals." The primary research objectives include assessing the effectiveness of leachate treatment technologies, analyzing biological activity in purification processes, and investigating the possibility of extending the lifecycle of sludge and converting it into a valuable product.
The PROMISCES project is part of Sofia University’s broader efforts to contribute to sustainable development and environmental protection.
During Session 21 of the Remtech Europe 2024 conference, organized by Julie Lions, Stéfan COLOMBANO (BRGM), and Eric D. van Hullebusch, Associate Professor Evgeniya Benova from the Competence Center "Clean & Circle" presented a report on "The Impact of Plasma Treatment on PFAS in Model Fluids and Leachate under the PROMISCES Project." The report generated significant interest and a productive discussion on the great innovative potential of plasma technologies, which not only enable the degradation of a wide range of pollutants but also significantly reduce their toxicity. Plasma technologies have proven to be highly effective in breaking down per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which pose a serious environmental and human health threat due to their accumulation and resistance to degradation.
The application of plasma treatment methods can achieve a significant reduction in the toxicity of these chemicals, contributing to safer and more sustainable waste management. These technologies represent the future of environmental biotechnology and offer new opportunities for tackling some of the most critical and high-risk ecological challenges.
Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski" continues its research on PFAS toxicity through the Competence Center "Clean & Circle." The research team is developing, testing, and validating new methods for assessing the complex toxicity of PFAS and limiting their spread in the environment. Researchers evaluate toxicity using fluorescent molecular techniques, measuring the metabolic activity of Escherichia coli and fluorescence intensity. Additionally, they are exploring the reduction of leachate toxicity through plasma treatment methods, utilizing various plasma sources to degrade PFAS and minimize their toxic effects.