pBio4.0 Project

Co-financed by:

Project designation | pBio4.0: Preventing Biofouling in Membrane Systems

Project code | POCI-01-0247-FEDER-033298

Main purpose | Reinforce research, technological development and innovation

Intervention region | NUTS II North – Matosinhos

Beneficiary entity | Enkrott - Gestão e Tratamento de Águas, S.A.

Approval date | 2018-05-04

Start date | 2018-07-01

Completion date | 2021-06-29

Total eligible cost | 516,256.54 EUR

European Union financial support | FEDER - 335,892.43 EUR

Objectives, activities and expected/achieved results:

The pBio4.0 project, co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the Competitiveness and Internationalization Operational Program (POCI), aims at a set of R&D activities within the scope of preventing biofouling in Reverse Osmosis (OI) systems. , with a focus on reducing the use of biocidal agents. It is intended to develop a technological, innovative and intelligent solution, which consists in the functionalization of nanoparticles through the fixation of biocidal principles. These particles, when aggregated in a specifically designed housing, will maximize antimicrobial efficiency. The increase in effectiveness in minimizing biofouling problems will result in an eco-efficiency gain in the RO processes.

For the success of the project, a complete consortium was created, made up of Enkrott (leading company) and two entities with competences to explore the planned research lines: the University of Porto, through the organic unit - LEPABE - of the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto, and the INL - International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory.