Concept
Transforming microplastic & microfiber pollution into high-value resources.
The challenge
Microplastics (MPs) and microfibers (MFs) released during industrial textile processing and domestic laundering present a severe global environmental hazard. Conventional wastewater treatment plants often fail to fully remove MPs/MFs, which subsequently accumulate in aquatic ecosystems and sewage sludge, preventing its application as soil conditioner.
The REWASH approach
REWASH introduces a flexible, modular waste-to-value device that combines advanced photochemical, biological and bioelectrochemical processes to capture and upcycle microplastics/microfibers at the source.
- In Textile wastewater loaded with PET and PA microplastics and microfibers
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PEC
Photoelectrochemical system
Solar-driven catalytic degradation breaks down synthetic MPs/MFs, specifically polyester (PES/PET) and polyamide (PA/Nylon), into soluble monomeric oxidation products.
Soluble monomers
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SynComs
Engineered bacterial synthetic communities
Spatially structured microbial aggregates transform PEC degradation intermediates into high-value bioactive compounds, including polyketide (PK) scaffolds for chemical and pharmaceutical applications.
Polyketide scaffolds
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BES
Bioelectrochemical systems
Bioelectrochemical modules polish remaining wastewater by degrading organic matter and selectively recovering vital nutrients (nitrogen, macronutrients) and purified water suitable for industrial reuse.
Clean water & nutrients
- Out Resources Water for industrial reuse, recovered nutrients and high-value bioactive compounds
Multi-scale computational modeling
Electronic structure models (DFT), genome-scale metabolic models (GEMs) and mechanistic process models guide system design, optimization and scaling.