New Publication by University of Salerno, Italy

Can living membrane bioreactors help tackle two major wastewater challenges at once: microplastics and membrane fouling?

Excited to share our latest publication of our partner Università degli Studi di Salerno – Sanitary Environmental Engineering Division (SEED) within the SPORE-MED project PRIMA Partnership:

📄 Microplastic removal and fouling mitigation in a pilot-scale living membrane bioreactor for urban wastewater treatment
🔗 https://lnkd.in/e2hHEJZy

The study explores how a living membrane bioreactor can simultaneously improve microplastic removal and reduce membrane fouling in urban wastewater treatment. These findings highlight the potential of nature-based, biofilm-driven technologies to support more efficient and sustainable water treatment systems. Congratulations to all co-authors and collaborators on this work. Mary Vermi Aizza Corpuz, Stefano Cairone, Alessia Giannattasio, giuseppinaoliva, Antonis Zorpas, Sebastià Puig, Vincenzo Belgiorno, Antonio BUONERBA and Vincenzo Naddeo (納文 森)

Participation in GEET Laboratory Research Dissemination Day

Today is about sharing research and building connections.

Our partners (Ksibi Mohamed; Jordi Cros Herrero Adasa Sistemas) are participating in the GEET Laboratory Research Dissemination Day at ENIS, where we present the SPORE-MED project (PRIMA Partnership) alongside other ongoing research activities.

The programme brings together technical presentations, discussions on environmental monitoring and biotechnology, and a round-table on future scientific collaborations and technology transfer.

Events like this are key to connecting research with practice-exchanging ideas, identifying synergies, and exploring how results can move closer to real-world applications.

Looking forward to the discussions and insights from colleagues and partners.

Participation in International Society for Industrial Ecology Conference by Sostenipra, UAB

This week our partner Sostenipra has been at the University of Cambridge to participate in the International Society for Industrial Ecology – ISIE SEM conference 2026. Inspiring talks and lots of new insights from our fellow industrial ecologists’ research!

Sostenipra ICTA-UAB was represented by Anna Petit Boix and Roger Plans i Vilardell. They gave an (unconventional) talk about the COALA activities for schools aimed at integrating IE knowledge from our projects (WEF4Build) into school curricula. They also presented a poster about the MFA-LCA of technological upgrades in wastewater treatment plants in Catalonia as part of the SPORE-MED project.

Until next time!

Thesis Defense within SPORE-MED Project

Congratulations to Emma Company Masó on the successful defence of her PhD thesis!

We are delighted to celebrate this important milestone achieved by Emma, PhD researcher at one of the SPORE-MED consortium partners (LEQUIA). Her thesis, Towards Waste Valorisation: Phosphorus and Potassium Resource Recovery for Fertiliser Production, advances innovative approaches to recovering valuable nutrients from wastewater and transforming them into sustainable fertilisers-an important step towards a more circular and resource-efficient future.

Emma’s research has been developed within the framework of the SPORE-MED project, demonstrating how collaborative European research can generate not only scientific knowledge but also support the next generation of researchers. At SPORE-MED PRIMA Partnership, we believe our impact goes beyond delivering project results. Supporting talented early-career researchers throughout their scientific journey is one of our greatest achievements, and we are incredibly proud to have been part of Emma’s research path.

Congratulations once again, Emma! We wish you every success in the next chapter of your career.

Technical Visit to Sfax by ADASA

Bridging research and real-world implementation is where environmental innovation truly happens.

As part of our ongoing SPORE-MED project (PRIMA Partnership), our partner Adasa Sistemas is carrying out a technical visit to the Sfax North Wastewater Treatment Plant, organized by ISBS (Institut Supérieur de Biotechnologie de Sfax – Ksibi Mohamed).

The visit goes beyond a standard inspection. It includes:
– Assessment of the proposed installation site for new sensor systems
– On-site discussions with ONAS representatives and the plant’s operating team
– A technical meeting to clarify installation requirements, responsibilities, and operational constraints

These steps are essential to ensure that new monitoring technologies fit real operational conditions and can be deployed effectively. Great to see the collaboration moving forward!

New Publication

We are happy to announce that a new publication “Enhancing energy efficiency in Mediterranean wastewater treatment plants: An environmental assessment” is available now within the SPORE-MED project.

For more INFO: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214714426010470?dgcid=coauthor

New Publication “Environmental Risk and Removal Efficiency of NSAIDs in Wastewater Treatment Plants in Sfax, Tunisia”

New publication from the SPORE-MED project! PRIMA Partnership

Congratulations to our colleague Ksibi Mohamed ( Institute of Biotechnology of Sfax (ISBS), University of Sfax) and co-authors on their new article: “Environmental Risk and Removal Efficiency of NSAIDs in Wastewater Treatment Plants in Sfax, Tunisia”.

The study investigates the occurrence, removal performance and environmental risks associated with pharmaceutical residues in WWTPs under Mediterranean conditions.

The findings highlight the importance of improving wastewater treatment strategies to address emerging contaminants and support safer water reuse practices in water-scarce regions.

Congratulations to all authors for this valuable contribution towards more sustainable and resilient water management systems.

Read the article here: https://lnkd.in/egwH8Swr

SPORE-MED General Assembly and Scientific Board Meeting

Today, the SPORE-MED consortium gathered online for our General Assembly. PRIMA Partnership

It was a pleasure to see the progress achieved so far and the outcomes of the strong collaboration between partners.

Thank you to all partners for their commitment and dedication as we continue working towards more sustainable water and resource management solutions across the Mediterranean. ♻️

Participation in Workshop “Sustainable Livestock Farming: EmissioCap and DEPURHOB projects”

♻️ Great to participate in the workshop “Sustainable Livestock Farming: EmissioCap and DEPURHOB projects”, organised by BETA Technological Centre and LEQUIA at the Universitat de Girona.

As part of SPORE-MED (PRIMA Partnership), Alba Ceballos-Escalera LEQUIA contributed with a talk on struvite recovery in wastewater treatment plants, highlighting the role of phosphorus recovery in advancing circular nutrient management.

We also joined the technical visit to the APERGAS biogas plant in Vilanant, where the DEPURHOB pilot plant showcases innovative solutions to valorise anaerobic digestate into fertilisers.

Thank you to the organisers and all participants for an inspiring event promoting sustainable and circular agri-food systems.

e-Cristalyser technology

This week, we had the opportunity to present e-Cristalyser technology at the workshop organised by the ESPP European Sustainable Phosphorus Platform, which focused on Article 20 of the new Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive.
Developed as part of the SPORE-MED project, e-Cristalyser provides an innovative approach to efficiently recover phosphorus from sewage sludge, supporting the transition towards a circular economy and enhancing the sustainable use of strategic resources.