Environmental sustainability

Reduction of environmental impact and GHG emissions

European LIFE Project

Development of 3 pilot plants in Spain and 1 pilot plant is Estonia

Dissemination project results

Development a network on sustainable radioactivity treatment

Clean water

Treatment of natural radioactivity in water for human consumption

Towards a smart & integral treatment of natural radioactivity

in water provision services

LIFE ALCHEMIA addresses one of the current challenges of water for human consumption such as the presence of natural radioactivity. There is a considerable lack of knowledge by the actors involved and it can be stated that, despite the current legislation (Directive 2013/51/Euratom), radioactivity is not systematically monitored at European level. Indeed, this is an environmental problem that cannot be solved at source, as it is generated by the groundwater dilution of minerals rich in radioactive isotopes, mainly from uranium (U), radium (Ra) and thorium (Th) series. Therefore, new systems able to provide sustainable removal of radioactivity from a cost-effectiveness point of view are needed. Reverse osmosis (RO) is the most commonly treatment used for this application; however carbon footprint of this process is very high and generates large volumes of water rejection with radioactivity that needs further treatment. LIFE ALCHEMIA offers a breakthrough in this problem from two angles. First, with the use of removal systems based on bed filters, which will reduce up to five times the cost of the water purification. Moreover, the whole life cycle of the radioactivity will be considered, including the management of the waste generated.

Objectives

To demonstrate the technical and economic feasibility of bed filters that will be optimized to remove radioactivity from water and to minimize the generation of Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (NORM) exceeding the exemption level …

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Actions

The structure of the project ensures its successful implementation, since there is an effective interaction between the activities foreseen. The duration of the project will be 39 months, starting on 02/10/2017 and ending on 31/12/2020 …

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Expected results

In quantitative terms, LIFE ALCHEMIA will lead to the following results: 4 filter-based pilot plants will provide removal rates of gross alpha and beta activity up to 90%, and reductions in the concentrations of specific radionuclides (U and Ra) between 75% and 90% …

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Improving drinking water quality

Building a sustainable future

Project news

Latest activity in LIFE ALCHEMIA

 

LIFE ALCHEMIA Final event

LIFE ALCHEMIA Final event

Next Thursday, 30th September, the final event of the project will be held online and in person in the Degree Room of the CITE V Building of the University of Almería. In this final event, the main...

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European Researchers’ Night 2021

European Researchers’ Night 2021

One more year LIFE ALCHEMIA participated in the 2021 Researchers' Night, which took place on 24th September 2021. On this occasion, the event was face-to-face, thus bringing science closer to all...

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Second promotional video of LIFE ALCHEMIA

Second promotional video of LIFE ALCHEMIA

The second promotional video of the project is now available both on our YouTube channel and in the multimedia section of the project website. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1giA6g0IPU&t=46s...

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Second LIFE ALCHEMIA seminar

Second LIFE ALCHEMIA seminar

Last Thursday 17th the second seminar of the LIFE ALCHEMIA project "Natural radioactivity in water for human consumption" was held online, with great success from the audience. The seminar dealt...

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Environmental awareness

Some project figures

 

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NORM reduction genetared during the elimination of radioactivity

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Cost reduction in water treatment

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Alpha and beta radioactivity reduction in pilot plants

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Environmental impact reduction

Partners

Project architects

 

Participate with LIFE ALCHEMIA

Project evaluation online questionnaire and quick questionnaire about drinking water treatment plants (DWTP)

 

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DWTP Database

Get access to our database of drinking water treatment plants (DWTP) that treat water with natural radioactivity in Europe