Active Engineering Clean Energy

Quantum-Driven Degradation Mechanisms for Sustainable Water Treatment in Decentralized Systems

Funder NERC (part of UKRI)
Recipient organisation University of Birmingham
Funding Not disclosed
Period May 2025 — Dec 2028

In plain English

AI plain-English summary

A single catalyst particle, smaller than a virus, could break apart a "forever chemical" molecule that would otherwise persist in drinking water for centuries. This matters because current water treatment methods struggle to remove emerging pollutants like PFAS, pharmaceuticals, and microplastics. These contaminants accumulate in water supplies, and existing technologies either fail to degrade them or require energy-intensive centralised plants. The project addresses a gap in knowledge: how to selectively break down these pollutants at the molecular level while recovering valuable compounds like nutrients or metals. If successful, the research could enable small-scale, decentralised water treatment systems that work passively—embedded in materials like biochar or soil—rather than requiring large infrastructure. This would make clean water more accessible in rural or underserved communities without expensive treatment plants. The work also includes life cycle analysis and stakeholder engagement with policymakers and communities, so any resulting technology would come with practical guidance on cost, safety, and social acceptance. The project is interdisciplinary but applied: it combines quantum chemistry with environmental engineering to produce a tangible tool for water remediation, not just a theoretical advance.

View original technical description
This interdisciplinary PhD project aims to transform water treatment through quantum-enhanced technologies that address both contamination and resource sustainability. With a focus on incorporating decentralised systems, the project integrates quantum chemistry and molecular modelling to develop mechanisms/catalysts capable of selectively degrading emerging pollutants such as PFAS, pharmaceuticals, and microplastics. Using quantum chemistry principles, advanced nanomaterials (e.g., quantum dots, MXenes, MOFs) will be developed and tested for pollutant degradation and recovery of valuable compounds such as nutrients or metals. The work will assess environmental safety, efficiency, and long-term viability of such technologies through lab-based studies, computational simulations, and real-world field trials. A critical component of the project involves the potential to embed the developed treatment methods within environmental substrates (e.g., biochar, soil), supporting passive and ecosystem-compatible remediation. Sustainability assessments will use life cycle analysis and techno-economic modelling, while stakeholder engagement, including community members, policymakers, and industry will guide social acceptance and policy recommendations. By combining quantum chemistry, environmental engineering, and grassroots policy co-creation, the project contributes to both scientific innovation and equitable water access.

View the original record at the funder ↗

Researchers

Azura Farrell-Mcleod (Student)

Related Research

Grants with similar aims, by meaning.

Development of a sustainable and effective oxidation technology for wastewater treatment
Quantum Sensing - Ground, and Aquifer Monitoring for Environmental Sciences (QS-GAMES)
Quantum Technology based hydrological Sensor Networks
Uncovering microbial tactics in drinking water supply systems: using advances in genetics for countering the effects of climate change
Self-powered disinfection of Viruses and Bacteria in water using Oxidation-assisted electroporation and Tribo-Electric Nanogenerators (VIBO-TENG)

Original classification

Studentship

Plain English summaries and category classifications on this site are generated by AI and may not perfectly reflect the original research.