Oxidación electroquímica impulsada por energía solar y adsorción de bajo coste a partir de residuos agrícolas para aplicaciones resilientes de aguas residuales y ecosistemas viables (SOLARWAVE).

The SOLAR-WAVE project (Solar-Driven Electrochemical Oxidation and Low-Cost Adsorption from Agriculture Wastes for Resilient Wastewater Treatment Applications and Viable Ecosystems) aims to develop and evaluate an advanced, integrated system for the safe and efficient reclamation of secondary effluents from urban wastewater treatment plants, with a view to their reuse in agricultural irrigation. The proposal is based on combining an electrochemically intensified solar photoelectro-Fenton process with a final adsorption stage using biochar obtained from agricultural waste, specifically tomato crop residues from intensive agriculture in Almería. This approach simultaneously addresses two strategic challenges for southeastern Spain: water scarcity and the sustainable valorization of agro-industrial waste.

The novelty of the project lies in its comprehensive approach, as it is not limited to the removal of contaminants of emerging concern, but also incorporates microorganism inactivation, the reduction of antibiotic resistance genes, the evaluation of disinfection by-products, and ecotoxicity analysis, all under operating conditions close to real-world application. Methodologically, the project is structured into three work packages: i) synthesis, selection, and characterization of biochar from residual agricultural biomass; ii) design and optimization of a raceway pond solar reactor coupled to electrochemical cells for continuous operation; and iii) integration of both stages and technical-economic evaluation of the complete system with real wastewater.

From the perspective of CIESOL, SOLAR-WAVE reinforces the center’s priority research lines in advanced water treatment, solar processes, and sustainability, while opening up new capabilities in environmental electrochemistry and waste valorization. Furthermore, the project presents clear scientific, technological, and territorial potential by proposing a solution aligned with the principles of the circular economy, green chemistry, and the safe reuse of water in agriculture.