PHOTOPUR – Photocatalytic decontamination of water contaminated by pesticides from viticulture
Project Overview
The current climatic conditions lead to an increase of insects on the vineyard, causing an increase in pesticides and therefore water contamination. The objective of the PHOTOPUR project was to reduce the quantity of plant protection products (PPS) from vine cultivation discharged into the surface waters of the Upper Rhine Trinational Metropolitan Region (RMT).To address this problem, a prototype for the remediation of contaminated water named after the PHOTOPUR project (see image opposite) was developed, optimized and tested during the entire project (until spring 2020). After passing through the PHOTOPUR, the water is depolluted and can then be reintroduced into the local wastewater, in an environmentally friendly way.t works according to a photocatalytic process (allowing to accelerate certain chemical reactions) using materials activated under UV and solar radiation.The project has also made it possible to develop an eco-label for the sustainable management of wastewater from viticulture.
Project Results
The project ended in 2020. The final restitution conference originally scheduled for March 2020 was postponed to December 2020 because of the covid. The website has not been updated with the main results for the moment.