This ‘Water pollution research and innovation: open directory’ lists all the projects and opportunities we’ve received in response to our spring 2022 Global Challenge campaign addressing water pollution and wastewater treatment. Each of these projects has been submitted by an academic or research commercialisation professional with the aim of initiating meaningful conversations and partnerships leading to collaborative development and deployment of new interventions that address the global water pollution crisis.

How to review the projects

A non-confidential summary of each project is hosted on IN-PART’s digital matchmaking platform, Connect, for university-industry collaboration. Set up an account (it’s completely free), log in, and follow the links below.

How to connect with the teams behind them

If you see a project that aligns with your R&D priorities, you can make a request for more information directly through the article on Connect. The academic team or project lead will then send you a response by email.

There are no costs or downstream fees for companies to use IN-PART’s matchmaking platform to connect with universities – it’s maintained by institutional subscriptions.

Water pollution and wastewater management 

Content navigation 

• Detection of pollutants 
• Detection of natural particulates and pathogens
• Water treatment (removal of pollutants)
• Water treatment (removal of natural particulates and pathogens)
• Wastewater management

Detection of pollutants 

Water Quality Calculator and Irrigation Risk Assessment Mobile App
University of Arizona
Read the project summary

“Dip and Fold” Disposable Sensor Platform for Chemical Detection
University of Waterloo
Read the project summary

Novel Hand-Held, Portable Device to Measure Trace Levels of Uranium in Water
Virginia Commonwealth University
Read the project summary

Portable Low-Cost System for Field Chemical Analysis
University of Arizona
Read the project summary

Automated Conversion of Corrosion Current to Corrosion Rate
University of Arizona
Read the project summary

Metal Hydrogen pH Electrode
University of Arizona
Read the project summary

Electrochemical Sensor for the Detection of PFOS in Water
Ca’ Foscari University of Venice
Read the project summary

Low-cost Multichannel Fiber Optic Sensor System for Chemical Analytes in Water Monitoring
Colorado State University
Read the project summary

Hydrocarbon Sensing Device to Identify Contaminated Water
Colorado State University
Read the project summary

Nanocage Sensors
University of Vermont
Read the project summary

Remote and Continuous Detection of Contaminants in Water using Novel Optical Fibre Sensors
University of East Anglia
Read the project summary

Automated Detection of Bacteria in Water via Artificial Intelligence-driven Lab-on-a-Chip with Optical Biosensors
University of Aberdeen
Read the project summary

Atomically Thin WS2-based Electronic Sensors for Rapid and Sensitive PFAS Detection
New Jersey Institute of Technology
Read the project summary

Scalable 2D MoS2-Based Electronic Sensors for Rapid and Efficient Detection of Lead Ions in Water
New Jersey Institute of Technology
Read the project summary

Low-Cost Biopolymer-Metal Sensor for Onsite Detection of Heavy Metal Ions in Water
University of Central Florida
Read the project summary

PlomBoxear: A Device for Open-Source Metrology to Fight Lead Contamination in Drinking Water
Royal Holloway, University of London
Read the project summary

Fieldable Time-Resolved Raman Spectroscopy System
Purdue University
Read the project summary

Detection of natural particulates and pathogens

Autonomous Microfluidic Device for Water Quality Analysis
Puerto Rico Science, Technology & Research Trust
Read the project summary

Optical Device for In-Line and Real-Time Monitoring of Microalgae
University of Arizona
Read the project summary

Solar-Driven Water Remediation Device and Solar Panel Protectant
Tufts University 
Read the project summary

Gold Nanoparticle Biosensors
Michigan State University 
Read the project summary

Magnetic Nanoparticles, Magnetically Activated Cell Enrichment, and Biosensing
Michigan State University 
Read the project summary

Recombinant Protein for Rare Earth Element Binding
Michigan State University 
Read the project summary

Mobile Continuous Low-flow Water Sample Collection System
University of Colorado Boulder
Read the project summary

Wastewater Monitoring
Queen’s University Belfast
Read the project summary

MolEndoTech: Pathogen Testing
Plymouth University 
Read the project summary

Safewater IoT: The Use of Devices to Assess Water Quality in the Field Without Specialist Training
North by Northwest Partners 
Read the project summary

Water treatment (removal of pollutants)

Method for Removing Textile Dyes from Contaminated Water
North Carolina State University 
Read the project summary

Switchable Polarity Solvent Forward Osmosis
Idaho National Laboratory
Read the project summary

Contaminants Removal with Simultaneous Desalination Using CO2 Regenerated Hybrid Ion Exchanger Nanomaterials
Leheigh University
Read the project summary

A Bioprocess Aiming at Specific Micropollutants Reduction
Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology
Read the project summary

A Method for Pharmaceutical-origin Micropollutants Removal from Wastewater
Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology
Read the project summary

A Degradation and Inactivation of Antibiotics in Water by Immobilized Enzymes onto Functionalized Supports
Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology
Read the project summary

A Method for Pharmaceutical-origin Micropollutants Removal from Wastewater
Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology
Read the project summary

Degradation and Inactivation of Antibiotics in Water by Immobilized Enzymes onto Functionalized Supports
Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology
Read the project summary

EK Reactor – Electrodialytic Technology as a Pre-treatment for Wastewater Reuse Applications
Universidade NOVA de Lisboa
Read the project summary

CaviPlasma
Masaryk University
Read the project summary

Rapid, Reusable Technology for High Capacity Water Treatment
The University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Read the project summary

Hydrogen Peroxide Removal in Water Treatment Applications
The University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Read the project summary

Wastewater Treatment: Laser Synthesis of Graphene-based Magnetic Materials
Virginia Commonwealth University
Read the project summary

Automatic Microfluidic System for Biological Support Preparation for Water Purification
National Sun Yat-sen University
Read the project summary

Decontamination of Tritiated Water
Savannah River National University
Read the project summary

Microbial Consortium for Degradation of Dyes in Wastewater
Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Read the project summary

ImpAs: A New Filter to Remove Arsenic in Drinking Water
Imperial College London
Read the project summary

Carbon Nanotube and Ferrihydrite Water Filter for Removal of Metal and Organic Contaminants
Georgia State University
Read the project summary

Removal of Uranium using Rhamnolipid Biosurfactants and Ion Flotation
University of Arizona
Read the project summary

Portable Optical Sensor to Measure Fluoride Levels in Water
University of Victoria
Read the project summary

Wastewater Treatment via Thin-film Plasma Reactors
Florida State University
Read the project summary

Use of Novel Porous Microsphere Technology for Sustainable, High Volume Removal of Unwanted Contaminants from Water Sources
University of Nottingham
Read the project summary

Effective Treatment of Shale Oil and Gas Produced Water via an Integrated Treatment Train
Colorado State University
Read the project summary

Magnetically Responsive Membranes for Fluid Filtration (and the Synthesis thereof)
Colorado State University
Read the project summary

Electrochemical Removal of Heavy Metals from Agricultural Waste
Colorado State University
Read the project summary

Bioremediation of Halogenated Organics (PFAS), Aromatic Hydrocarbons, Radionuclides, and Ammonium
Princeton University
Read the project summary

A Method for Energy-Efficient and Simultaneous Nitrogen Removal from Wastewater and Desalination of Saline Water
Mississippi State University
Read the project summary

Flame Spray Pyrolysis of Photocatalyst on Powdered Biochar for the Degradation of Organic Contaminants
Mississippi State University
Read the project summary

A Method for Energy-Positive Combined Desalination and Advanced Wastewater Treatment
Mississippi State University
Read the project summary

A Novel Electric Field-Assisted Forward Osmotic (EFO) Device for Saline Production from Marginal Waters
University of Vermont
Read the project summary

Specific Product Oriented Precipitation (SPOP)
Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich
Read the project summary

Smart Water Filters for Pesticide Removal (SPOP)
University of Lincoln
Read the project summary

Oily Wastewater Treatment Technology using High-Performance Oil-Degrading Microorganisms
Nagoya University 
Read the project summary

Efficient Water Decontamination System
Oxford University Innovation
Read the project summary

Purifying Composite Material for Use in Photocatalytic Destruction of Pollutants in Water Supplies
University of Central Lancashire
Read the project summary

Novel Generation Method to Produce Nanobubbles in Liquid with Tunable Bubble Properties
New Jersey Institute of Technology
Read the project summary

Electrified Membrane System for Coupled Ammonia Production Separation from Nitrate Containing Wastewater
New Jersey Institute of Technology
Read the project summary

Electrified Membrane System for Coupled Ammonia Production Separation from Nitrate Containing Wastewater
New Jersey Institute of Technology
Read the project summary

Innovative Low Cost Sorbents for PFAS Remediation
SUNY Research Foundation
Read the project summary

Removing Per- and Polyfluorinated (PFAS) from the Environment
SUNY Research Foundation
Read the project summary

Ferroelectric-based Photocatalytic Processes as a Novel Approach for Degradation of PFAS in Water
University of Bath
Read the project summary

Coal Char: Production and Properties
Mississippi State University
Read the project summary

Novel Organic Material for PFAS Removal
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Read the project summary

Pre-Treatment for Color Removal from Water Polluted with Tannic Acid and Humic Acid
University of Central Florida
Read the project summary

Green Sorption Media to Remove Per- and Poly-fluoroalkyl Contaminants from Fluids
University of Central Florida
Read the project summary

Fast Identification of Green Solvents for the Removal of Pollutants from Water
University of Portsmouth
Read the project summary

Water treatment (removal of natural particulates and pathogens)

Antimicrobial Efficacy of Treatments Based on Plant Compounds
University of Arizona
Read the project summary

Phyto-Mediated Wastewater Treatment Bioreactor (PWBR)
University of Arizona
Read the project summary

Minimal Energy Brine Concentration Aided by Ion Exchange Osmosis and Evaporation (IXO-E)
Lehigh University 
Read the project summary

Novel Solar Thermal Membrane Distillation System for Drinking Water Production
Florida Atlantic University 
Read the project summary

Nano-Biocatalytic Membranes for Water Treatment
University of Vermont
Read the project summary

Recovery of Silver Nanoparticles from Aqueous Wastestreams
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
Read the project summary

Chemically Robust Water Purification Membranes
KU Research & Development 
Read the project summary

Minimum Liquid Discharge from Hypersaline Brine by Electromagnetic Induction Membrane Distillation
New Jersey Institute of Technology 
Read the project summary

Biofilm-based Treatment of Industrial Wastewater
Canterbury Christ Church University 
Read the project summary

Microwave Catalytic Membrane Filtration for Pollutant Degradation and Microbial Inactivation
New Jersey Institute of Technology 
Read the project summary

GEMX: Green Biodegradable Micelles against Microbial Pathogens
TransferTech Sherbrooke 
Read the project summary

Ultra-smooth Polydopamine Coating with Application in Water Purification Membrane
Monash University 
Read the project summary

Active NanoFiltration (NF) and UltraFiltration (UF) Membrane for Better Productivity
TransferTech Sherbrooke 
Read the project summary

Low-Voltage Nanowire-Assisted Electroporation for Water Disinfection
Georgia Institute of Technology 
Read the project summary

Water Waste Removal using Magnetic Nanoparticles
Georgia Institute of Technology 
Read the project summary

Low-energy, Scalable Water Disinfection Technology Development and Commercialization
University of Guelph 
Read the project summary

Removal of Contaminants using Ceramic Filtration Materials
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee 
Read the project summary

Salinity Exchange Process for Low-Cost, High-Quality Potable Water
Georgia Institute of Technology 
Read the project summary

Filtration with Arrays of Anchored Liquid Columns
Rutgers University, The State University of New Jersey
Read the project summary

Wastewater management

Treatment of Ammonia Wastewater using Flowing Electrode Capacitive Deionization
Idaho National Laboratory
Read the project summary

Low Cost Process for Concentrated Brine Treatment
Idaho National Laboratory
Read the project summary

A Mathematical Model for Aerobic Granular Sludge Wastewater Treatment Technology
Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology
Read the project summary

Catalytic Materials for Wastewater Treatment
Imperial College London
Read the project summary

Integrated Urban Water Modeling Platform
Colorado State University
Read the project summary

Capacitive Deionization of Brine Using Carbon Nanotubes
Clemson University
Read the project summary

Oscillating-field Assisted Membrane Filtration for Wastewater Phosphorus Recovery
University of Vermont
Read the project summary

Microbial Electrolytic Carbon Capture for Carbon Negative and Energy Positive Wastewater Treatment
University of Colorado Boulder
Read the project summary

Sequestration of Macronutrients from Anaerobic Wastewater Treatment with Steel Processing Residuals
University of Colorado Boulder
Read the project summary

Novel Treatment for the Degradation of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) via Micro Scale Hydrodynamic Cavitation
KTH Royal Institute of Technology
Read the project summary

Natural Leaf-Guar-Derived Solar-Driven Water Desalinator
Northeastern University
Read the project summary

If you have any questions or want to speak with our team about our water pollution research and innovation directory, or any of the work we’re doing in response to the global water pollution crisis, feel free to send us a message at: alex@in-part.co.uk.

Written by Frances Wilkinson. Edited by Anabel Bennett.

Copyrights reserved unless otherwise agreed – IN-PART Publishing Ltd., 2022: ‘Water pollution research and innovation: open directory’

About IN-PART:

We believe brilliant connections can solve real-world problems. We match research pioneers from academia with decision-makers in industry sectors striving for a greater positive impact.

Our goal is to enable connections from around the world to match academic research with industry on a level playing field. Through our intelligent, matchmaking platform we showcase leading university innovations and connect academics with an international community of decision-makers in industry, creating meaningful dialogue and partnership.

Connect, a digital partnering platform for university-industry collaboration.

250+ universities and research institutes around the world currently showcase their research and innovation on IN-PART to find new collaboration partners in industry. R&D teams get free access to the platform (create an account here). There are no hidden costs and we don’t claim downstream success fees.

Discover, a bespoke scouting service for open innovation.

With the aim of solving a technical requirement or challenge, Discover enables R&D teams to identify new opportunities for commercialisation or to solicit proposals for new research from our extended academic network, which has confirmed touchpoints in 2,400+ universities and institutes worldwide.

Interested in speaking with our Discover team? Request a demo |  TTO or academic? Sign-up for weekly Discover emails.

Header Image credit: Marcin Jozwiak / Unsplash License 

In-line Image Credit in order of appearance: Marcin Jozwiak / Unsplash License, Rebecca Bliklen / Unsplash License, The Tampa Bay Estuary Program / Unsplash License, Liz Harrell / Unsplash License, Goulet Isabelle / Unsplash License, Patrick Federi / Unsplash License.