Coordinator – TUIASI Gheorghe Asachi Technical University of Iasi

CERSUS Project Coordination

The team from Gheorghe Asachi Technical University of Iași (TUIASI) coordinates the whole CERSUS Centre of Excellence.
TUIASI’s contribution builds on the multidisciplinary expertise of its team members which come from the Department of Environmental Engineering and management at the Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Protection. The research team combines chemical and environmental engineering, materials science, biotechnology and sustainability assessment, linking experimental research with the evaluation of environmental performance and practical applications.

Reseach profile and expertise

TUIASI team contributes expertise in the following scientific areas of the project:

TUIASI’s role in the consortium

TUIASI combines consortium coordination with research contributions across all seven CERSUS work packages, connecting materials development, environmental technologies and resource valorisation with sustainability assessment and researcher training.

WP1 — Project management and coordination
As project coordinator, TUIASI leads project management, overseeing implementation, consortium cooperation, scientific and financial reporting, quality assurance and communication. It coordinates the organisational framework of the Centre of Excellence, supporting shared research procedures, strategic planning and collaboration among partners.

WP2 — Innovative materials for environmental applications
TUIASI contributes to the synthesis and characterisation of organic and macromolecular materials and composites with tailored structures and functional groups. Its activities also include the development of carbon-based nanomaterials and porous organic–inorganic hybrid materials, using bio-based resources and industrial and agricultural wastes as precursors.

WP3 — Advanced wastewater treatment and resource recovery
TUIASI leads the task on developing and integrating advanced processes for the degradation and mineralisation of priority and emerging pollutants in wastewater. This work investigates combinations of adsorption, oxidation, membrane and biological processes to improve treatment performance and support safer water reuse. The team also contributes to screening the environmental applications of newly developed materials, recovering metals from industrial wastewater, and converting biogas, carbon dioxide and biomass-derived compounds into valuable fuels and chemicals.

WP4 — Water resources management for recirculating aquaculture
TUIASI leads the task on identifying selected priority and emerging micropollutants in water, wastewater and associated environmental matrices. Its contribution includes developing harmonised monitoring methodologies with consortium partners and assessing contaminant occurrence and ecotoxicity. TUIASI also participates in testing innovative materials under real aquaculture conditions, including their use as water filters and supplementary resources for fish feed.

WP5 — By-product and waste valorisation
TUIASI contributes to recovering and characterising polyphenol-rich extracts from agricultural and food-processing residues and to developing efficient methods for separating and purifying valuable bioactive compounds. It also supports the formulation of by-product-derived supplements for fish feed and the development of innovative wine seal capsules using biodegradable materials and encapsulated natural compounds with antioxidant and antimicrobial properties.

WP6 — Sustainability and risk assessment
TUIASI leads the assessment of innovative materials, advanced processes, and by-product and waste valorisation pathways. This work integrates eco-design and prospective life cycle assessment into the earliest stages of research, helping partners identify opportunities to improve environmental performance. Subsequent assessments use experimental data, life cycle costing, process modelling and scenario analysis to examine environmental impacts, economic performance and scale-up options. In collaboration with consortium partners, TUIASI also contributes to risk assessment and the refinement of life cycle impact assessment methods using project-generated toxicity data.

WP7 — Technology transfer, dissemination and training
TUIASI contributes to disseminating research findings, engaging stakeholders and supporting technology transfer. It participates in scientific exchanges, internships and mentorship activities and provides training in research project management, eco-design and life cycle management, and the contribution of circular bioeconomy to sustainability. TUIASI is also responsible for developing and maintaining the project website, supporting access to CERSUS activities and results.

TUIASI Infrastructure

TUIASI uses the research infrastructure provided by:
LACMED – the Laboratory of Analysis and Control of Environmental Factors (accredited for SR EN ISO/CEI 17025:2018, certificate LI 1054/18.03.2023, which is in the 3^rd accreditation cycle), and
the Research Laboratory for Biochemical engineering & biotechnology,
both belonging to Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Protection (TUIASI), where all research team members activate. The TUIASI team infrastructure comprises equipments used in water/wastewater analysis, materials & waste characterization, laboratory systems for different applications. Major equipments include:

CERSUS Project Coordination

The team from Gheorghe Asachi Technical University of Iași (TUIASI) coordinates the whole CERSUS Centre of Excellence.
TUIASI’s contribution builds on the multidisciplinary expertise of its team members which come from the Department of Environmental Engineering and management at the Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Protection. The research team combines chemical and environmental engineering, materials science, biotechnology and sustainability assessment, linking experimental research with the evaluation of environmental performance and practical applications.

Reseach profile and expertise

TUIASI team contributes expertise in the following scientific areas of the project:

TUIASI’s role in the consortium

TUIASI combines consortium coordination with research contributions across all seven CERSUS work packages, connecting materials development, environmental technologies and resource valorisation with sustainability assessment and researcher training.

WP1 — Project management and coordination
As project coordinator, TUIASI leads project management, overseeing implementation, consortium cooperation, scientific and financial reporting, quality assurance and communication. It coordinates the organisational framework of the Centre of Excellence, supporting shared research procedures, strategic planning and collaboration among partners.

WP2 — Innovative materials for environmental applications
TUIASI contributes to the synthesis and characterisation of organic and macromolecular materials and composites with tailored structures and functional groups. Its activities also include the development of carbon-based nanomaterials and porous organic–inorganic hybrid materials, using bio-based resources and industrial and agricultural wastes as precursors.

WP3 — Advanced wastewater treatment and resource recovery
TUIASI leads the task on developing and integrating advanced processes for the degradation and mineralisation of priority and emerging pollutants in wastewater. This work investigates combinations of adsorption, oxidation, membrane and biological processes to improve treatment performance and support safer water reuse. The team also contributes to screening the environmental applications of newly developed materials, recovering metals from industrial wastewater, and converting biogas, carbon dioxide and biomass-derived compounds into valuable fuels and chemicals.

WP4 — Water resources management for recirculating aquaculture
TUIASI leads the task on identifying selected priority and emerging micropollutants in water, wastewater and associated environmental matrices. Its contribution includes developing harmonised monitoring methodologies with consortium partners and assessing contaminant occurrence and ecotoxicity. TUIASI also participates in testing innovative materials under real aquaculture conditions, including their use as water filters and supplementary resources for fish feed.

WP5 — By-product and waste valorisation
TUIASI contributes to recovering and characterising polyphenol-rich extracts from agricultural and food-processing residues and to developing efficient methods for separating and purifying valuable bioactive compounds. It also supports the formulation of by-product-derived supplements for fish feed and the development of innovative wine seal capsules using biodegradable materials and encapsulated natural compounds with antioxidant and antimicrobial properties.

WP6 — Sustainability and risk assessment
TUIASI leads the assessment of innovative materials, advanced processes, and by-product and waste valorisation pathways. This work integrates eco-design and prospective life cycle assessment into the earliest stages of research, helping partners identify opportunities to improve environmental performance. Subsequent assessments use experimental data, life cycle costing, process modelling and scenario analysis to examine environmental impacts, economic performance and scale-up options. In collaboration with consortium partners, TUIASI also contributes to risk assessment and the refinement of life cycle impact assessment methods using project-generated toxicity data.

WP7 — Technology transfer, dissemination and training
TUIASI contributes to disseminating research findings, engaging stakeholders and supporting technology transfer. It participates in scientific exchanges, internships and mentorship activities and provides training in research project management, eco-design and life cycle management, and the contribution of circular bioeconomy to sustainability. TUIASI is also responsible for developing and maintaining the project website, supporting access to CERSUS activities and results.

TUIASI Infrastructure

TUIASI uses the research infrastructure provided by:
LACMED – the Laboratory of Analysis and Control of Environmental Factors (accredited for SR EN ISO/CEI 17025:2018, certificate LI 1054/18.03.2023, which is in the 3^rd accreditation cycle), and
the Research Laboratory for Biochemical engineering & biotechnology,
both belonging to Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Protection (TUIASI), where all research team members activate. The TUIASI team infrastructure comprises equipments used in water/wastewater analysis, materials & waste characterization, laboratory systems for different applications. Major equipments include: