Politehnica University Timișoara (UPT) contributes expertise in advanced materials, electrochemical technologies, water and wastewater treatment, and resource recovery. Within CERSUS, UPT leads technology transfer, dissemination and researcher training, alongside research on photo(electro)chemical processes for hydrogen production and wastewater treatment. Its activities connect environmental innovation with practical applications, industrial collaboration and the circular bioeconomy.
CERSUS Project Contribution
Politehnica University Timișoara (UPT) contributes to CERSUS with expertise in environmental engineering, advanced materials, electrochemical technologies and resource recovery. Its research team connects materials development with innovative water and wastewater treatment processes, supporting the transition towards circular water management and a sustainable bioeconomy.
Within CERSUS, UPT also leads technology transfer, dissemination and training activities, helping translate scientific findings into practical applications and strengthen the skills of young researchers.
Reseach expertise
UPT team contributes expertise in the following scientific areas of the project:
- Advanced water and wastewater treatment, including electrochemical oxidation, electrocoagulation, photocatalysis, adsorption and membrane processes.
- Functional materials for environmental applications, including inorganic and nanostructured materials with catalytic, photocatalytic, adsorbent and filtration properties.
- Electrochemical sensors and environmental monitoring, using functionalised carbon nanostructures and electroanalytical techniques to detect pollutants and monitor treatment processes.
- Resource recovery and waste valorisation, including the use of waste-derived materials for pollutant removal and the recovery of valuable substances.
- Environmental remediation, including metallic iron-based treatment and phytoremediation approaches for contaminated environments.
UPT’s role in the consortium
WP1 — Project management and coordination
UPT supports consortium governance through its participation in project management, scientific coordination, progress monitoring and reporting, working with TUIASI and the other partners to deliver the project’s objectives.
WP2 — Innovative materials for environmental applications
UPT contributes to the synthesis and characterisation of materials with catalytic, electrocatalytic and photocatalytic properties. Its activities also include sustainable lignocellulosic waste valorisation and the development of functionalised lignin derivatives and activated carbon materials for environmental applications.
WP3 — Advanced wastewater treatment and resource recovery
UPT leads the task on innovative photo(electro)chemical processes for enhanced hydrogen production and wastewater treatment. This research investigates ways to combine pollutant removal with energy recovery, using advanced materials and optimised operating conditions.
The team also contributes to screening newly developed materials, integrating advanced processes for priority and emerging pollutant removal, recovering nutrients for agricultural use, and recovering metals from industrial wastewater.
WP4 — Water resources management for recirculating aquaculture
UPT contributes to identifying priority and emerging micropollutants in water, wastewater and associated environmental matrices. Working with consortium partners, it supports harmonised analytical methodologies and the assessment of water quality and contaminant occurrence relevant to safe water use and aquaculture.
WP6 — Sustainability and risk assessment
UPT participates in prospective and experimental-data-based assessments of innovative materials, treatment processes and waste valorisation pathways. Its contribution supports eco-design, life cycle assessment, economic evaluation and scenario analysis, as well as risk assessment and the development of improved impact characterisation methods.
WP7 — Technology transfer, dissemination and training
UPT leads the work package dedicated to connecting research outcomes with industry, end-users and the wider scientific community. It coordinates the dissemination and technology transfer plans and the programme of scientific visits, internships and mentorship.
UPT also contributes training for young scientists in the consortium regarding scientific dissemination and project management, advanced water and wastewater treatment, and industrial applications. Through stakeholder workshops, industrial exchanges and business-to-business meetings, it supports the practical uptake of CERSUS results.
UPT Team
The UPT team is led by Professor Florica Manea, whose expertise centres on advanced materials for water and wastewater treatment, electrochemical technologies and sensors for pollution monitoring and process control.
The team brings together complementary expertise in materials science, resource recovery, electroanalysis, iron-based treatment and environmental remediation. This combination supports the development of integrated technologies and their evaluation for practical environmental applications.
Through its research and leadership in knowledge transfer and training, UPT helps CERSUS connect scientific innovation with resource-efficient technologies, industrial collaboration and the development of future researchers.
UPT’s Leading Reseach Team
Prof.dr.habil.eng. Florica Manea
Project Partner Coordinator
Assoc.prof.dr. Radu Ioan Lazău
Key member
Assoc.prof.dr. Lavinia Lupa
Key member
Assoc.prof.dr. eng. Aniela Carmen Pop
Key member
Assoc.prof.dr. Raluca Voda
Key member
more about UPT’s Research Team
UPT Infrastructure
UPT provides facilities for materials synthesis and characterisation, pollutant analysis, and laboratory and pilot-scale treatment studies.
Its infrastructure includes hydrothermal synthesis equipment and controlled-atmosphere furnaces, X-ray diffraction, transmission and scanning electron microscopy, UV–visible spectroscopy, and potentiostat–galvanostat systems for electrochemical characterisation.
Water and wastewater analysis capabilities include total organic carbon and nitrogen analysis, ion chromatography and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Experimental facilities include photoreactors, electrocoagulation and electrochemical oxidation modules, automated filtration systems and reverse osmosis equipment.
A flexible drinking water treatment pilot plant enables the investigation and integration of ozonation, filtration, electroflotocoagulation, electro-oxidation, microfiltration and reverse osmosis processes.