Das Projekt "Development of novel natural system approaches for the treatment of emerging organic pollutants in reclaimed wastewater" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Stanford University, Deptartment of Civil and Environmental Engineering durchgeführt. Water shortage is one of the major challenges of the 21st century due to a growing population and climate change. Water reuse is seen as a key strategy to supplement freshwater demand. Current treatment techniques are however inefficient in removing many unregulated organic contaminants such as pharmaceuticals, personal care products, and hormones from wastewater streams. The main goal of this project is therefore to development novel natural remediation techniques to improve removal of recalcitrant compounds based on preferential properties of selected organisms for bioremediation. Bivalves and microalgae exhibit both promising properties that could be used for water treatment such as hyperaccumulation of organic compounds, filter-feeding, and strong metabolic activity. The specific aims of this project are to 1. Determine the fate of selected organic micropollutants in microalgal cultures, evaluate the compound properties central for bioaccumulation, identify transformation pathways, and distinguish relevant external factors 2. Determine the fate of algal bound contaminants in bivalve feeding experiments, identify removal mechanisms and transformation products, and evaluate external factors. 3. Evaluate the applicability of both organisms in field experi-ments: Bivalves micropollutant removal efficiency will be tested in wetland test bed fed with wastewater effluents. Algal effects will be tested in algal ponds used for experimental wastewater treatment and biofuel production. Upon the successful completion of the work described here, we will have a better understanding of the potential of these novel natural remediation techniques, the fate of micropollutants in such systems, and a better general knowledge of the fate and properties of emerging aquatic contaminants.