23/Oct/2026
Graphene in Water Treatment – Advancing Sustainable Water Purification
The latest episode of Graphene in Action, the GIANCE project podcast, looks at where graphene-based materials can add value in water treatment, particularly in applications where existing technologies still face limitations.
The conversation brings together perspectives from research and industry:
Dr. Paola Márquez – University of Aveiro representing the NEUTRAL4GS project, discussing graphene-based composites for heavy-metal removal and their integration with nature-based systems such as constructed wetlands.
Johanna Hinrichs & Ingrid Pinel – Lenntech, looking at graphene oxide-enhanced membranes for challenging industrial applications, including oily wastewater and harsh operating conditions.
Dr. Simone Bardetta – IRIS, discussing the combination of plasma treatment with graphene-enhanced catalysts to target persistent contaminants such as pharmaceuticals, pesticides and PFAS.
The discussion covers:
- Where current water treatment technologies still leave gaps
- Using graphene oxide to improve membrane performance in demanding applications
- Combining plasma, catalysts and graphene to improve contaminant degradation
- Integrating graphene-based materials into nature-based treatment systems
- What is needed to move these approaches from laboratory development towards practical applications
The episode also touches on the potential for combining separation and degradation technologies, and how these approaches could be relevant to decentralised or emergency water treatment.
headphones Listen to the latest episode of Graphene in Action
