Purenano

innov
Purenano 1

Purenano

EU Programme: ERDF

Coordination: ISQ

Participants: 

Starting Year:  2019 

Duration: 3 years

ISQ Contact:

Areas:

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Project Title: A purification/regeneration process of spent plating baths base on functionalized magnetic nanoparticles

Project Code: 821431

Total Cost: 337.500,00€

Funding: 337.500,00€

Start date: 01-06-2019

End date: 30-11-2022


This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained .

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PureNano project aims at the development of a purification system, able to remove contaminants from the spent plating bath, using functionalised magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs).

GOALS

Safe by Design approach, Safety lines and Nanosafety issues in PureNano project

The use of nanoparticles in the Purenano project determined that should be carried out the assessment and management of the safety risks resulting from this use. This activity was developed within the framework of two important project tasks where the safe-by-design approach was applied and the development of a strategy to improve the safety of the pilot lines.

ISQ, the “Instituto de Soldadura e Qualidade”, was responsible for these tasks and provided specific recommendations regarding the safety of the pilot lines (PLs) and the purification system.

The Safe-by-Design approach was implemented thanks to the close collaboration with the project partners responsible for the technical activities (Captive, Gaser and Cnano), from the MNPs production to their use in the pilot lines. The partners provided information related to the i) substances used in the processes ii) operation conditions, iii) work tasks and location and iv) exposure controls (enclosures and ventilation) which were used to perform the strategies used in the safe by Design approach.

Preliminary Hazard Analysis has shown that the risks encountered are those related to electroplating, electroless plating and chemical industries. When comparing the PLs to conventional plating and chemical labs, the main difference in terms of risks is related to the use of nanomaterials.

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An inventory of the REACH requirements was compiled to advise on compliance with the REACH obligations, including nanomaterials issues.

The Safe-by-Design approach was also applied to Cnano, Captive System and Gaser pilot lines.

Concerning the associated risk of the produced MNPs in powder, Captive System decided to supply them dispersed in a solution, which is a risk measure categorized as “substitution” under the hierarchy of control. This implies a reduction in the risk level when compared to MNPs handled in a powder form.

For both Captive and Creative Nano, their lab and pilot line scales reduce the risk of spillage or aerosolization of MNPs, giving them a low safety risk.

However, in the Gaser PL, the use of larger amounts of MNPs in the purification system in open tanks could present a safety risk. In this PL the application of the Stoffenmanager control banding tool recommends that these containers should be closed, and general ventilation should be applied.