Sponsor
European Commission, 6th Framework Programme, Integrated Project (NMP2-CT-2004-505899)
Realisation
In the interdisciplinary project "SOPHIED" are collaborating 7 Universities, 19 small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) and 3 national research centres from 11 countries. The project management is located at Wetlands Engineering SPRL, Place Comunale, 7 BE 1450 Chastre, 
www.wetlands.be
Hydrotox is the leader of work-package 8: "Industrial Quality and Toxicity".
Project Duration
July 2004 – June 2008
Summary
The traditional European colour industry was of great importance up to the end of the 19th century. In the course of globalisation and the development of new markets in the Far East, dye production in Europe is decreasing, especially in the context of high labour costs and the efforts in environmental protection.
As an answer to the ongoing problems (economy, missing innovation, human toxicity, environmental protection, occupational health and safety), in the SOPHIED project an integrative biotechnological approach has been established which aims at the following objectives:
- Develop new bioremediation technology to detoxify coloured wastewaters
- Develop new safe enzyme-assisted processes for the production of existing dyes
- Create new dyes which are less toxic and synthesised biotechnologically for high added value markets.
Within the scope of work-package 8, "Industrial Quality and Toxicity", an eco-/toxicity test-battery will be established at the partners’ sites. This battery covers specific test methods which have to be validated first, as well as newly developed test methods. With this test-battery the efficiency of newly developed biotechnological remediation approaches on the detoxification of coloured waste waters will be verified in an effect-based way.
In addition, newly developed dyestuffs will be tested for their eco-/toxicological potentialities right at the beginning of the process of development. Eco-/toxic substances will not be further considered in the development process.
Contact Person
Dipl.-Chem. Ismene Jäger (
Jaeger(at)hydrotox.de, Tel: +49-(0)761-45512-20)