Innovative approaches for the bioremediation and revitalization of contaminated sites: the Nymphe project contribution from technology development to site restoration assessment

The European project Nymphe develops bioremediation and revitalization strategies for contaminated soils and waters across Europe using assemblies of enzymes, microorganisms, animals, and plants. Predictive models of microbial interactions guide the assembly of biological systems tailored to each contaminated site. The project aims to remove at least 90% of pollutants, including plastics, pesticides, chlorinated solvents, and petroleum hydrocarbons. Innovative technologies enhance the stability, efficiency, and resilience of these systems through approaches including microbes improvement, microbiomes evolution and management. The strategies undergo comprehensive environmental, technological, economic, biosafety, and societal assessments and are benchmarked against existing solutions. Ultimately, Nymphe seeks to restore the ecological status of treated sites towards Natura 2000 specifications.
This workshop will present the innovative approaches and tools developed in Nymphe for the bioremediation and revitalization of contaminated sites and for the assessment of their restoration.

Session Chairs

Giulio Zanaroli, Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna, Italy
Agnieszka Sznyk, INNOWO – Institute of Innovation and Responsible Development, Poland

Program

10:00 Welcome and introduction by the Session Chairs

10:10 Introduction to the Nymphe project
Giulio Zanaroli, Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna

10:25 Laboratory evolution of microbiomes for the efficient biodegradation of multiple emerging micropollutants
Marcel Suleiman, University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland

10:40 Innovative tools for microbe improvement and microbiome management unlock efficient bioremediation
Manuel Ferrer, CSIC

10:55 Bioremediation of agricultural soils: microbially-enhanced Ecopiles for (micro)plastics and pesticides degradation
Evi Syranidou, CHQ Technologies PC

11:10 Phyto-rhizoremediation of PHC-contaminated soils: a pilot study exploiting plant-microbe associations to tackle soil phytotoxicity
Hana Horvatova, CENVIS – Centre of Environmental Services s.r.o.

11:25 Harnessing in-situ hyporheic flow and bioaugmentation for the biodegradation of trace organic compounds in surface water and groundwater protection
Marcus Horn, Leibniz University Hannover

11:40 Opinion poll on Nymphe’s bioremediation and revitalization solutions

11:45 Integration of chemical, ecotox and microbiome functions/biodiversity indicators for conclusive environmental quality and risk assessment of treated matrices: the Nymphe Innovative Integrated Evaluation Tool
Robin Kyclt, ABITEC s.r.o.

12:00 Ecological assessment in site bioremediation/revitalization: adaptation and application of the Natura 2000 framework
Florin Alexandru, ADEMED

12:15 Societal assessment of innovative, biotech-based bioremediation solutions
Patrick Rudelsheim, Perseus BV

12:30 Opinion poll on Nymphe’s bioremediation and revitalization assessment tools

12:35 Open discussion

13:00 End of the event