Smart monitoring and remediation systems are being developed within the HORIZON EUROPE project IMERMAID (Project number: 101112824) to address the high risk of environmental chemical contamination in coastal areas. Of special concern is the safeguardance of the Mediterranean Sea basin from contaminants of emerging concerns (CoECs)

 In particular, iMERMAID builds and demonstrates next-generation monitoring technologies, including very sensitive target analysis using electrochemical sensor that include a) electrochemical sensors to monitor organic micropollutants such as pesticides or pharmaceuticals (University of Angers – UA, France) b) sensors to monitor heavy metals based on the stripping voltammetry technique (University of Florence, UNIFI, Italy) as well as c) sensor to monitor oil compounds based on membrane inlet mass spectrometry (MIMS) (Biosense Institute – BIOS, Serbia). Electrochemical sensors (ECS) enhance analytical performance by eliminating slow preparation and expensive reagents, providing affordable, portable, and easy-to-use tools at a low cost.

 Remediation technologies demonstrate another aspect of the IMERMAID project but are not the focus of this poster. These include a) microfluidic water treatment system based on the principles of photocatalysis to treat micropollutants (EDEN, France) b) selective recovery system for recovery of dissolved heavy metals (4D Scavanger from Weeefiner, Finland) c) Pulsed Discharged Plasma (PDP) capable of breaking down toxic organic compounds (IRIS, Italy) and finally d) technology to convert reclaimed Reverse Osmosis (RO) membranes to Nano-Filtration (NF) membranes used for water treatment (ENIG, Tunisia).

 Last but not least the project also develops a technological platform and integrates chemical pollutant sensing framework in line with existing methodologies under the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) and under the WFD, based on sensors and intelligent water monitoring models for water bodies at different scales using open satellite data. 

 The iMERMAID technologies target to develop standardised systems for Marine observation and open data, with knowledge sharing capabilities for the public. The developed solutions will be made available to stakeholders through a public dashboard with user-friendly  guidelines,  computer  tools,  and recommendations.