Pollution Treatment

In this third thematic axis, the TRAME team develops eco-compatible and/or nature-based alternative solutions for the elimination of pollution in the environment.

One approach focuses on the ability of fungal species to remediate contaminated soils (mycoremediation). It relies on characterization through the coupling of culturomics and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. This pioneering environmental approach is essential for studying biodiversity and isolating resistant strains capable of removing pollutants present in soils.

The TRAME team has also been studying for many years the efficacy of using plants for phytoremediation or phytostabilization of metal or organic compounds in polluted sites (such as former industrial wastelands in the Calanques region near Marseille). The team is developing in situ testing of vegetative barriers to reduce the transfer of particles (lead and arsenic) on former industrial sites. TRAME also monitors the bioavailability of metal elements, studies the potential soil-to-plant migration, and searches for chemical biomarkers that could explain the observed migration patterns.

In recent years, the reuse of treated wastewater (REUSE) for agricultural irrigation or even for producing drinking water has become increasingly common as a means to reduce the depletion of water resources—especially in the context of water stress exacerbated by climate change. In this context, the TRAME team studies innovative treatment methods based on the use of new composite materials (bio-based activated carbon combined with photocatalysts) and low-energy-consuming light sources (UV LEDs) or even renewable energy sources (sunlight), both at the laboratory scale and the pilot scale.