The growth of industry, urbanization and the human population, together with the increasing use of fertilizers and pesticides in agriculture, significantly influence the deterioration of the quality of natural waters and increase pollution problems and, consequently, the supply of drinking water.
Thanks to OPS, it is possible to eliminate heavy metals such as Cr, Cd, Ni, Cu and Zn, present in industrial wastewater such as that from the chrome plating industries in the automotive sector.
Thanks to OPS, it is possible to eliminate pesticides such as 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid or 2,4-D present in industrial wastewater.
In the different wastewater treatment plants (WWTP), the application of OPS allows the elimination of sulfur compounds (H2S) present in the gas phase, which cause unpleasant odors.
Water is a vital resource for food, hygiene, and human activities, as well as for agriculture and industry. Since ancient times, humans have settled in areas near waterways, not only because water is essential for life, but also because it is useful for many of their activities. Because of this, rivers have frequently been the recipients of much of the waste generated by humans, which ultimately ends up in the sea.
Among its properties, a high water content of 56% stands out. It also has an acidic pH of 5.4. Organic matter is also prominent, rising by 91%.
At Smallops, we offer a product derived from the recovery of olive oil waste. These are carbon-encapsulated iron nanoparticles that help eliminate various contaminants and provide several benefits to the process.
Regarding water treatment processes, the problems are numerous and varied. According to UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme), 2 billion tons of water are contaminated daily due to waste, and it warns that without urgent action to improve the management of these two million tons of waste that pollute the waters, the situation will worsen.
This not only affects the health of millions of people, especially the poorest, but also marine ecosystems, with 245,000 km2 of marine dead zones, and the climate, due to methane emissions that contribute to global warming. Furthermore, Spain faces multi-million-dollar fines imposed by the European Union each year for non-compliance with current regulations.
In order to adopt solutions, it is necessary to understand the possible causes and sources of water pollution. Aquatic pollution can be localized (when it is caused by a specific, identifiable source of emissions affecting a specific area) or diffuse (when the source is not clearly defined and large areas are affected, with multiple sources of emissions coexisting). Generally speaking, we can consider urban wastewater, industrial wastewater, agricultural/livestock wastewater, and atmospheric inputs as sources of aquatic pollution.
Likewise, we can classify the basic pollutants found in natural waters into four groups:
If you’re interested in trying our product, contact us. We’ll answer all your questions and provide you with all the information you need.
The freshwater accounts for only 2.5% of the Earth’s water, most of which is frozen. Of this, 30.1% is groundwater, and only 0.04% is found in lakes, rivers, and the atmosphere. In other words, we have access to only a fleeting percentage of the planet’s total water, which is why this resource must be managed properly and exploited sustainably to prevent depletion.
Aware of the growing and serious problem of water pollution, at Smallops we have committed to research for the design of a mesh made from encapsulated iron nanoparticles derived from olive oil waste for the treatment of contaminated water.
We develop nanotechnology solutions to improve the efficiency of converting waste into renewable energy, contributing to the decarbonization of the energy sector.
Accessible and sustainable nanotechnology to transform your waste into industrial and environmental solutions.
©2025 SMALLOPS – Sustainable nanoenergy
