KWR at SETAC 2025: Safe & Sustainable Innovation

KWR Water Research Institute was well-represented, contributing to discussions on microplastics, PFAS, non-target screening, and sustainable water reuse – key themes that align closely with KWR’s research mission. Below is a summary of the key themes, along with individual contributions and impressions from our researchers.

Microplastic Analysis and Expanding PFAS Detection

Sevda Eryilmaz Soydan (TU Delft/KWR) presented research on whether interactions between polymers affect the accuracy of microplastic quantification using mass spectrometry techniques. The study highlights how co-pyrolysis during thermal degradation may skew quantification results due to complex reactions between different plastic types. The results—expected in early 2025—aim to improve accuracy in techniques like TED-GC/MS and PY-GC/MS.

Sevda noted that micro- and nanoplastics remain a core topic of interest, with research expanding beyond simple particle counts to understanding their sources, behavior, and risks. The need for environmentally realistic reference materials and standardized methods was emphasized across sessions.

Elvio Amato presented a comparative study of the Total Oxidizable Precursor (TOP) assay and Adsorbable Organic Fluorine (AOF) methods, assessing their added value for water quality monitoring of PFAS. Results showed AOF frequently detected higher fluorine levels than traditional targeted analyses, revealing the presence of undetected PFAS.

Elvio highlighted the broad scope of PFAS-focused sessions, including removal techniques, monitoring, and the emerging role of passive sampling. These discussions emphasized the evolving complexity of PFAS research and the need for continued innovation.

Non-Target Screening, Prioritization and Safe Water Reuse

Non-Target Screening in Drinking Water: Towards Routine Practice
Alexander Becking presented a late-breaking science poster on the WaterpatRoon project, which advances non-target screening (NTS) for routine implementation in drinking water monitoring. By refining algorithms for data comparison and confidence scoring, the project supports shared databases and trend analyses across labs in the Netherlands.

Xander also observed a growing interest in LC-IM-MS for PFAS detection and an increase in presentations focused on pollutant degradation dynamics in wastewater treatment.

Prioritization in Suspect and Non-Target Screening
Nienke Meekel contributed a poster on wide-scope suspect screening across 24 Dutch sewage treatment plants, identifying thousands of substances and several of very high concern. Additionally, her platform presentation addressed prioritization strategies in suspect and non-target screening, using structural alert prediction models and multivariate statistics to identify compounds of interest.

She noted increasing sophistication in analytical chemistry, from alternative chromatography techniques (SFC-HRMS, GC-HRMS) to the integration of toxicity prediction data—a growing trend in both environmental and human exposure studies.

Safe Reuse of Effluent in Horticulture
Stefan Kools presented findings from research into the reuse of treated effluent in greenhouse horticulture. With freshwater resources under pressure, advanced treatments such as reverse osmosis and UV disinfection were shown to mitigate chemical and microbial risks. A comprehensive framework was outlined to support safe irrigation practices and meet EU regulations.

Stefan’s broader takeaway from SETAC: the field is solutions-oriented, addressing water quality in many aspects, including drinking water, and he was especially interested in seeing research on the cost of pollution through collaborative science.

Collaborative Highlights and Future Outlook

KWR contributed to several collaborative presentations, including work with:

• WFSR/WUR on novel multiplex bioassays,
• RIVM on PFAS leaching to groundwater,
• University of Amsterdam and VU on bioaccumulation, PFAS toxicity, and partition coefficients.

These projects reflect KWR’s commitment to cross-institutional collaboration on emerging environmental challenges. In all, SETAC Europe 2025 once again affirmed the relevance of KWR’s research themes in the wider scientific community. From polymer interaction effects in microplastic quantification to advanced methods for PFAS detection and safe water reuse, our teams continue to develop practical, science-based solutions for a sustainable water future.