Safe and Sustainable by Design: Case Study of a Magnetic Torus Microreactor and Bionanocompounds for Wastewater Treatment

Abstract

The Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) framework provides a structured approach to integrate safety, environmental, social, and economic considerations into early-stage technological innovation. While SSbD has been applied to chemicals and nanomaterials, its implementation in wastewater treatment remains unexplored. This study represents the first application of SSbD to an emerging wastewater treatment technology involving microreactors and magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs), aiming to generate a comprehensive understanding of its sustainability profile while advancing SSbD as a practical innovation tool. The assessment followed a five-step SSbD workflow: (1) hazard identification of raw materials, (2) evaluation of occupational risks during production, (3) integration of toxicological insights using zebrafish assays for MNP@laccase, (4) environmental impact assessment via life cycle assessment (LCA), and ( 5) exploratory evaluation of socio-economic aspects.Results showed that most raw materials achieved moderate SSbD scores, with tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) as the main safety hotspot. Substitution strategies improved environmental performance, and economic analysis confirmed strong feasibility. Social risks, particularly in the Colombian context, remain critical, highlighting the need for robust socioeconomic indicators in early innovation stages. This work demonstrates how SSbD can guide wastewater treatment technologies toward safer, environmentally sustainable, and socially responsible solutions.