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Activities

GT1. Study of the current sludge and urban bio-waste management systems: barriers and opportunities for their recovery in the SUDOE space

Nov 20 / Oct 21

The objective is to identify the main barriers and opportunities for the recovery of urban organic waste (bio-waste and sludge) in the SUDOE space. To do this, the following activities will be carried out:

  • Economic and environmental assessment of the current urban organic waste management systems.
  • Identification of legal barriers for the recovery of sludge and urban bio-waste.
  • Assessment of the influence of pre-treatment tests on the physical and chemical properties of the waste.
  • Development and validation of a methodology for determining the production potential of VFAs from organic substrates.

GT2. Optimisation of the production of volatile fatty acids from urban sludge on a pilot scale

nov 20 / nov 21

The technical feasibility of the production of volatile fatty acids from urban sludge will be demonstrated. In collaboration with Viaqua, the case study will be carried out at the Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) in Ourense (Spain). To do this, the following activities will be carried out:

  • Construction and commissioning and operation of the pilot urban sludge fermentation plant for the production of VFAs.
  • Development of a metabolic method that describes the conversion process of urban sludge to VFAs.
  • Optimisation of the production of VFAs on a pilot scale through a mathematical model-assisted design.

GT3. Optimisation of the production of volatile fatty acids from urban bio-waste on a pilot scale

dec 21 / JAN 23

The technical feasibility of the production of volatile fatty acids on a pilot scale from urban bio-waste, as well as the optimisation of the process, will be demonstrated. The implementation of this case study will take place in the city of Palencia (Spain) with the support of Aquona. The following activities will be carried out as part of this group of tasks:

  • Redesign and adaptation of the pilot plant for the fermentation of urban bio-waste.
  • Commissioning and operation of the pilot plant for the fermentation of urban bio-waste.
  • Development of a comprehensive technological model for the production, purification and concentration of VFAs from urban bio-waste.
  • Optimisation of the production of VFAs from urban bio-waste.

GT4. Adaptation of the end products to market needs

jun 21 / feb 23

This group of tasks will focus on closing the value chain through the technical demonstration of end-product treatment technologies. The main activities to develop are as follows:

  • Clarification of the VFA stream with nanofiltration and potential concentration with electrodialysis.
  • Energy recovery of the solid fraction of waste from the fermentation processes.
  • Study of the application of the final waste in soil recovery.
  • Analysis of risks and effect of the use of final waste in soils on the biodiversity of the environment.

GT5. Comprehensive urban organic waste management model and measurement of its social and legal impact

may 21 / mar 23

The objective to achieve is the integration of the recovery of urban organic waste and its management, emphasising on its assessment from a social and legal perspective. To do this, the following activities will be carried out:

  • Scaling and technical feasibility of the biotechnological treatment train for the recovery of urban organic waste.
  • City-scale modelling of urban organic waste management and recovery.
  • Proposal of legislative changes for the implementation of the model for the recovery of urban organic waste and determination of the product requirements necessary to reach the market.
  • Citizen awareness campaigns and guide to good practices on the selective collection of organic waste.
  • Informative and scientific dissemination of the knowledge generated.

GT6. Replicability and transfer of the business model and its environmental and economic assessment

dec 21 / mar 23

The objective of the GT is to promote and increase the impact of the project through environmental, economic and market assessment, as well as with the development of a business plan and reproducibility of the ECOVAL model and the transfer of results to end users and stakeholders. To do this, the following activities are planned:

  • Environmental assessment of the new management system and of the products derived from it.
  • Cost-profit assessment of the products obtained and the study of their potential market.
  • Development of the business model for the entire value chain.
  • Transferability and replicability of the comprehensive urban waste management model to other areas in the SUDOE territory.