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Upscale and optimisation of an olive wastewater treatment photobioreactor (PBR) coupled to algae biomass valorisation as biofertilizer and treated water reuse

Objective

Olive oil production uses considerable volumes of water (50L/100kg olives) in European Mediterranean countries where this resource is scarce (Spain, Italy and Greece). The processes used by this sector leads to significant wastewater containing phenols and polyphenols. The EU Legal Framework sets the need of an efficient solution that reduces water use, improves water quality and recycle the waste produced. However the benefit margin of olive oil producers is very low, making production without support uneconomic for farmers. As yet, there are no cost- effective techniques/ technologies for combating this negative environmental impact of this sector.
BIOT has coordinated two projects within the FP7 SME instrument programme to respond to the need of olive oil producers by offering an optimised biotechnological recycling solution for olive washing wastewater using photobioreactors (PBR). The technical viability of the process in industrial end use conditions has been sufficiently demonstrated in these two past projects: algatec+ treats olive washing water efficiently so that treated water complies with wastewater legislation, and treated water can be reused. Now, there are still two techno-economic challenges in order to put our product in the market that will be tacked during an eventual SME instrument Phase 2. Reduce the impact of the seasonal nature of this industry on the treatment process that (larger PBR system and increased operation costs of the treatment.
Therefore, BIOT objective in this proposal is to determine the techno-economic feasibility of transforming algatec+ in a closed-loop system by including two auxiliary services: (1) Open pond pre-treatment and (2) algae biomass valorisation as biofertiliser for the own olive fields. The former will be done by the optimisation of the population of microorganism currently treating wastewater to be later used (after harvesting) as a slow-release biofertiliser.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

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Programme(s)

Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.

Topic(s)

Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.

Funding Scheme

Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.

SME-1 - SME instrument phase 1

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Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

(opens in new window) H2020-SMEInst-2014-2015

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Coordinator

Biotmicrogen S.L.
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 50 000,00
Address
Av. de La Innovación 1
18100 Armilla (Granada)
Spain

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SME

The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.

Yes
Region
Sur Andalucía Granada
Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
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Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

€ 71 429,00
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