Descripción del proyecto
Aprovechar las aguas residuales celulósicas y del metabolismo bacteriano para producir nuevos compuestos biológicos
El equipo del proyecto REFRAME pretende convertir las plantas de tratamiento de aguas residuales en instalaciones de recuperación de recursos hídricos donde las aguas residuales y los lodos de depuradora se utilicen como materia prima para la producción de diferentes compuestos de base biológica. Las aguas residuales contienen importantes biomoléculas cuya recuperación puede favorecer la producción de otros compuestos. Entre estas moléculas «residuales» se encuentra la celulosa, el principal componente del papel higiénico. En el proyecto REFRAME, que cuenta con el apoyo de las Acciones Marie Skłodowska-Curie, se desarrollará una novedosa metodología que aprovecha el metabolismo bacteriano para valorizar los lodos primarios celulósicos mediante la recuperación de la celulosa y su conversión en compuestos como ácidos grasos volátiles de base biológica y polihidroxialcanoatos para aplicaciones energéticas y de alimentación animal, respectivamente.
Objetivo
The new policies issued by the European Commission support the concept of bioeconomy and circular economy to develop a new value chain in the market across the implementation of innovative technologies for the production of bio-based compounds from (bio)waste and wastewater. In this scenario, REFRAME project aims to upgrade wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) into Water Resource Recovery Facilities (WRRF) in which wastewater and sewage sludge are used as raw materials for the production of different bio-based compounds. A bio-based compound is defined as a product that is derived from materials of biological origin. The main objective of REFRAME is to develop a new hybrid biological system assisted by an oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) based control for the combined production and purification processes of targeted bio-based volatile fatty acids (VFAs) and polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs). REFRAME will be the platform for chemicals, precursors for bioplastics, and feed ingredients ready for the market. A WWTP becomes a WRRF that attempts to produce valuable and marketable bio-based products, such as cellulose by utilizing the organic matter from the wastewater as raw material. The recovery of cellulosic primary sludge (CPS) could be biologically converted to other bio-based compounds, such as VFAs and PHAs. The project will advance the state of the art of the field by the investigation of a new type of bioprocess and bacterial metabolisms to fill the current lack of the long-term stability, quality, and purity of isolated bio-based compounds (VFAs and PHAs) produced from CPS as raw materials.
The applicant has a proven record of biological processes control, a fundamental skill required for REFRAME. He will thrive in the environment of the University of Verona, department of biotechnology. This project will enrich and broaden the applicant's expertise in this field and fortify his international research career.
Ámbito científico
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringwater treatment processeswastewater treatment processes
- natural sciencesearth and related environmental scienceshydrology
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculeslipids
- social scienceseconomics and businesseconomicssustainable economy
- engineering and technologyindustrial biotechnologybiomaterialsbioplasticspolyhydroxyalkanoates
Programa(s)
- HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Main Programme
Régimen de financiación
HORIZON-AG-UN - HORIZON Unit GrantCoordinador
37129 Verona
Italia