Description du projet
Exploiter les eaux usées cellulosiques et le métabolisme bactérien pour produire des composés biosourcés innovants
Le projet REFRAME vise à moderniser les stations d’épuration des eaux usées pour en faire des installations de récupération des ressources en eau dans lesquelles les eaux usées et les boues d’épuration sont utilisées comme matières premières pour la production de différents composés biosourcés. Les eaux usées contiennent des biomolécules importantes dont la récupération peut appuyer la production d’autres composés. La cellulose, principal constituant du papier toilette, est l’une de ces molécules «résiduelles». Fort du soutien du programme Actions Marie Skłodowska-Curie, le projet REFRAME élaborera une approche innovante qui exploite le métabolisme bactérien pour valoriser les boues primaires cellulosiques en récupérant la cellulose pour la transformer en composés tels que des acides gras volatils et des polyhydroxyalcanoates biosourcés destinés, respectivement, à des applications énergétiques et à des aliments pour animaux.
Objectif
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.
Champ scientifique
- 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
Programme(s)
- HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Main Programme
Régime de financement
HORIZON-AG-UN - HORIZON Unit GrantCoordinateur
37129 Verona
Italie