Descrizione del progetto
La distillazione a membrana sostenibile crea valore dalle acque reflue e fornisce acqua dolce da fonti saline
La distillazione a membrana è un modo promettente per trattare le acque reflue e fornire acqua potabile da fonti saline. Può risolvere la crescente carenza d’acqua, riducendo al contempo l’uso di sostanze chimiche e protocolli dannosi. Il progetto MEloDIZER, finanziato dall’UE, svilupperà membrane e moduli ad alte prestazioni per la distillazione a membrana in grado di funzionare con il 90-100 % di energia sostenibile proveniente da calore di scarto e/o energia solare. Supportato da prove di modellizzazione in scala multipla, il progetto produrrà sia fogli piatti che fibre cave innovative che ottimizzano la produttività e l’efficienza energetica, riducendo al minimo le incrostazioni e la bagnatura della membrana. I prototipi punteranno al riutilizzo delle acque reflue industriali, al recupero di preziosi nutrienti dalle acque reflue dell’acquacoltura e alla desalinizzazione decentralizzata a livello di comunità e di nuclei familiari.
Obiettivo
MEloDIZER implements high-performance membranes and modules in strategic applications of membrane distillation (MD), hence providing the decisive step for the success of MD. These core components are fabricated with a focus on feasible wide uptake and on sustainability, substituting harmful materials and protocols with >80% of benign solvents and relying on green chemistry principles. Both flat-sheets and innovative hollow-fibres are produced, striking the optimum between productivity and energy efficiency, as well as minimising fouling/wetting phenomena, also by applying novel sacrificial coatings while membranes are in situ. Optimised modules are developed with a focus on hydrodynamics and energy recovery improvements. These activities are strongly supported by sustained modelling tasks, conducted at different scales to (i) control the relationship between membrane properties and performance, (ii) customise module geometry, and (iii) increase system efficiency and automation. The membranes and modules are thus rationally installed as core components of four MD prototypes spanning three orders of magnitude of productivity. Two prototypes (2-5 m3/day, 0.5-2 m3/day) are demonstrated in industrial facilities (textile, beverage, chemical industries) to reuse wastewater (70-90%), thus reducing water footprint and approaching zero waste, as well as to recovery valuable nutrients as secondary raw materials from aquaculture wastewater. Two prototypes (50-100 L/day, 10-20 L/day) are demonstrated as low-cost, ready-to-use, passive, autonomous, decentralised units, delivering drinking water from saline and challenging sources at community and family level. All prototypes are run with 90-100% sustainable energy from waste heat and/or solar energy, with careful designs that maximise membrane and system performance. Quantitative, robust evaluations of market entry and environmental benefits act as input data for each innovation activity in MEloDIZER and to promote exploitation.
Campo scientifico
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuelsrenewable energysolar energy
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringwater treatment processesdrinking water treatment processes
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringwater treatment processeswastewater treatment processes
- engineering and technologychemical engineeringseparation technologiesdesalination
- engineering and technologychemical engineeringseparation technologiesdistillation
Parole chiave
Programma(i)
Argomento(i)
Meccanismo di finanziamento
HORIZON-IA - HORIZON Innovation ActionsCoordinatore
10129 Torino
Italia