New processes were developed and implemented in SCALIBUR for the improvement of biowaste collection. Firstly, an innovative system of sensors was developed and tested in collection containers.
Moreover, Scalibur worked on the development of innovative pretreatment processes to prepare the organic materials for the subsequent treatments.
Furthermore, a deep study of the main problems occurring in the cities was carried out together with stakeholders. Then, a list of best practices were developed together with partners, cities and other companies and stakeholders. All these innovations were tested in three pilot cities (Madrid-Spain, Albano-Italy, Kozani-Greece). Results show important improvements in each city.
Regarding biowaste treatment, SCALIBUR aimed to produce high value products from biowaste. The organic fraction of the municipal solid waste (OFMSW) has been demonstrate to extract the sugar fraction contained with the aim to manufacture different bio-based products (biopesticides and biobased polyesters).
Furthermore, insects like Black soldier flies (BSF, Hermetia illucens) can convert in a very efficient way kitchen and restaurant scraps, or simply organic materials, into biomass rich in proteins, lipids, and chitin.
Chitin and its derivatives represent a well-reviewed biopolymer with many beneficial applications. The preparations for chitin and its derivatives as a biomaterial vary according to process conditions and potential applications. However, their main sources are crustaceans, and research on alternative sources is still under development.
Valorisation of sewage sludge has been also demonstrate within the framework of the SCALIBUR project, a technological solution was designed and developed to increase efficiency in the anaerobic digestion process of sludge in water treatment plant (WWTP), carried out in two stages.
On the other hand, municipal wastewater sludge is microbiologically active and is rich in bacteria that can store biopolymers, namely polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs). PHA is a biodegradable polyester with thermoplastic properties similar to fossil fuel-based polymers. The PHA was produced in infrastructure at pilot scale.
To facilitate the connection between biowaste stakeholders, SCALIBUR also developed an interactive platform called The Biowaste Hub, available in this link: www.thebiowastehub.com
SCALIBUR also studied the sustainability of all technologies developed. The environmental study showed that with the implementation of the value chains developed in SCALBIUR, some improvements in the environmental impact were achieved when compared to the conventional treatments or conventional products
