Descripción del proyecto
Una tecnología avanzada para la producción de biocrudo
Existen diversas formas diferentes de tratar las aguas residuales, y detectar y reciclar materiales valiosos en lugar de eliminarlos. Sin embargo, las tecnologías existentes de tratamiento y gestión de aguas residuales no abordan retos significativos desde el punto de vista medioambiental como la circularidad de los nutrientes y el cambio climático. El proyecto REBOOT, financiado con fondos europeos, propone una tecnología avanzada que recupera materiales valiosos de las aguas residuales, los trata y genera combustibles neutros en carbono. La tecnología de licuefacción hidrotérmica (HTL, por sus siglas en inglés) utiliza altas temperaturas y presión para producir biocrudo, que es un producto con propiedades similares a las del petróleo. El biocrudo puede utilizarse para varias aplicaciones avanzadas, por ejemplo como biobetún o como combustible renovable para la aviación. La tecnología se probará en reactores continuos piloto con el objetivo de ofrecer un nuevo concepto de gestión de residuos.
Objetivo
The REBOOT project will create a disruptive wet waste valorisation technology where valuable resources are re-used rather than disposed of while tackling two urgent environmental challenges: nutrient circularity and climate change. Wastewater treatment sludge and manure treatment technologies are currently not satisfactory and there is no solution to efficiently re-use the resources it contains: phosphorous and carbon.
The aim of REBOOT is to completely recover phosphorous from wastes while generating carbon neutral transportation fuels and a carbon sink in the form of carbon materials. The project will employ a frontier technology called hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) which uses high temperature and pressure to produce a liquid product similar to petroleum termed bio-crude. This will be used for a range of innovative applications such as renewable aviation fuel, functionalized carbon materials and bio-bitumen.
The possibility of complete phosphorous recovery in HTL is a completely new concept, previously thought impossible as only continuous HTL reactors can theoretically achieve this. The complex hydrothermal chemistry of salts can only be exploited on such advanced reactors that are currently beyond state-of-the-art. The specific objectives of REBOOT are: (1) mechanistic understanding of salt behaviour in multi-phase hydrothermal systems with the aim of full recovery. (2) Develop tailored strategies for in-situ jet fuel synthesis. (3) Establish microbial electrolysis cells for in-situ hydrogen production and nutrient recovery.
REBOOT will be carried out on pilot continuous reactors, where the challenging physical conditions can be explored, exploited and new engineering solutions developed. If REBOOT is successful it will enable society to tackle existing waste problems while recovering nutrients and producing renewable materials, replacing fossil derived ones; representing a revolutionary solution to wet waste management in the emerging circular bio-economy.
Ámbito científico
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringwater treatment processeswastewater treatment processes
- engineering and technologyenvironmental biotechnologybioremediationbioreactors
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuelsfossil energypetroleum
- natural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencesatmospheric sciencesclimatologyclimatic changes
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuelsrenewable energyhydrogen energy
Programa(s)
Régimen de financiación
ERC-STG - Starting GrantInstitución de acogida
8000 Aarhus C
Dinamarca