Waste Oils RecycLe and Development

Project Information

WORLD

Grant agreement ID: 873005

DOI

10.3030/873005

Project closed

EC signature date 23 April 2020

Start date 1 October 2020

End date 31 January 2026

Funded under

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Total cost

€ 460 000,00

EU contribution

€ 460 000,00

Coordinated by

POLITECNICO DI MILANO
Italy

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - WORLD (Waste Oils RecycLe and Development)

Reporting period: 2020-10-01 to 2024-01-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The development of new processes and business models in the framework of the circular economy is a pivotal target to increase the sustainability of new and existing processes. In this context, the use of wastes as raw materials represent a key step. Used Vegetable Oils (UVOs) are perfect for this target: are wastes from the food chain, are produced in high amount worldwide, and their chemical composition is quite easy to be subjected to a fast process of recycling. To develop a specific and innovative business plan for UVOs recycling which takes in large consideration the current technological limits and possibilities is the main goal of the project WORLD.
Intensive and economical and environmental sustainable recycling of UVOs for non-bio-diesel applications will have a huge impact on the overall socio-sustainability. Also, the topic is easy to be disseminated and comunicated all-along the civil society, including school students of any age.
More in specific, the overall objective of WORLD project are the definition of a fast, easy and highly sustainable process to regenerate the triglycerides contained in UVOs. Once a suitable protocol is available, a business plan will be developed to make the entire value chain interesting for private entrepreneurs.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

An intensive work has been made in terms of technological improvements of the current knowledge relative to UVOs regeneration. A process, based on water treatment and, depending on the desired outcome, on treatment with natural clays has been optimized. A 40 kg prototype has been designed and build for increase the production of ten times with respect to the laboratory tests.
The technical work involved many partners as PoliMi, UNISS, UBU, GESTTA, UDL, FYD. Also, several collateral research lines have been suggested by performing the activity of the project.
Many dissemination activities have been conducted, including publications on peer reviewed journals and national and international congresses. These activities have involved many young researchers, including master students and PhD candidates.
Regarding the dissemination activity, an active presence on socials has also been guaranteed: a website and a linkedin page have been published and are keeped updated.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

At the moment, the tachnology produced within the project WORLD is mature and can be scaled and implemented in an industrial facility. The company GESTTA, partner of the Consortium has manifested interest toward the possibility to sale lubricant arising from the process WORLD. These solid bases can now be exploited to develop the economical part of the project, as the main goal was since the beginning to develop a business plan based of already validated technical evidences.
For the next feature we expect to improve the overall project in terms of market transfer and to make the process WORLD of high interest for stakeholders.
In general erms the societal relapses are relevant with a consistent room of improvement. The awareness about the importance to recycle wastes, especially ones arising from the food chain, is increasing withing the dissemination activities of WORLD. Also, many research groups related to the academic partners, have been convinced that the scientific results of the WORLD project go beyond the specific targets of the project. Many new ideas to be applied in collateral research areas have born during this first period of WORLD. This behaviour has been observed also within the private partners, which expresses the interest in investing efforts toward the commercialization of the process developed.

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