Demonstration project to prove the techno-economic feasibility of using algae to treat saline wastewater from the food industry.
Objective
The solution of SALTGAE to this issue consists in the implementation of innovative technologies for each step of the wastewater treatment that will promote energy and resource efficiency, and reduce costs. Amongst these, the use of halotolerant algae/bacteria consortiums in HRAPs for the elimination of organic matter and nutrients stands out for its high added value: not only will it provide an effective and ecological solution for wastewater treatment, but also it will represent an innovative way of producing algal biomass, that will subsequently be valorized into different by-products, reducing the economic and environmental impact of the treatment.
Moreover, the project will also address cross-cutting barriers to innovation related to wastewater by developing a platform for the mobilization and networking of stakeholders from all the different sectors related to wastewater, and for the dissemination of results, enabling the development of a common roadmap for the alignment of legislation, regulation and pricing methodologies and promoting financial investment and paradigm shift in perception from ‘wastewater treatment’ to ‘resource valorisation’.
Programme(s)
H2020-EU.3.5.4. - Enabling the transition towards a green economy and society through eco-innovation
Funding Scheme
IA - Innovation action
Coordinator
FUNDACION PARA EL DESARROLLO Y LA INNOVACION TECNOLOGICA
Address
Paseo Castellana Num 141 Planta 18 Edificio Cuzco Iv
28046 Madrid
Spain
Activity type
Other
EU Contribution
€ 229 072,83
Participants (20)
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BIBOAQUA SL
Spain
EU Contribution
€ 693 332,50
ARCHIMEDE RICERCHE SRL
Italy
EU Contribution
€ 475 825,01
ALGEN, CENTER ZA ALGNE TEHNOLOGIJE, DOO
Slovenia
EU Contribution
€ 277 488,75
KOTO PROIZVODNO IN TRGOVSKO PODJETJE DOO
Slovenia
EU Contribution
€ 285 569,25
ARAVA BUILDING AND DEVELOPMENT LTD
Israel
EU Contribution
€ 491 750
DUBLIN CITY UNIVERSITY
Ireland
EU Contribution
€ 657 954,73
Fondazione Parco Tecnologico Padano
Italy
EU Contribution
€ 429 971,25
OXIDINE WATER TECHNOLOGY SL
Spain
EU Contribution
€ 227 416,88
NOVA ID FCT - ASSOCIACAO PARA A INOVACAO E DESENVOLVIMENTO DA FCT
Portugal
EU Contribution
€ 640 450
PRODUMIX SA
Spain
EU Contribution
€ 330 597,75
EXTRACTIS
France
EU Contribution
€ 580 408,75
CONSORZIO INTERUNIVERSITARIO NAZIONALE PER LA SCIENZA E TECNOLOGIA DEI MATERIALI
Italy
EU Contribution
€ 430 000
INSTITUTO DE BIOLOGIA EXPERIMENTAL E TECNOLOGICA
Portugal
EU Contribution
€ 469 987,50
EUROPEAN BIOMASS INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION
Belgium
EU Contribution
€ 163 500
ENCO SRL
Italy
EU Contribution
€ 315 875
ASOCIACION CLUSTER FOOD+I
Spain
EU Contribution
€ 262 500
EUROPEAN DESALINATION SOCIETY
Italy
EU Contribution
€ 316 000
RISE RESEARCH INSTITUTES OF SWEDEN AB
Sweden
EU Contribution
€ 513 752,49
OFFICINE MECCANICHE SANFILIPPO SRL
Italy
EU Contribution
€ 246 795,26
TECNOLOGIAS AVANZADAS INSPIRALIA SL
Spain
EU Contribution
€ 256 070,92
Project information
SALTGAE
Grant agreement ID: 689785
Status
Closed project
-
Start date
1 June 2016
-
End date
30 September 2019
Funded under:
H2020-EU.3.5.4.
-
Overall budget:
€ 9 844 741,39
-
EU contribution
€ 8 294 318,87
This project is featured in...
Symbiotic algae-bacteria treat saline wastewater
SOCIETY
FOOD AND NATURAL RESOURCES
FUNDAMENTAL RESEARCH
The food and drink industries produce vast amounts of waste water each year. Although the effluents are controlled by EU Directives, some parts of the sector – notably canned fish, meat processing, pickled vegetables, tanneries, aquaculture and others – produce very salty water with high levels of organic matter. Not only is this effluent harmful to the environment, but it is also difficult and expensive to treat, especially for small businesses. “The main cost in wastewater treatment is the energy needed to oxygenate the wastewater for the bacteria breaking down organic waste to breathe,” notes Dr Jose Ignacio Lozano, who had been leading the EU-funded project SALTGAE. By adding algae into the water treatment equation, the project aims to reduce the total cost of water treatment by 25 %. It gets even better: the process produces energy in the form of biogas (methane) that can be used for power applications and recover nutrients (mainly phosphorous and nitrogen) that in excessive amounts can pollute the water. A well-orchestrated synergy SALTGAE’s modular water treatment technology purifies saline wastewater containing considerable amounts of organic matter, while also valorising the resulting biomass into different by-products. In a first stage, wastewater with a high biochemical oxygen demand (DBO) is treated by a two-phase anaerobic digestion process. In this stage, organic matter is converted into biomass, thanks to the carefully selected bacteria that can adapt to high saline levels. Another stage involves passing this partially cleaned water to an algal pond, where a consortium of algae and bacteria recover nutrients (phosphorous and nitrogen), valorising algae extracts into chemicals, edible coatings, and new construction materials. Working symbiotically, the bacteria transform the remaining organic matter into CO2. This is consumed by the algae, which convert it into biomass using solar energy. At the same time, the bacteria are fed oxygen by algae. The third stage of SALTGAE’s treatment technology involves using membrane technology to remove salinity and aid the reuse of high-quality water. Opportunities for SMEs Three demonstration sites representing three different scenarios are now running. “Using a combination of bacteria and algae allows us to save 90 % of the energy required for aeration, while also recycling CO2 that would otherwise be released into the atmosphere. What’s more, the produced algal biomass can be further utilised and sold,” adds technical manager Mr Robert Reinhard. The site in Italy is treating effluent from the milk industry, a plant in Slovenia is dealing with tannery waste water, while the site in Israel is processing waste from fish farming. The algal biomass produced in all sites was successfully tested in several products ranging from feed for piglets, protective edible coatings for fruit or bio-composites for 3D printing. SALTGAE provides significant benefits for SMEs, making it possible for them to treat their effluent more economically and effectively with the sale of biomass as a new source of revenue. “Talking of numbers, a cubic metre of municipal wastewater requires up to 7 kWh for removing dissolved organic pollutants; we typically spend an additional 0.5 kWh for aeration,” explains Dr Lozano. “Although SMEs make up only 5 % of the EU’s food and drink sector, they total 15 000 business with a combined turnover of EUR 64 billion, so the market is substantial,” concludes Mr Reinhard.
Keywords
SALTGAE, algae, bacteria, wastewater, aeration, saline, food and drink industry, organic waste, biogas, anaerobic digestion
Project information
SALTGAE
Grant agreement ID: 689785
Status
Closed project
-
Start date
1 June 2016
-
End date
30 September 2019
Funded under:
H2020-EU.3.5.4.
-
Overall budget:
€ 9 844 741,39
-
EU contribution
€ 8 294 318,87
This project is featured in...
Discover other articles in the same domain of application
Project information
SALTGAE
Grant agreement ID: 689785
Status
Closed project
-
Start date
1 June 2016
-
End date
30 September 2019
Funded under:
H2020-EU.3.5.4.
-
Overall budget:
€ 9 844 741,39
-
EU contribution
€ 8 294 318,87
This project is featured in...
Deliverables
Publications
Publications not available
Project information
SALTGAE
Grant agreement ID: 689785
Status
Closed project
-
Start date
1 June 2016
-
End date
30 September 2019
Funded under:
H2020-EU.3.5.4.
-
Overall budget:
€ 9 844 741,39
-
EU contribution
€ 8 294 318,87
This project is featured in...
Project information
SALTGAE
Grant agreement ID: 689785
Status
Closed project
-
Start date
1 June 2016
-
End date
30 September 2019
Funded under:
H2020-EU.3.5.4.
-
Overall budget:
€ 9 844 741,39
-
EU contribution
€ 8 294 318,87
