Project description
Turning waste into power
Sewage sludge is piling up. Europe’s wastewater treatment plants generate up to 13 million tonnes of it every year. Treatment methods, such as anaerobic digestion, can be costly and inefficient for hard-to-digest sludges. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the HYCO project will draw on microbial engineering and hydrogen-based CO2 fixation. HYCO is developing a new type of reactor that can double sludge breakdown rates and boost renewable methane production by over 50 %. Building on prior research at TU Delft and now hosted at KU Leuven, the project brings together experts in microbiology, engineering and AI. HYCO’s breakthrough could slash disposal costs, cut emissions and power local energy grids, transforming sludge from a dirty problem into a clean solution.
Objective
The HYCO project tackles the growing challenge of sustainable sewage sludge management, a critical issue for wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in the EU, which produce 10-13 million tons of dry sludge annually. Current sludge treatment methods, particularly anaerobic digestion (AD), suffer from inefficiencies like slow reaction rates and high disposal costs. HYCO aims to revolutionize AD with the development of a novel compartmentalized plug-flow reactor (CPFR). By integrating advanced microbial process optimization, H2 addition for CO2 fixation, and innovative feeding strategies, HYCO will double hydrolysis rates, improving sludge treatment efficiency by over 50%. This will significantly reduce sludge disposal costs and enhance renewable methane production.
This project builds on my PhD and postdoctoral work at TU Delft, where I deployed cutting-edge metagenomic techniques and innovative feeding strategies to boost microbial activity and eliminate harmful pretreatment processes. At KU Leuven, I will collaborate with Prof. L. Appels, who specializes in optimizing AD treatment processes and developing AD reactors. Her expertise, combined with two secondments at Aalborg University and INRAE and two industrial stays at Aquafin and Waterleau, will further drive interdisciplinary advancements in microbiology, process engineering, and AI modeling.
HYCO will deliver a cost-effective, environmentally friendly solution for sludge management, contributing to the circular economy and the EU’s energy transition goals. By reducing waste, increasing methane yields, and improving reactor performance, HYCO aligns with sustainability objectives, offering a scalable approach for WWTPs across Europe. The project's impact extends beyond technological innovation, supporting local energy grids, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and promoting sustainable urban waste management.
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2024-PF-01
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
3000 Leuven
Belgium
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.