“To demonstrate the feasibility of an innovative waste water treatment WWTP flowsheet to maximize energy and nutrients recovery”

MAIN OBJECTIVE

The main objective of the project was to demonstrate, by means of a prototype, the technical, economic and environmental feasibility of an innovative WWTP flowsheet based on an pre-concentration step at the inlet of the WWTP and focused on the recovery of nutrients and energy.

The proposed demonstration plant was based on the principle of high concentration (“pre-concentration” at the beginning of the flowsheet), in order to:

a) Recover much more primary sludge than conventional primary settling to maximize energy production.

b) Recover nutrients from the pre-concentration effluent which contains only dissolved pollution, and also from the supernatant of the anaerobic digestion.

This pre-concentration step changes the mass and energy balances in all the subsequent steps of treatment of this flowsheet, compared to conventional WWTP flowsheet, and therefore requires technology changes throughout the complete flowsheet.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES

O1. To demonstrate the technical feasibility of the system (proof of concept): proving that the flowsheet is relevant and that the operation is reliable and efficient.

O2. To demonstrate the resources recovery: proving that the energy balance of the plant is improved and nutrients can be recovered from the main stream.

O3. To demonstrate the environmental benefits: quantifying the reduction in terms of environmental impacts using a Life Cycle Analysis approach.

O4. To demonstrate the economic viability: proving that the costs of implementing this new flowsheet in WWTPs are feasible using a Life Cycle Costing approach.

O5. To put forward the flowsheet and the change of mind-set facing new challenges: dissemination of the results to identify key stakeholders for future commercialization.

O6. To define how to apply the system: establishing the application of the system on new and existing WWTPs. In Europe the main large WWTPs are built, so it is important to aim not only towards the new WWTPs but also the market of existing plants requiring refurbishing or extension.