PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
In Europe, sewage sludge production reached 10.9 million tons in 2005 and is expected to exceed 13 million tons by the end of 2020. About 50% of this quantity is recovered directly for use in agriculture and the rest is disposed of in landfills or incinerators. However, the traditional disposal systems present many problems, including: unpleasant odours and the possible presence of heavy metals or organic pollutants in agricultural applications; CO2 emissions due to transportation and issues in the leachate in landfills; and high costs and opposition of citizens to incineration plants. Therefore, there is a need for environmentally-friendly alternatives to disposal, including creating innovative and economically-sustainable plants for the recovery of sewage sludge waste. Hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) technology shows promise as a means of transforming municipal wastewater solids into feedstocks for biofuels and other industrially-useful materials.
OBJECTIVES
The objective of the LIFE FREEDOM project is to demonstrate at pilot-scale the technical and economic viability of hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) technology for the treatment of sewage sludge. The aim is to use the new HTL technology to reduce the volume of waste sent to landfill and incineration, and to produce secondary raw materials of widespread industrial use, including asphalts for roads, binders for industrial applications, and fertilizers for agricultural use. The project beneficiaries will install HTL equipmentin an urban wastewater treatment facility in Cassano DAdda, in Milan (Italy), connecting the LIFE FREEDOM system directly to the purifier. A range of environmental benefits will also be evaluated.
By doing this, the project will contribute to the implementation of the following EU policies: Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (1991/271/EEC), Sewage Sludge Directive (1986/278/EC), Landfill Directive (1999/31/EC), Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC), and Closing the loop: An EU action plan for the Circular Economy.
RESULTS
Expected results: