PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
In Europe, Waste Water Treatment Plants (WWTP) have a high environmental impact, since they represent 0.8% of electricity consumption in the EU and generate up to 13 million tons of sludge. EU regulations for water and landfills require improvements in output water quality and reduced waste production at WWTPs. Most of the EUs WWTPs are in locations where populations are less than 50 000 inhabitants, and only secondary treatment is applied with low-efficiency technologies, like the Conventional Activated Sludge (CAS) system. CAS is based on aerobic processes that require a supply of oxygen, with high energy consumption. In addition, large amounts of sludge are produced and the amount of reusable water that is obtained is very limited. Furthermore, organic matter and energy are needed for nitrogen removal. Therefore, an alternative is needed. Integrated management and processing of OFMSW (organic fraction of municipal solid waste) and wastewater can become a cost-effective and carbon-negative alternative (aligned with the EU Green Deal) for the sustainable management of these two separate waste streams.
OBJECTIVES
The LIFE ZERO WASTE WATER project will demonstrate an innovative, cost-efficient and positive energy balance waste water treatment plant (WWTP) solution for the integrated management of urban wastewater (WW) and the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW). This will be especially designed for WWTPs serving small populations (i.e. < 50 000 inhabitants).
The specific objectives are to:
Set up a strategy for the collection of Kitchen Food Waste (KFW) at municipal level; - Design a management strategy, considering regulatory barriers, for the collection of the KFW, on-site treatment and disposal into the sewer system, for the mixed waste stream (KFW and WW);Develop an Anaerobic Membrane Bioreactor (AnMBR), based on the pilot plant developed in the project LIFE MEMORY (LIFE13 ENV/ES/001353), where WW and OFMSW streams will be jointly treated, by integrating anaerobic treatment and membrane ultrafiltration in a single step;Develop a Partial Nitritation-Anammox (PN-AMX) reactor: the organic matter free stream from AnMBR treated to remove nitrogen in the projects PN-AMX reactor;Develop a Nutrients Extraction and Recovery Module: an Adsorption and Biosolids Composting Units will be set up to receive effluents from AnMBR and the PN/AMX;Integration of the AnMBR, PN/AMX and Nutrients Extraction and Recovery Modules in a compact solution with synergistic results and minimum requirements in terms of energy and surface area; and Develop a Smart Water Monitoring and Control System for efficient water management.
The project objectives are fully in line with the Waste Framework Directive, the Water Framework Directive, and related policy initiatives, like the Europe 2020 Resource-efficient Roadmap and the Blueprint to Safeguard European Waters.
RESULTS
Expected results:
A low-carbon footprint strategy for the integrated management and processing of Kitchen Food Waste (KFW) and waste water (WW), using the existing sewer networks in locations with populations of less than 50 000 people; A model for an efficient, carbon-negative and cost-effective zero energy balance WWTP, for locations with < 50 000 inhabitants, able to treat mixedwaste streams with KFW and WW, based on the combination of AnMBR and PN/AMX reactors;A WWPT having a positive energy balance;Increased recovery of water (95% of Free-Pathogen Water to be used either for fertigation or environmental purposes);Reduced biosolids production: up to 0,2 kg stabilized biosolids/kg COD removed;Reduced N2O emissions: 7.2 g N2O/kg N removed; and Nutrients Recovery: 5 g of P/m3 and 0,2 kg of composted soil fertilizer/m3.
