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Group of Environmental Biotechnology

Universidade de Santiago de Compostela

Universidade de Santiago de Compostela Campus Vida Cretus
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Group of Environmental Biotechnology

Universidade de Santiago de Compostela

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1.2.4 Novos conceptos no tratamento de augas residuais


The new concept of wastewater treatment plants prioritizes not only water quality but also resource recovery. For this, it is necessary to analyze new ideas, such as decentralized treatment or the pre-concentration of organic matter. The decentralized treatment can directly recover the water for uses such as water recharge for toilets and nutrients and better efficiency in eliminating micro-pollutants "in situ." Pre-concentration strategies aim to divert particulate or dissolved organic matter from the beginning of the treatment to the sludge, to maximize energy production by anaerobic digestion or production by fermentation of chemical products such as volatile fatty acids or biopolymers. The development of autotrophic denitrification techniques based on anammox processes makes this option viable since organic matter is not required for the nitrification-denitrification stage.

1.2.4 a Decentraliced treatment

Projects

· Potential of decentralized wastewater treatment for preventing the spread of antibiotic resistance, organic micropollutants, pathogens and viruses (PRESAGE)

Completed Projects

· Recovery and utilization of nutrients 4 low impact fertilizer (RUN4LIFE)
European Commission (H2020) (01.06.2017-31.05-2021)

· Improved wastewater treatment in small population centers (MEDRAR)
CONECTA PYME IN852A 2016/12. Otri 2016-CE087. (220/01400)


1.2.4 b Pre-concentration strategies

Projects


The project involves a series of tasks in the framework of water treatment and different valorization strategies. It includes a diagnosis of the circular economy opportunities in this sector, including energy production through anaerobic co-digestion of sludge and waste from Galician WWTPs, as well as the selective production of volatile fatty acids, which are valorized to produce bioplastics, as well as other strategies to maximize the use of organic matter from the sludge line.
On the other hand, another important aspect to analyze when it comes to evaluating the circularity of WWTPs is to carry out a diagnosis from the environmental, social and economic perspectives regarding their adequacy within the framework of the circular economy. That is why the INNOVAGUAS project includes an evaluation of eco-efficiency through the development of circularity indicators in the water cycle. Furthermore, a study of the perception and acceptance of the uses of recycled water and of the resources valorized from treatment waste flows is also assessed.

Completed Projects

· Potential of Innovative Technologies to Improve Sustainability of Sewage Treatment Plants (Pioneer_STP) feder_color_2_0.pngwaterjpi.png
MINECO (PCIN-2015-22) / European Commission_WaterJPI (ID199). (01.05.2016 - 30.04.2019)