Economia circolare nella gestione sostenibile delle acque reflue:

dalla ricerca all’applicazione reale

La depurazione idrica in Italia:

da criticità ad opportunità

Francesco Fatone and the SMART-Plant Consortium

Firenze, 20/Ottobre/2017

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Outline • Is (waste)water management central for circular economy?

• The pathways and the eco-innovations • Energy pathway

• Water pathway

• Materials pathway

• The value chains, the barriers and the key enabling strategies/solutions

• Discussion…and conclusion

| LabICABSupported by the Horizon 2020

Framework Programme

of the European Union

Is water central in the “Circular Economy Package”?

Source: https://www.eip-water.eu/water-%E2%80%9Ccircular-economy-package%E2%80%9D

Circular Economy Package mainly aim at facilitating water reuse - this will include a legislative proposal on minimum requirements for reused water, for example for irrigation and groundwater recharge

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Framework Programme

of the European Union

What about R&D&I in EU?

•H2020 WATER INNOVATION: BOOSTING ITS VALUE FOR EUROPE (2014-2015): Need of scale-up to demo, first application and market replication •H2020 WATER IN THE CONTEXT OF

CIRCULAR ECONOMY (2016-2017): recovery and (re)use of nutrients and large demos for alternative water source, use and reuse

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Current wastewater treatment: Is this right for the next 100 years?

WasteWater Treatment Plant: Activated Sludge Process

COD, N, P

CO2

Energy

Treated water

Solids Sludge

Courtesy: Juan Lema (Water_2020)

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Framework Programme

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Water Resource Recovery Facility (WRRF)

Innovative Technologies

COD, N, P, Solids

Micropollutants

CO2 VOCs GHG

Energy

High quality water (reuse)

Biosolids

Valuable products

Courtesy: Juan Lema (Water_2020)

We want to move from WWTP to WRRF, how and when?

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Framework Programme

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THREE MAIN PATHWAYS TO DELIVER CIRCULAR ECONOMY

VALUABLE MATERIALS

ENERGY

• Portfolio of resources • Economy of scale • International cluster of innovators • Cross-sectorial value chain

Today’s analysis: according to the Technology Readiness Level

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Framework Programme

of the European Union

The ENERGY PATHWAY (to deliver circular economy)

Current TRL = 8-9

but

WATER-ENERGY-CARBON NEXUS!

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Framework Programme

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Case Study: Energy and Carbon footprint vs. Product Water Quality

Neethling et al (2011) Proc. WEFTEC

Strass WRRF: energy positive since 2005

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Framework Programme

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Energy positive evolution: H2020 POWERSTEP

POWERSTEP modules 1- in mainline WWTP for A-stage (C extraction) 2- in mainline WWTP for B-stage (N removal) 3- reject water for N- removal or N-recovery 4- for best biogas valorisation

www.powerstep.eu

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The MATERIALS PATHWAY (to deliver circular economy)

Phosphorus = TRL 8-9

Other = TRL 4-7

but: social, market and regulatory barriers!

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Resources embedded to municipal wastewater…recoverable at TRL 7

Parameter Value Reusable water (m3/capita year) 80-120 Cellulose (kg/capita year) 5-7 Biopolymers; PHA (kg/capita year) 2-4 Phosphorus in P precursors (kg/capita year) 0.5-1.5 Nitrogen in N precursors (kg/capita year) 4-5 Methane (m3/ capita year) 12-13 Organic Fertilizer (P-rich compost) (kg/capita year) 9-10

Verstraete et al. (2009) Bioresource Technology 100, 5537–5545

Salehizadej and van Loosdrecht (2004) Biotechnology Advances 22, 261–279

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Key enabling solutions: (1) upstream carbon diversion, (2) short-cut (via nitrite) energy efficient P and PHA recovery processes; (3) tertiary

nanoengineered adsorption; (4) enhanced anaerobic treatments

Cellulose

Struvite P-compost

Bio- polymers Biogas

Energy efficiency

Water re-use and fertigation

www.smart-plant.eu Start: 01/Jun/2016 – End: 31/may/2020

Scale-up of low-carbon footprint MAterial Recovery Techniques in existing wastewater treatment

PLANTs

- Horizon2020 IA - 9 demo SMARTechs - Cross-sectorial value chain - Innovation deal - 26 partners

- 19 SME or LI - 7 R&D Organization

Quale approccio? Efficientare ed integrare l‘esistente. Il recupero di materia è un valore aggiunto

Influent Effluent

Biogas

Dehydrated sludge Water line

Sludge line

Conventional Primary Sedimentation replaced by Primary

Upstream SMARTech1

Conventional Activated Sludge replaced by Secondary Mainstream

SMARTechs 2a and/or 2b

Conventional or Enhanced Anaerobic Digestion

integrated by Sidestream SMARTechs 4a,4b or 5

Conventional Secondary Effluent refined by Tertiary Mainstream

SMARTech3

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Framework Programme

of the European Union

The SMART-Plant integrated WRRFs SMARTech Site Key enabling process(es) SMART-product(s)

1 Geestmerambac

ht (NL)

Upstream dynamic fine-

screen and post-processing of

cellulosic sludge

Cellulosic sludge, refined clean

cellulose

2a Karmiel (Israel) Mainstream polyurethane-

based anaerobic biofilter

Biogas, Energy-efficient water

reuse

2b Manresa (ES) Mainstream SCEPPHAR P-rich sludge, PHA

3 Cranfield (UK) Mainstream tertiary hybrid

ion exchange

Nutrients

4a Carbonera (IT) Sidestream

SCENA+conventional AD

P-rich sludge, VFA

4b Psyttalia (GR) Sidestream SCENA+enhanced

AD

P-rich sludge

5 Carbonera (IT) Sidestream SCEPPHAR PHA, struvite, VFA

Downstream

SMARTechA

London (UK) Formulation of recovered

cellulosic and PHA

materials+extrusion

Biocomposite (Sludge Plastic

Composite – SPC)

Downstream

SMARTechB

Manresa (ES) Dynamic composting of P-rich

sludge using minerals as

bulking agents; bio-drying of

cellulosic sludge

P-rich compost, enriched with

minerals; fuel for biomass plants

• 79% cellulose fiber, • 5 % other organics, • 6% inorganic (ash), • 10% other contaminants (average in The Netherlands).

Potentially marketable product, but the economic feasibility depends mainly on savings at the WWTP

Market development Marketing and valorization of recovered cellulose

Reuse in asphalt Raw material for composite (Brunel) Insulation materials (In development, not sure yet)

SMARTech1: Primary (upstream) dynamic sieving and clean cellulose recovery

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Framework Programme

of the European Union

400 kg clean cellulose per day

1. An innovative anaerobic immobilized polymeric biofilter.

2. Reaction volume -25 m3 designed and installed in the WWTP of Karmiel (North of Israel)

3. Characteristics:

- 100-120 m3/d.

- Removal of 30-40% of CODf

- Additional of 25% biogas

- Reduction of 25-30% energy consumption.

4. Operation optimization, monitoring and validation:

- biogas yield

- biomass activity

- treated effluent quality

SMARTech2a: Secondary mainstream enhanced biogas recovery by polyfoam biofilter

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Framework Programme

of the European Union

SMARTech2b: Secondary mainstream SCEPPHAR

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Framework Programme

of the European Union

SMARTech3: Tertiary mainstream nutrient recovery by mesolite and nano ion exchange

Secondary influent 10-60 m3/day

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Framework Programme

of the European Union

SMARTech5: via nitrite nitrogen removal and PHA

recovery from cellulosic sludge

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Framework Programme

of the European Union

State of the art at TRL 7-8: Anoxkaldnes Cella™

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Framework Programme

of the European Union

The «short-cut» SMART innovation:

• Integrate the via-nitrite nitrogen removal with the PHA recovery major interest of the water utility

• Adopt anoxic (via-nitrite) conditions to optimize energy consumptions

• Phosphorus (struvite) recovery even to support the balance of nitrogen and phosphorus to the PHA recovery

• Use of cellulosic sludge from upstream concentration

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Framework Programme

of the European Union

SMARTech5: sidestream S.C.E.P.P.H.A.R.

| LabICABSupported by the Horizon 2020

Framework Programme

of the European Union

SMARTech 5: Pilot Scale Carbonera WWTP

0.7 kgPHA and 0.3 kgStruvite per day

| LabICABSupported by the Horizon 2020

Framework Programme

of the European Union

The SMART bioprocesses in the Short-Cut Enhanced Nutrients Abatement (S.C.E.N.A.) for P recovery and N

removal

Production of propionate-rich SCFA from cellulosic sludge

Nitritation in aerobic conditions (so as to also minimize N2O emissions)

Denitritation and anoxic EBPR

Sequencing Batch Reactor

Control Automation on the basis of pH, ORP and conductivity

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Framework Programme

of the European Union

DYNAMIC THICEKNER

FERMENTATION

SCREW-PRESS S/L SEPARATION

BACS STORAGE

SUPERNATANTS STORAGE

VIA-NITRITE scSBR

SALSNES FILTER

S.M.A.R.T. PLANT - CARBONERA

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Framework Programme

of the European Union

Full scale SCENA in Carbonera

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Framework Programme

of the European Union

80-120 m3/d treated

THERMAL HYDROLYSIS - S.C.E.N.A. IN PSEYTTALIA

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Framework Programme

of the European Union

Demo scale TH-SCENA in Athens

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Framework Programme

of the European Union

Development of lignocellulosic PHA biocomposites

Cellulose

/Plastic Composites

Wood/PHA Composites

Cellulose/PHA Composites

• Chemical structure & bonding • Crystalline structure • Microstructure • Bulk mechanical property • In situ mechanical property • Thermal property • Barrier property • Hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity • Biodegradability

Stiffening/Toughening

Compatibilisation Plasticisation

Functionalisation

Optimal Formulation

Post-processing of recovered cellulose and PHA for bio-composites production

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Framework Programme

of the European Union

Post-precessing of cellulosic and P-rich sludges and agronomic field validation

PILOT PLANT BIODRYING

COMPOSTING

(Tech. 4a)P-rich sludge / (Tech.3) High-

nutrient content mesolites

(Tech. 1) Cellulosic sludge

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Framework Programme

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SMART-Plant Business plan and market deployment strategy

Primary licensing stream

Lever and Cross licensing stream

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Framework Programme

of the European Union

End use for recovered resources fit to water utility plants

PHA / Cellulose

PHA / Cellulose

PHA PHA / Cellulose

VFA (AA, PA, BA)

Struvite P-comp

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Framework Programme

of the European Union

The WATER PATHWAY (to deliver circular economy)

TRL = 8-9

but, again,

WATER-ENERGY-CARBON NEXUS!

| LabICABSupported by the Horizon 2020

Framework Programme

of the European Union

Source: Mc Carty – IWA-AD13

| LabICABSupported by the Horizon 2020

Framework Programme

of the European Union

Source: Mc Carty – IWA-AD13

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Framework Programme

of the European Union

Sensitive Areas (SA) & catchments of SA

Reclamation Treatment

Marine Water

Water Reuse in Agriculture

8

Spillover

or runoff

S

T

O

R

A

G

E

9

6

Primary production from Agriculture

13

Wastewater Treatment Plant

Urban Wastewater

7

1

2

Surface WaterSensitive Areas (SA) &

catchments of SA

effluent

3

5 12

Agricultural products

irrigated with reclaimed water

Soil

Groundwater

Vulnerable Zones

4

11

Infil-tration

effluent

3

10Reclaimed

waterSpillover or

runoff

14

15

15

15

Vulnerable Zones

11

We are still targeting water reuse minimum quality standard, why?

1 Urban Wastewater

2 Wastewater treatment plant: the minimum

treatment

must be secondary to comply with UWWTD

3 Effluent from WWTP (to: groundwater /

marine water / surface water)

4 Groundwater

5 Surface Water

6 Marine Water

7 Treatment which achieve reclaimed water

quality

8 Reclaimed Water

9 Water reuse in agriculture (for Irrigation)

10 Soil

11 Vulnerable zones

12 Sensitive Areas: to N or P, or N&P

13 Agricultural products irrigated with reclaimed

water

14 Water ready for irrigation: discharge point of

treated waste water or water for agricultural

irrigation

15 Spillover, runoff, infiltration

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Framework Programme

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Main barriers towards the closed cycle

• Regulatory barriers

• Market uptake

• Customer acceptance and public perception

• Stability of the secondary raw material and chemicals characteristics

• Water utility sceptical approach towards innovation and circular economy

| LabICABSupported by the Horizon 2020

Framework Programme

of the European Union

SMART-Plant in the 1st Innovation Deal

Addressing the barriers for water reuse with the EC

https://ec.europa.eu/research/innovation-deals/index.cfm

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Framework Programme

of the European Union

Innovation deal: tasks

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Framework Programme

of the European Union

SMART-Plant: we turn to golden the brown side of water

Thank you for your attention