At CETIM we have designed and built a pilot plant to validate the obtaining of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) from wastewater organic matter, we are investigating the recovery of lithium from brines and we are carrying out the Life Cycle Analysis of the whole process.

Natural resources are scarce and this, coupled with the effects of climate change, means that more and more areas across Europe are facing new and more severe constraints in accessing water and energy resources. Faced with this situation, we must move towards a paradigm shift, creating sustainable economic and social models that promote the circular economy.

Our H2020 REWAISE project, led by FCC AQUALIA and with the collaboration of 23 partners from 11 European countries, was created for this purpose, as it seeks to create a new “smart water ecosystem” based on the circular economy of the elements present in water. The main objective of the research is to develop a digital infrastructure that enables the recovery of resources, including critical raw materials, while reducing water and energy consumption.

To this end, a network of 9 ‘living labs’ will be set up across Europe to test innovative operational technologies and new management methods in different climates. These living labs will involve the whole of society to raise awareness of the true value of water and the need to reduce the consumption of resources, creating a process that will ensure a safe and sustainable supply of water resources to the whole of European society.

CETIM Expertise

In order to achieve REWAISE’s main objective, CETIM provides its expertise in the development of technologies for water treatment and the recovery of raw materials present in water, the valorisation of by-products and sustainability analysis.

Firstly, we have investigated the production of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) from organic matter in wastewater.  PHA is a biodegradable polymer produced by microorganisms, with mechanical properties similar to the most common thermoplastics such as PET or polypropylene. This material has multiple advantages over others due to its biodegradable and biocompatible properties, making it a potential substitute for petroleum-based plastics.

On the other hand, sewage sludge is produced in large quantities in wastewater treatment plants and its management accounts for up to 60% of operating costs. Therefore, we would be creating a new product with high value for the packaging and cosmetics sector from waste treatment, while reducing the economic costs of waste management.

Soon, this process of obtaining PHAs that we have developed and optimised will be validated through a pilot plant that we have previously designed and built. This will be transferred to the facilities of an industrial partner-collaborator of CETIM, thus allowing us to validate the operation of the technology in real situations.

In addition, within the framework of the project we are investigating the possibility of recovering lithium from brine, as it is a critical raw material essential for the manufacture of batteries, identifying the key indicators to measure the success and impact of all the activities and technologies deployed in the project, and carrying out the Life Cycle Analysis from the development of the different technologies to their implementation in the pilot plants to verify that the processes we are investigating are more sustainable, from an environmental and economic point of view, than the current ones, also taking into account the analysis of risks and vulnerabilities.

So far, the results are very promising, as REWAISE would not only reduce the costs of current processes, but also create a new “smart water ecosystem” in which we would recover energy, nutrients and high-value raw materials for industry.

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement No 869496.