Obiettivo
The Biowalk4Biofuels Project aims to develop an alternative and innovative system for biowaste energy recovery and use of GHG emissions to produce biofuels, using macroalgae as a catalyser, in a multidisciplinary approach. The objectives of the project are: production of a cost-efficient biogas without using cereal crops; optimise the production of biogas per amount of biowaste and CO2 used, with low land use for plant facilities; and increase and optimize the types of biowastes that can be utilised for biogas production. To achieve the underlined objectives, research activities are to be carried out on the selection of adequate macroalgae species that can reach high output biomass yields and high carbohydrate content. Pre-cultivation of protoplasts will allow to obtain easily available biomass for feeding the cultivation open floating ponds within shorter periods, thanks to the rapid proliferation of germplasm, diminishing the life-cycle of macroalgae.
In addition, the relationship between growth and energy potential of selected species with the amounts/characteristic of GHG emissions and biowaste introduced in the cultivation medium is to be studied. . After fermenting the algal biomass and other biowastes, the cycle is closed by producing biogas to be used for electricity and heat generation and as a transport fuel. A high quality biogas is expected, hence a purification step will proceed the final product. Furthermore, organic residues output from the methanation biodigestor are to be used as fertilizer after solid/liquid separation. The liquid fraction of the digestate will be treated in a biological oxidation system .A portion of the unseparated outlet effluent from the oxidation system (solids + liquid) will be fed to the macroalgae cultivation (instead of the enrichment with chemical N-P-K fertilizers). Meanwhile, the other portion will be reused as feeding for the AD plant section. This process solution will permit to feed with several critical biowastes the biodigester, transforming them into a resource. The expected impact is to produce a cost-efficient, low energy-intensive, purified biogas, to reduce negative environmental impacts from industry (GHG emissions) and biowaste. The multidisciplinary approach solution to reduce GHG emission and process biowaste, while producing energy, seeking for the future replications in other locations.
Campo scientifico
- natural scienceschemical scienceselectrochemistryelectrolysis
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuels
- engineering and technologyindustrial biotechnologybiomaterialsbiofuels
- agricultural sciencesagricultural biotechnologybiomass
- agricultural sciencesagriculture, forestry, and fisheriesagriculturegrains and oilseedscereals
Invito a presentare proposte
FP7-ENERGY-2009-1
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Meccanismo di finanziamento
CP - Collaborative project (generic)Coordinatore
00185 Roma
Italia