Project description
Innovative wastewater solutions to preserve essential elements
Current decentralised domestic wastewater treatments (WWT) waste valuable nutrients. Essential elements such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium – vital for agricultural and industrial applications – are simply discarded. With this in mind, the EU-funded Run4Life project will combine existing wastewater treatment technologies with ultra-low water flushing vacuum toilets, hyper-thermophilic anaerobic digestion, and bio-electrochemical systems. It aims to achieve up to 100 % nutrient (NPK) recovery, surpassing current rates by 2 to more than 15 times, while reusing over 90 % of the water. The project evaluates impacts on safety, security, environment, and economy, and ensures social acceptance. Large-scale demonstrations in Belgium, Spain, the Netherlands, and Sweden, along with collaboration with fertilizer companies, will optimise the process.
Objective
Domestic wastewater (WW) is an important carrier of nutrients usually wasted away by current decentralised WW treatments (WWT). Run4Life proposes an alternative strategy for improving nutrient recovery rates and material qualities, based on a decentralised treatment of segregated black water (BW), kitchen waste and grey water combining existing WWT with innovative ultra-low water flushing vacuum toilets for concentrating BW, hyper-thermophilic anaerobic digestion as one-step process for fertilisers production and bio-electrochemical systems for nitrogen recovery. It is foreseen up to 100% nutrient (NPK) recovery (2 and >15 times current P and N recovery rates) and >90% water reuse.
Obtained products will be >90% reused thanks to prospective end-users in the consortium and a new Business model based on a cooperative financial scheme. Run4Life impacts will be evaluated on safety and security (Risk Assessment), from an environmental point of view (Life Cycle Assessment and Environmental Technical Verification), on the economy (Benefit Cost Analysis) and considering Social Risk Perception. Active measures will be developed with the support of a Stakeholders and Exploitation Panel for achieving institutional, legal and social acceptance. Different parts of Run4Life will be large scale demonstrated at 4 demo-sites in Belgium, Spain, Netherlands and Sweden, adapting the concept to different scenarios (market, society, legislation). Performance tests will be carried out with obtained products (compared to commercial fertilisers) with close collaboration with fertiliser companies. Process will be optimised by on-line monitoring key performance indicators (nutrient concentration, pathogens, micropollutants). The information obtained in the 4 demo-sites will be used for process simulation to conceive a unified Run4Life model which will be applied in a fifth demo-site in Czech Republic, allowing new business opportunities and providing data for critical raw material policies.
Fields of science
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringwaste managementwaste treatment processesrecycling
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringwater treatment processeswastewater treatment processes
- engineering and technologycivil engineeringwater engineeringirrigation
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringmining and mineral processing
- social scienceseconomics and businesseconomicssustainable economy
Programme(s)
- H2020-EU.3.5. - SOCIETAL CHALLENGES - Climate action, Environment, Resource Efficiency and Raw Materials Main Programme
- H2020-EU.3.5.2.3. - Provide knowledge and tools for effective decision making and public engagement
- H2020-EU.3.5.4. - Enabling the transition towards a green economy and society through eco-innovation
- H2020-EU.3.5.2.2. - Developing integrated approaches to address water-related challenges and the transition to sustainable management and use of water resources and services
Funding Scheme
IA - Innovation actionCoordinator
28016 Madrid
Spain
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Participants (19)
Legal entity other than a subcontractor which is affiliated or legally linked to a participant. The entity carries out work under the conditions laid down in the Grant Agreement, supplies goods or provides services for the action, but did not sign the Grant Agreement. A third party abides by the rules applicable to its related participant under the Grant Agreement with regard to eligibility of costs and control of expenditure.
709 00 Ostrava
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Legal entity other than a subcontractor which is affiliated or legally linked to a participant. The entity carries out work under the conditions laid down in the Grant Agreement, supplies goods or provides services for the action, but did not sign the Grant Agreement. A third party abides by the rules applicable to its related participant under the Grant Agreement with regard to eligibility of costs and control of expenditure.
41007 Sevilla
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8606JR SNEEK
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
750 07 Uppsala
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6708 WG WAGENINGEN
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
08225 Terrassa
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252 25 HELSINGBORG
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Legal entity other than a subcontractor which is affiliated or legally linked to a participant. The entity carries out work under the conditions laid down in the Grant Agreement, supplies goods or provides services for the action, but did not sign the Grant Agreement. A third party abides by the rules applicable to its related participant under the Grant Agreement with regard to eligibility of costs and control of expenditure.
251 89 Helsingborg
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15782 Santiago De Compostela
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08192 Sant Quirze Del Valles
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
6708 PB Wageningen
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36208 VIGO
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6060 HAREID
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
Legal entity other than a subcontractor which is affiliated or legally linked to a participant. The entity carries out work under the conditions laid down in the Grant Agreement, supplies goods or provides services for the action, but did not sign the Grant Agreement. A third party abides by the rules applicable to its related participant under the Grant Agreement with regard to eligibility of costs and control of expenditure.
6060 HAREID
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B3 2HJ BIRMINGHAM
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
1500 Halle
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
Legal entity other than a subcontractor which is affiliated or legally linked to a participant. The entity carries out work under the conditions laid down in the Grant Agreement, supplies goods or provides services for the action, but did not sign the Grant Agreement. A third party abides by the rules applicable to its related participant under the Grant Agreement with regard to eligibility of costs and control of expenditure.
9051 Gent
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7241 CW Lochem
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70499 STUTTGART WEILIMDORF
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