Granular activated algae technology for wastewater treatment and resources recovery

About this project

<p>The worldwide population is facing limited available freshwater resources. Used water by humans, discharged as wastewater, must be treated to ensure its safe re-use. However, wastewater treatment plants are high-energy consumers, generate continuous waste with limited reuse, and surprisingly even significantly contribute to environmental pollution.&nbsp;The project comes to meet all these problems with a solution found in nature itself. By targeting priorities of the European Innovation Partnership on Water, the project uses one of the earliest life forms developed on earth: microalgae and their photosynthesis ability to clean wastewater with a significant decrease of the treatment expenditures, sanitation improvement, environment protection, and waste conversion to valuable resources which humans can take advantage for.&nbsp;<br> The project follows in-depth research on microalgae-based wastewater treatment for achieving even an increase in treatment performance. Microalgae cells are reached in nutrients and other useful compounds (oil, proteins) adding value to the resulted waste, the project activities aiming to enhance this value during the wastewater cleaning. Another followed key particularity is the technology preparation for operation in the real environmental conditions, following the impact study on the environment and research transfer to market.&nbsp;<br> By these goals, the project covers a wide audience, from operators of the small, individual, or large, central wastewater treatment systems, and water sector audience to the worldwide scientific community, and the general public alike. Besides bringing a successful solution for the human being, the project builds considerable experience, competencies, and the premises for a long-term cooperative partnership. The project represents a significant step forward in the addressed topic and on top of that, collaboration with Norwegian partners has a high influence on the enhancement of the Romanian research international visibility.</p>

Bilateral cooperation results

The project made significant strides in developing the microalgae biotechnology sector. The activities established an alternative technology to address challenges in the wastewater treatment , extended its application beyond Romanian borders by validated it in Norway. TRL 5, requiring further steps for scaling up and commercialization. The partnership has succeeded in starting to engage the private sector through collaboration with secondary beneficiaries. Continuous collaboration between partners led to expanding the project’s focus from centralized to decentralized wastewater treatment, initiating research activities and cooperation plans with a Norwegian business partner. The project also highlighted the need to increase human resources by recruiting and training young researchers, thereby creating new job opportunities. Additionally, the project laid the foundation for a strategy to develop the microalgae sector in Romania, positioning it as one of the top five research and innovation priorities for the promoter over the next decade. The implementation of the technology in Norway not only validated the project approach but also strengthened the partnership, resulting in a joint intellectual property application and plans for technology deployment and further research. Mobility projects are also envisaged to strengthen expertise in this area further. The project facilitated significant knowledge and experience transfer to Romanian institutions, leading to the establishment of accurate analytical protocols. The groundwork laid by this project promises long-term benefits, opportunities, and continued collaboration in microalgae technology and sustainable solutions, with a concrete plan for continued progress beyond the project timeframe.

Project partners

• Norwegian University of Life Sciences Donor project partner· Norway
• Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research (NIBIO) Donor project partner· Norway
• "Valahia"University of Targoviste Project partner· Romania