The Centre for the Development of Industrial Technology (CDTI), acting as FEDER managing authority, promotes regional cooperation projects and the development of innovative capabilities that foster territorial cohesion. In this context, last January the CDTI published the final grant award resolution for the 2018 FEDER Interconecta programme call.
Among the projects selected was AD-VISor (Integral Valorisation of SANDACH By-products at a WWTP for the Production of mcl-PHA and Biomethane), which achieved the fourth highest score among more than 60 funded projects, with 75.2 points.
The AD-VISor project puts forward an innovative solution for the valorisation of waste from the meat processing industry. At present, such waste not only entails significant management costs but also poses an environmental burden in regions where this sector is concentrated. Applying the biorefinery concept, the project develops a synergistic solution to integrate, within the facilities of the Guijuelo (Salamanca) Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP), a technology for the comprehensive valorisation of animal by-products not intended for human consumption (SANDACH) from the local meat industry, while complying with the legal requirements for the treatment of this type of waste.
Specifically, the project proposes to exploit these residues through co-digestion in the WWTP's anaerobic digesters, by means of a system that includes:
- Pre-treatment of sludge and SANDACH waste using teCH4+'s thermal hydrolysis technology
- Anaerobic co-digestion
- Separation of fats and medium-chain fatty acids for the production of a high-value-added bioplastic (mcl-PHA, or medium-chain-length polyhydroxyalkanoates)
An early detection and monitoring system for foaming in the digesters, using advanced computer vision techniques to ensure the stability of the anaerobic digestion process for biogas production
- Validation of an innovative biogas purification system for obtaining low-cost biomethane for vehicular use
The AD-VISor project, with a duration of two years and a total budget of €1.4 million, will be carried out by a business consortium comprising:
AQUALIA (consortium leader)
A benchmark in water management, Aqualia provides solutions for all the needs of public and private entities and organisations across every phase of the integrated water cycle.
https://www.aqualia.com/es/
teCH4+
A technology-based company with its own R&D division, developing and commercialising its patented thermal hydrolysis technology.
https://tech4plus.com
BIONET
A company specialising in the design and construction of fermentation systems and in the scale-up of biotechnological processes.
https://bionet.com/
MAGUISA
Matadero Guijuelo SA is a meat processing company specialising in the slaughter and butchering of Iberian pork, with a daily slaughter capacity of 432,000 kg.
http://www.maguisa.net/es
In addition to the consortium members, the project also involves two technology centres — AINIA and ENERGYLAB — and has the support of Guijuelo Town Council.
