New processes of the circular economy in water and wastewater treatment - WaterPro (WaterPro)
Main funder
Funder's project number: A74635
Funds granted by main funder (€)
- 162 360,00
Funding program
Project timetable
Project start date: 01/05/2018
Project end date: 31/12/2021
Summary
There is growing need to find cost-effective methods to purify wastewaters, utilize industrial waste materials and
recover valuable materials from wastewaters. The aim of the proposed project is to look for functional solution to
combine these three objectives in a cost-efficient way that enables new business to companies.
The objective of the project is the purification of wastewaters and the recovery of valuable materials by using a solution in which new methods and previously developed technologies will be combined to novel hybrid-method. Water
purification with methods proposed in this project saves annual costs (water, energy, waste management, chemicals)
due to the use of industrial by-products in water purification as a precipitation chemical or as an adsorbent. The
methods applied in the proposed project are (electro)chemical precipitation and adsorption in which industrial byproducts are utilized. In an electrochemical precipitation, the electric current dissolves the anode material, iron for
example, that enables the formation precipitate. The method works also in a cold environment, does not require the
use of chemicals and is a low-cost method from its investment and operating costs and its maintenance costs. In the
chemical precipitation, impurities like sulfate are precipitated e.g. with lime. In the proposed project, industrial byproducts will be studied as precipitation chemicals to replace commercial lime. Industrial waste materials can be used as raw materials to produce adsorbents. Materials can be treated thermally, chemically or they can be
geopolymerized. Adsorbents are eco- and cost-efficient and they are made from industrial wastes by using low
temperature and environmental-friendly chemicals with a simple manufacturing method. These materials can be
regenerated several times and after their use in water purification they can be utilized as fertilizer, in construction
industry or they can be disposed as a stable material.
The earlier research results and publications of the partners of the project show that and the geopolymer technology
as well as the electrochemical precipitation has potential to the full-scale use. Chemical precipitation and adsorption
are widely used water purification methods but utilization of industrial by-products in those applications will need more
research and development. During the proposed project, new information about the recovery of valuable materials
from wastewaters, utilizing of waste materials in the cleaning of wastewaters and for the planning of the sustainable
processes will be created. Obtained results supports the action of companies, especially SME´s. The results of the
project lead to the utilizing of materials in a more sustainable way, economical water purification solutions, increasing
the appreciation of Finnish know-how and development of new business possibilities for companies. The project
partners are from Central Ostrobothnia, North Ostrobothnia and area of Kainuu.
recover valuable materials from wastewaters. The aim of the proposed project is to look for functional solution to
combine these three objectives in a cost-efficient way that enables new business to companies.
The objective of the project is the purification of wastewaters and the recovery of valuable materials by using a solution in which new methods and previously developed technologies will be combined to novel hybrid-method. Water
purification with methods proposed in this project saves annual costs (water, energy, waste management, chemicals)
due to the use of industrial by-products in water purification as a precipitation chemical or as an adsorbent. The
methods applied in the proposed project are (electro)chemical precipitation and adsorption in which industrial byproducts are utilized. In an electrochemical precipitation, the electric current dissolves the anode material, iron for
example, that enables the formation precipitate. The method works also in a cold environment, does not require the
use of chemicals and is a low-cost method from its investment and operating costs and its maintenance costs. In the
chemical precipitation, impurities like sulfate are precipitated e.g. with lime. In the proposed project, industrial byproducts will be studied as precipitation chemicals to replace commercial lime. Industrial waste materials can be used as raw materials to produce adsorbents. Materials can be treated thermally, chemically or they can be
geopolymerized. Adsorbents are eco- and cost-efficient and they are made from industrial wastes by using low
temperature and environmental-friendly chemicals with a simple manufacturing method. These materials can be
regenerated several times and after their use in water purification they can be utilized as fertilizer, in construction
industry or they can be disposed as a stable material.
The earlier research results and publications of the partners of the project show that and the geopolymer technology
as well as the electrochemical precipitation has potential to the full-scale use. Chemical precipitation and adsorption
are widely used water purification methods but utilization of industrial by-products in those applications will need more
research and development. During the proposed project, new information about the recovery of valuable materials
from wastewaters, utilizing of waste materials in the cleaning of wastewaters and for the planning of the sustainable
processes will be created. Obtained results supports the action of companies, especially SME´s. The results of the
project lead to the utilizing of materials in a more sustainable way, economical water purification solutions, increasing
the appreciation of Finnish know-how and development of new business possibilities for companies. The project
partners are from Central Ostrobothnia, North Ostrobothnia and area of Kainuu.
