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Description
Innovation Systems and Circular Systems within the call area Food and natural resources. The consortium consists of seven partners, including five research institutions and two end-users (wastewater treatment plants) in Norway and Poland. The overall objective of the project, in line with the circular economy concept and sustainable development, is to integrate innovative processes into the traditionally operated municipal wastewater treatment systems to make a transition towards water resource recovery facilities. Specifically, innovative, cost-effective technologies will be developed with respect to the recovery of inherent resources, i.e. energy, nutrients and organic substances (humic acids) as well as generation of valuable products, i.e. hydrogen and biopolymers. As a result, it is expected to enhance the biogas production by >10% and harvest >80% of nutrients. The complex approach will be applied comprising laboratory tests (process understanding) and pilot tests at the two collaborating plants (proof of concept). The implementation potential will be evaluated with the advanced tools. A unique metagenomic model will be developed for the system control. Furthermore, the plant-wide computer model will incorporate the new evaluation criteria for the sustainability concept. The complex carbon footprint analysis and life cycle assessment will be carried out for different scenarios. To enhance market uptake potential of the products recovered, suitable applications will be identified and recovered products will be monitored for potential contamination. The main short-term outcomes of the project comprise the support of carriers of early stage researchers, joint publications and project applications. In the long-term perspective, results of the project will help in the transformation of wastewater treatment plants from the end-of-pipe philosophy towards a responsible natural resource management.