Sustainability

Development of technologies to remove pollutants from soils, sediments, surface- and groundwater, that can be harmful to human health. The PROMISCES project develops, tests and demonstrates in the field, under real-life conditions, key technologies and innovations to monitor, prevent and remediate industrial persistent and mobile and potentially toxic pollutants in the soil-sediment-water system. At this sense, PROMISCES project identifies how industrial pollution prevents the deployment of the circular economy (CE) in the EU and which strategies help overcome key bottlenecks to deliver the ambitions of the European Green Deal and Circular Economy Action Plan. PROMISCES considers [...]

Development and standardization of the mycoremediation of hydrocarbon polluted soils. The Torres Quevedo project evaluates the performance of this technology in a systematically manner with soils of different texture, with different inoculum substrates addition and under different environmental conditions (temperature and humidity). One of the main outputs of the project is the release of a mycoremediation implementation guide to help companies and organisations during the application of this treatment. Mycoremediation is a technique which is currently under development. One of the principal obstacles to become a reference technology is the lack of consensus on the ideal [...]

The Specialization and Competitiveness Project (PECT) Ebre Bioterritori promotes and facilitates the systemic transition (technical-economic and social), towards a model of sustainable exploitation of natural capital, articulating a stable innovation environment in the whole of Terres de l'Ebre (Baix Ebre, Monstià, Terra Alta and Ribera d'Ebre counties). The project is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) of the European Union, within the framework of the ERDF Operational Program of Catalonia 2014-2020, an objective of investment in growth and employment. The systemic change driven by the project implies that the innovation structures are set up [...]

Development of a network of labs in the territory (OpenLab) with the aim of converting them into a matrix which leads the transformation towards a sustainable research and innovation ecosystem. The Territorial Specialization and Competitiveness (PECT) project "HubB30, beyond circularity" is a pilot experience focused on Zero waste, which should allow design the methodology, the optimal structure and the Spaces to implement a new interaction model between the different actors of the Quadruple Helix (universities and research centers; administration; companies; citizenship) and the open innovation processes. The overall strategy of the project is based mainly on [...]

Raising awareness of legislation on water saving and reusing to promote the circular economy in the tourism sector. The WAT’SAVEREUSE project overall objective is to explain the benefits of water legislation and national initiatives to promote the circular economy in water consumption, particularly in the tourism industry, targeting both water savings and water reuse, with a special focus on the Mediterranean environment. In the framework of the project, which counts with the participation of Eurecat’s Sustainability Area, different awareness raising campaigns addressing four identified target groups will be carried out. The action to achieve the main [...]

Development of novel materials and manufacturing processes for a high-volume production of OLAE devices. The MADRAS project, coordinated by Eurecat, has the objective to develop new materials and  manufacturing processes for a scalable production in an industrial level of OLAE devices. The project addresses the use of conventional and established industrial manufacturing techniques and adapted processing tools to deliver this innovative technology closer to market. The use of organic and large area-electronics (OLAE) technologies and components have experienced a remarkable increase in recent years thanks to printed electronics technologies progress which offers solutions to develop OLAE thinner, [...]

Development of a new process, based on microalgae treatment and cork filtration, able to remove nitrates and pesticides from polluted groundwater. The SPOT project, which has the objective to produce drinking water that meets the requirements established by the European Union, promotes the sustainability and resilience of animal farming and tourism sectors in rural areas through nature-based solutions. The Sustainability Unit of Eurecat participates in the bench-scale tests to define the operational conditions of the pilot plants and their monitoring as well as in their environmental, social and economic impacts evaluation. The project consortium, coordinated by [...]

Recovery of waste generated by the cork industry through its use for the treatment of wastewater in the wine sector and its use as fuel to generate electricity, generating an integral plan for the improvement of waste management of the cork industry, within the framework of the circular economy. The LIFE ECORKWASTE demonstrates the efficiency of an artificial wastewater treatment wetland filled with cork granules. To achieve this, cork has been used as an absorbent material for the elimination of organic compounds and has improved the quality of the residual effluents from the wineries. In addition, [...]

Digital Social Platform (DSP) with the best practices and experiences in water management in the industrial, social and political fields, to share them with experts from the sector and citizens. The European project POWER develops a new free digital platform that allows consulting water management initiatives that are being promoted in different cities around the world and raising debates between experts and citizens, with the aim of raising awareness about the problem of water scarcity. The POWER platform app, which is also available in a web version, is structured in four main aspects that deal with [...]

Integrative cutting solutions to produce high performance automotive components with high-manganese (HMnS) steel sheet. Currently, there is a lack of knowledge about the effects of the cutting processes on the mechanical properties and formability of HMnS. This complicates their extensive industrial application because non-optimized cutting could cause a dramatic reduction of part performance. A detailed investigation regarding the quality of the cut edge that determines fatigue and delayed fracture resistance is needed to face the industrial implementation of HMnS in structural vehicle parts. The iCUT project has the objective to describe the relationship between the cut [...]

New deep energy renovation processes and methodologies to improve the energy performance and renovation of buildings. StepUP project aims to develop cost-effective solutions and technologies to transform the deep renovation market and make buildings decarbonisation a reliable, attractive and sustainable investment. To achieve this, StepUP uses continuous feedback loops and promotes an iterative deep energy renovation approach, based on Big Data, which minimises performance problems, reduce financial barriers and optimises investments. The solution developed by StepUP will target three different types of structures: multi-family residential dwellings, public non-residential buildings and rental private office buildings. Besides, the [...]

eSCALED project is expected to generate breakthroughs in the development of artificial photosynthetic leaves as photoelectrochemical devices and educate highly trained researchers. eSCALED offers 14 Early Stage Researcher positions for ground-breaking research on artificial photosynthesis and photoelectrochemical devices. Each PhD student works under the supervision of an international and interdisciplinary team of supervisors towards solving a specific challenge related to the project. In parallel, eSCALED will offer the young researchers an enhanced and comprehensive training, tailored workshops, a summer school, and lectures to facilitate sharing of knowledge, acquisition of new skills and career development. Eurecat participates [...]

Innovative technologies for reducing industrial saline wastewater streams and derived environmental impacts by recovering and reutilizing minerals and water from the brine. Zero Brine project proves that minerals, such as magnesium, and clean water can be recovered from industrial processes for their reuse in other industries, facilitating the implementation of the European Circular Economy Package and the SPIRE Roadmap by developing the technological solutions and business models for wastewater/brine resource recovery. To achieve this, technologies such as nanofiltration using regenerated membranes, eutectic freeze crystallization, forward feed evaporation and electrodialysis with bipolar membranes are being evaluated. Eurecat [...]

Circular economy applied to the treatment of table olives brines based on solar evaporation. The LIFE SOLIEVA project aims to solve environmental challenges of the table olives sector (TO) processing water and update the environmental legislation related to use of water. The project focuses to demonstrate the technical, environmental and economic feasibility of the technology for organic compounds recovery based on membrane, concentrator vacuum and spry dryer (OCR) and advanced solar evaporation (ASE). The innovation of the project, led by Eurecat, will allow to: recover valuable compounds, e.g. polyphenols, and water; intensify the natural evaporation without [...]

Valorisation of foundry sands and dust in the ceramic tile production process replacing natural raw materials, such a red and white clays. The Foundrytile project, ended in July 2018, promoted the concept of circular economy, key to sustainable development, because it reinforces the industrial symbiosis between companies in the foundry and ceramic sector. Specifically, the solution developed offers a better preservation of natural resources, an increasing valorisation of foundry waste, a reduction of the environmental footprint and an increase in the competitiveness of companies working in foundry and ceramics. Eurecat’s Sustainability Technology Unit coordinated technically the [...]