WEEI

Production of vehicular biomethane from agro-food waste in rural areas. The LIFE CHANDELIER project demonstrates an innovative solution for the production of high-quality vehicular biomethane in rural areas, using agro-food waste. LIFE CHANDELIER addresses one of the great environmental challenges of our time: the mitigation of climate change through the efficient and traceable production of biomethane, a renewable fuel with a significantly lower environmental impact than traditional fossil fuels. The project focuses on the integration of advanced technologies to improve the efficiency and reduce the cost of biomethane production, while ensuring the economic and environmental sustainability [...]

Turning agri-food waste and biomass into sustainable polymers. The Polymers-5B project develops novel alternative biological polymers synthesized from biobased monomers sourced from underexploited second-generation feedstocks, such as agri/food waste and biomass, obeying the food first and cascading principle. Polymers-5B brings together cutting-edge technologies and knowledge to develop and drive innovation in biocatalysis and green chemistry processes, generating novel bio-based polymers like polyesters and polyamides with pendent functional groups (e.g. hydroxy, carboxylic, amine, epoxy, thiol, etc.), polyphenols and polyfurans, which mimic fossil-based polymers properties, targeting improved biodegradability. These new polymers will be blended to provide valuable bio-composites [...]

Point-of-Care devices for urgent care triage. The POC4TRIAGE project develops new Point-of-Care (PoC) devices capable of rapidly detecting a patient’s cardiorespiratory or cardiovascular conditions in emergency and critical care settings, and to enable accurate clinical triage by activating real-time data from these devices. Eurecat participates in the project through its Functional Printing and Embedded Devices Unit, which leads the development of a novel sub-hairline non-invasive EEG-based head caps for rapid stroke diagnosis and a handheld, rapid immunodetector to diagnose stroke. The Waste, Energy and Environmental Impact (WEEI) Unit is in charge of the life cycle analysis [...]

Thermochemical processes for the valorization of forest resources. BIOFORIN is a strategic project to promote the regional bioeconomy and climate resilience through the boost of research and the development of new applications of added value in the market. BIOFORIN brings together the entire value chain, from forest owners to end users, to generate a sustainable forest management model oriented towards industrial use. The initiative promotes a boost in the use of forest biomass, in the first instance for thermal use, generating at the same time an opportunity for a sustainable and resilient management of forest masses, [...]

New technology for the generation of green hydrogen. The H-LEAF project develops a PEM (Proton Exchange Membrane) electrolyser based on a new national patented technology. H-LEAF focuses on the research of new scalable and sustainable components, coatings, materials and processes to overcome current limitations in the provision of materials for hydrogen production, vital to the energy transition in Spain. The project promotes scientific research to obtain new electrode and membrane designs using scalable industrial printing techniques free of perfluorinated chemicals. H-LEAF develops new bipolar plates using technologies such as stamped stainless steel substrate and 3D printing [...]

Zero emission electric vehicles enabled by harmonised circularity. The ZEvRA project improves the circularity of light-duty electric vehicles (EVs) throughout their entire value chain, from materials supply and manufacturing to end-of-life (EoL) processes. To do so, ZEvRA develops a Design for Circularity (DfC) methodology and a holistic circularity assessment aimed at improving the production of electric vehicles based on the 9Rs concept. This methodology is validated by developing zero emission solutions for the most important automotive materials, covering over 84% of material mix. These solutions are supported by a set of digital tools to support the [...]

Green, low-cost, and environmentally friendly recycling processes for end-of-life batteries. The REVITALISE project offers a holistic solution for green, low-cost and low environmental impact recycling of lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (NMC Hi-Ni), lithium iron phosphate (LFP) and sodium-ion (Na-Ion) batteries, representing 85% of battery waste streams up to 2025. REVITALISE develops low-cost and green processes to recover a full range of battery materials, including NMC, LFP, aluminium, copper, lithium, graphite, fluorides, phosphates and plastics. The project proves overall recycling rates of over 91% at TRL4 for waste processed from post-production scrap and end-of-life battery black [...]

Development of new biodegradable plastic formulations for the biomedical sector. The PHASAL project develops different bioplastic formulations that introduce PHB-HV with different loads of hydroxyvalerate (-HV) from the revaluation of organic waste. The objective is that these formulations, applicable to the health field, present advanced biodegradability and biocompatibility properties to minimize the environmental impact they present due to their poor recyclability. In this sense, PHASAL develops a complex rigid packaging system, such as a suture kit, and a direct medical application with controlled drug release, such as a transdermal patch. The new advanced formulations developed during [...]

Optimizing the charging process for electric vehicles, from power generation to end-user experience. The XL-Connect project creates an accessible and on-demand charging solution based on an optimized charging network, taking into account human behaviour, technical aspects and economic aspects. By 2030, the European Union is expected to have between 30 and 40 million battery electric vehicles on the road. This increase poses challenges and opportunities for the energy system by testing system capacity, but also presents the possibility of using V2G, V2H and V2X technologies, as parked electric vehicles can function as energy storage. The objectives [...]

Generation, storage and use of renewable H2 through biowaste recovery. The VAL2H2 project develops technologies that allow the use of biowaste that is difficult to manage in the form of renewable H2. VAL2H2 adopts a decentralized approach to produce H2 that can be used as fuel in waste transport vehicles for local and circular use. The project covers the entire H2 value chain: production, purification and analysis, storage and use. In the case of production, on the one hand the combination of microwave pretreatment with fermentation and reforming, and on the other hand thermochemical processes, are [...]

Concentration and rectification of grape must in situ to replace imported sugars in the production of sparkling wines. The MCR LOCAL project demonstrates the technical and economic feasibility of a compact and mobile process for the concentration of rectified concentrated must (RCM) in the wineries of the Penedès area, reducing economic costs and the associated carbon footprint in comparison to the use of sugar, or to the RCM produced outside the territory of application. The pilot will consist of three technological modules: ultrafiltration, ion exchange resins, and evaporation. The presence of the pilot at the cellars [...]

Thermochemical treatments of by-products from the biomass and agri-food sectors to increase their added value. The GASIFICATION project evaluates the feasibility of using by-products from the agri-food and biomass sectors, such as sewage sludge, fruit pulp and biomass ends, as renewable energy sources through their treatment with thermochemical processes such as pyrolysis or gasification. The project has four key objectives: Determine the potential of the different by-products to be treated using thermochemical processes) and obtain renewable energy. Investigate the robustness of the treatment in the face of seasonality in the production of by-products and mixtures thereof. Reduction [...]

Improvement proposals for the production of solid biofuels to increase their quality and reduce the impact of their emissions. The EMISSIONS project generates knowledge of the emissions derived from the combustion of Aleppo pine and vine branches in order to be able to give recommendations and qualities of solid biofuel that minimise the impact derived from the emissions generated in the combustion process. The other objective of the project is to establish which innovative production mechanisms or processes should be applied by the companies producing these biofuels. On the one hand, the project generates data on [...]

Strengthening and improvement of the chain of SMEs and their business organisations associated with the construction sector, which have or want to have an offer of sustainable products. The AL-INVEST Verde Construcción project promotes, trains and implements circular economy practices inspired by successful experiences in Europe. AL-INVEST Verde Construcción is carried out in the Metropolitan Region and the Los Lagos Region (Chile), although companies from neighbouring regions related to the construction sector can participate. The project works with two main types of SMEs: providers of products and services with sustainable attributes, with a particular focus on [...]

Recovery of critical raw materials from waste generated during copper production. The RECOPPs project aims to environmentally and economically sustainable recover value-added raw materials, such as bismuth and antimony, as well as to eliminate and inert arsenic present in the waste and by-products generated during the pyrometallurgical production of copper. RECOPPs is a project based on a technology proven at the laboratory level that intends to be scaled in a TRL 7 (pilot scale) to validate it as a technological solution in this operating environment. The metallurgical industry is a key element of our society, which [...]