Water2return

Water2REturn is an Innovation Action co-funded by the European Commission under its Horizon 2020 (H2020) programme. It is coordinated by BIOAZUL company (Malaga, Spain) and is focused on the recovery and recycling of nutrients from slaughterhouses wastewater in the framework of a Circular Economy model. Nutrients recovered are turned into value added products for the agro-chemical industry and, consequently, for the agricultural sector. Water2REturn proposes a viable, cross-sectoral and integrated full-scale demonstration process by using a novel combination of biochemical and physical technologies and processes in cascade, aiming also a positive balance in terms of energy footprint –biological aeration systems, membrane technologies, anaerobic processes for bio-methane production and algal technologies, all combined in a zero-waste- emission system, with an integrated monitoring control tool that improves the nutrient flows data quality –. An environmental, economic, social and risk assessment of the technology performance and the products obtained will be also performed. Water2REturn brings together 15 multidisciplinary actors from 8 different European countries – 9 SMEs, 2 European associations, 1 research centre and 3 universities – to implement an integrated solution for slaughterhouse wastewater treatment, as well as for the recovery of nutrients with high market value in the agricultural sector. Water2REturn commercial outcomes will be- An integrated system to treat wastewater while recovering nutrients, customisable according to the needs of the end user- 3 raw materials: nitrate and phosphate concentrate, hydrolysed sludge and algal biomass, the basis for further manufacturing agronomic products- 3 agronomic products: 1 organic fertiliser and 2 biostimulants, ready to be commercialised.