Title: Recovery and Utilization of Nutrients 4 Low Impact Fertiliser
Description: The Run4Life project proposes a radical new technological concept for wastewater treatment and nutrient recovery. It is based on source-separated collection of domestic wastewaters and kitchen waste, with each flow receiving optimal treatment for resource recovery and subsequent safe reuse. Innovative nutrient recovery technologies are integrated with complementary fertiliser concepts to reduce environmental and health risks. The entire nutrient recovery value chain will be demonstrated to the end user.
Run4Life (2017-2021) receives funding from the European Commission Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation programme, under grant agreement number 730285.
Project website: http://run4life-project.eu
The Run4Life community on Zenodo hosts the publications and other documents that have their origin within the framework of the Horizon 2020 project Run4Life. The acronym stands for "Recovery And Utilisation Of Nutrients 4 Low Impact Fertiliser". The recovery of nutrients and other valuable resources from source-separated domestic wastewaters is the projects' main topic.
The world food supply is entirely dependent on the use of fertilisers. However, the current fertiliser production practices are not sustainable. Phosphate rock is a non-renewable resource, whereas the nitrogen-based fertilisers production is highly energy-intensive, currently relying on the use of fossil fuels. Domestic wastewater is an important nutrient carrier, but currently not exploited as recovery from diluted sewage is not efficient.
Run4Life proposes a radical new technological concept for wastewater treatment and nutrient recovery. It is based on source-separated collection of domestic wastewaters and kitchen waste, with each flow receiving optimal treatment for resource recovery and subsequent safe reuse. Innovative nutrient recovery technologies are integrated with complementary fertiliser concepts to reduce environmental and health risks. The entire nutrient recovery value chain will be demonstrated to the end user.
For improved resource recovery and reuse, the following innovative technologies will be further developed within the project:
- Ultra low flush vacuum system for toilets
- Separate treatment of black water and organic kitchen waste
- Hyper-thermophilic anaerobic digestion (HTAD) aimed at obtaining safe fertilisers in a one-step treatment
- Ground-breaking nutrient recovery strategies, e.g. bio-electrochemical systems
Nutrient recycling from wastewater opens a new paradigm in society. Therefore active measures such as knowledge brokerage activities are developed as an engagement strategy to advocate the institutional, legal and social acceptance of Run4Life nutrient recovery technologies. Communication and dissemination activities will be focused on different stakeholder levels aiming at the maximisation of market success.
The innovative technological solutions will be demonstrated at four large scale sites, two of which are built during the course of the project. The demo sites are:
- Nieuwe Dokken in Ghent, Belgium
- Lemmerweg in Sneek, the Netherlands
- Oceanhamnen in Helsingborg, Sweden (part of the larger H+ area)
- Porto do Molle business centre in Vigo, Spain
For more information about Run4Life and its activities please visit the project website: