Partners

Department of Civil and
Environmental Engineering
Italy

Website
www.polimi.it
Contact
andrea.turolla@polimi.it

Who they are

Politecnico di Milano is a public scientific-technological university (1st in Italy, 7th in Europe and 20th in the world in the class ‘Engineering and Technology’ – QS World University Rankings, 2021). The university trains engineers, architects and industrial designers and consists of 4 Schools and 12 Departments. It is a dynamic institution with over 47,000 students, 1,500 teaching staff and 1,250 technical-administrative staff.

What they do

The department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (DICA) of Politecnico di Milano aims at the promotion of the transversality between the disciplines characterizing Civil and Environmental Engineering, allowing to face the relevant problems of the sector with an integrated approach. The main mission of DICA is to operate on the topics of surveying, geology, geotechnics, hydraulics, hydrology, water resources management, transport networks, analysis and design of structures and infrastructures, seismic engineering, safety of historical structures, hydraulic and maritime constructions. The research group involved in PHOSTER project has a long experience in wastewater treatment and resource, including the development of innovative technologies and the assessment of optimal management strategies.

Role in the project

The research staff involved, led by Dr. Andrea Turolla, will be in charge of the optimisation of the conditions for phosphorus extraction from sewage sludge ashes (WP2) and the development of a feasible and sustainable co-precipitation process (WP4). It will also be in charge of project coordination (WP6) and it will take part into activities related to WP5 as supporting partner.

Faculty of
Mechanical Engineering
Slovenia

Website
www.uni-lj.si/university
Contact
tine.seljak@fs.uni-lj.si

Who they are

The University of Ljubljana is the largest university in Slovenia and contributes to the project through the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Department of Energy Engineering. It does this by collating and integrating a vast area of expertise on thermochemical conversion processes and thermal treatment of waste material streams.

What they do

The Department of Energy Engineering of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering aim is to contribute in numerous state of the art research and development areas that consider energy transformation and circular processes. As such, it participates in numerous industrial and EU projects, oriented towards improving the efficiency and sustainability of technologies that support green transition. The research team, involved in PHOSTER, is actively contributing to this through innovative approaches and developments in the area of thermal treatment and thermochemical conversion processes. The vast expertise in this area includes the application of innovative fuels, such as bio-derived, oxygenated or waste derived fuels. In relation to the latter, they focus on both virutal and experimental development of processes that support achieving high efficiencies in energy with specific focus on tailoring the thermochemical processes to achieve maximum secondary material recovery.

Role in the project

The research staff involved, led by Dr. Tine Seljak, will be in charge of the development of tools and guidelines necessary for optimization of sludge thermal treatment. The core task is to obtain best possible residue characteristics for further downstream nutrient recovery (WP1). The research staff is also involved in WP2, WP6 and WP6 as supporting partner.

Magnesitas Navarras
Spain

Website
www.magnesitasnavarras.es
Contact
inigo.garcia@magnesitasnavarras.es

Who they are

Magnesitas Navarras is a private mining company based in Navarre (Spain). It evolved from a raw material producer (of sintered magnesite) for refractories producers to a manufacturer of final products (for its use in iron and steel industry, fertilisers and animal nutrition, and environment sector). Magnesitas Navarras is working in increasing resource efficiency and valorising extraction by-products, also participating in projects related to manufacturing of new products based on MgO at national and international level, as LIFE REMPHOS (LIFE12 ENV/ES/000361). Magnesitas Navarras will be strongly supported by the sub-contractor Lurederra, a local research centre specialized in material science and technology. The support of University of Barcelona and University of Navarre is also planned for characterization analyses of mining by-products.

What they do

As a mining and industrial company, MAGNA is dedicated to the extraction and processing of magnesite at its quarries in Spain. The company manufactures refractory masses, agricultural products and for commercial environmental applications under the MAGNA brand. Since 1945, MAGNA has exploited its magnesite deposits in Eugui to extract magnesium carbonate. It has a large production capacity: 1,700,000 tons of original mineral are extracted from the mine, of which 260,000 tons/year of finished magnesium oxide product are finally produced at Zubiri after the treatment of the mineral in its two horizontal rotary kilns.

MAGNA has an R&D and quality laboratory, equipped with the means and equipment necessary for research, especially in basic refractory products (based on magnesia) dedicated to the steel industry.

Role in the project

The research staff involved, led by Dr. Iñigo X. García-Zubiri, will be in charge of WP3, performing the following activities: (i) identification of suitable mining by-products, and (ii) pre-treatment of mining by-products for improving precipitation conditions and reactivity increase. In addition, it will support the optimisation of co-precipitation conditions in WP4 and it will contribute to WP5 and WP6.

Sustainable Research
and Innovation division
Italy

Website
it.timacagro.com
Contact
Daniel.ElChami@roullier.com

Who they are

Timac Agro is the Italian holding of the French multinational Groupe Roullier. The innovative business model, unique in this sector, is one of company founding pillars: it is a B2C system, characterised by the widespread presence of experts on all the national territory, to assist farmers and agricultural entrepreneurs technically. After 30 years of operation in Italy, P4 created the Sustainability Research and Innovation department, which identified a research strategy based on three main research lines: (i) circular economy for innovative products and optimisation of resources along the agro-food supply chain, (ii) applied agricultural research to address challenges of agro-systems towards sustainable transition, and (iii) improvement of sustainable business models to increase the resilience to external risks.

What they do

TIMAC AGRO is a professional in crop nutrition. The production sites offer a wide range of innovative products (granular, water-soluble and foliar) to satisfy all the nutritional needs of plants. We use all our technical expertise and scientific legacy to enrich our products with new performance levels and adjust them to the specific field and environment requirements of your operation. Our liability is guaranteed by the CMI Roullier. In this 5000 m2 laboratory, the research team works closely with researchers from major international universities, continuously studying natural physiological mechanisms to find new and efficient technologies.

Role in the project

The research staff involved, led by Dr. Daniel El Chami, will be in charge of WP5, dealing with the (i) analysis and characterisation of recovered products, (ii) the identification of fertilizer formulas and the preparation of fertilizers based on recovered products, (iii) assessment of fertilizers quality, (iv) coordination of SLCA and CEA. It will be also involved in WP6.

Integrated Water
Service division
Italy

Website
www.mmspa.eu
Contact
c.brioschi@mmspa.eu

Who they are

MM is a public-owned company responsible for integrated water service in the city of Milan (Italy). In one of the two operated large-scale wastewater treatment plants (> 1 M population equivalent) is operating a pilot-scale plant for the incineration of self-produced sewage.

What they do

MM – Integrated Water Service Division is responsible for the collection, treatment and distribution of potable water, and for the collection and treatment of waste water from sewers, before releasing it into the environment. MM promotes innovation, development and new technologies by carrying out studies and research in Italy and abroad, with Universities, Research Institutes and technical-scientific Associations. PHOSTER activities take place at San Rocco Wastewater treatment plant in Milan, where MM has implemented the existing sludge line with a new pilot section for energy valorization and material recovery from sludge, carried out through thermal oxidation in a fluidised bed furnace.

Role in the project

MM staff, led by Ms. Chiara Brioschi, will mainly contribute in WP1, by operating a pilot-scale incineration plant in continuity with the University of Ljubljana. Then, it will support Politecnico di Milano for phosphorus extraction in WP2. Finally, it will provide information for economic and environmental assessment on sewage sludge treatment and disposal (WP5) and it will be involved in WP6.

Rea Dalmine
Italy

Website
www.greenthesisgroup.com
Contact
elio.porcedda@greenthesisgroup.com

Who they are

REA Dalmine is a private company based in the area of Milan (Italy), operating a large-scale plant for the incineration of solid waste. The expertise concerns the operation of solid waste incineration plants and the management of solid waste at the regional scale.

What they do

The Rea Dalmine plant receives waste from a catchment area equivalent to 700 thousand inhabitants and can satisfy the annual domestic energy needs of more than 110 thousand people. REA DALMINE is part of the GTH, the first Italian listed independent pure player in the integrated environmental services sector. The Group is an unicum that covers the entire value chain in the integrated management of urban and industrial waste cycle.

GTH is committed to being a constant reference point for technological innovation capacity and a systemic approach to environmental services, in order to guarantee the progress of all Group companies and the growth of all the people who work with us. In the awareness that environmental resources represent a primary asset for the community, GTH aim to combine the conduct of our business and the creation of value with environmental protection through the continuous improvement and innovation of our services.

Role in the project

Rea Dalmine staff involved, led by Mr. Elieto Porcedda, will mainly contribute within WP6 by providing support in relation to (i) the control of operating conditions and processes in incineration plants and (ii) the economic evaluation based on expertise in waste management (logistics for transport, storage and compliance with the regulatory framework). It will be also involved in WP5.