VEnvirotech is developing the R&D project “FANGS – Valorization of sewage sludge into biodegradable bioplastics,” funded through the TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION HUBS grant program to carry out Industrial Research and Experimental Development (R&D) projects in the field of the circular economy.
The FANGOS project
The main objective of the project is to valorize abundant waste from Catalan industries into bioplastic, focusing the project on the treatment of sewage sludge from various industries, including agri-food, meat, and coffee-producing industries.
To achieve this objective, VEnvirotech’s proprietary technologies are used to transform organic waste through a process of fermentation, accumulation, and finally bioplastic extraction.
ACCIÓ Funding – Technological Innovation Hubs
The objective is to carry out Industrial Research and Experimental Development (R&D) projects. Circular Economy projects. This program, managed by ACCIÓ, provides significant financial support for new high-risk technological products or services. Companies can apply for a grant of up to 250,000 euros to address the technological and ecological transformation that our society needs.
At VEnvirotech, we are committed to sustainability, transforming organic waste into innovative bioplastics. Thanks to the support of ACCIÓ, we have made significant progress in our project “Valorization of Sewage Sludge into Biodegradable Bioplastics” (File No.: RDECR19-1-0005).
Project Objectives: The main objective of our project is to valorize abundant waste from Catalan industries, specifically sewage sludge, by transforming it into bioplastic. We use proprietary technologies that include fermentation, accumulation, and bioplastic extraction.
Project Development: The project is divided into five key stages:
Acidogenic Fermentation: Transformation of sludge into fermented products rich in volatile fatty acids (VFAs).
Selection of PHA-Producing Bacteria: Optimization of bacteria to improve PHA accumulation.
Development of Bacterial Maintenance and Inoculation Methods: Crucial for process efficiency.
PHA Extraction and Purification: Use of safe and effective techniques.
Industrial Scale-Up: Evaluation of the process in continuous reactors.
Results Achieved: We have made significant progress, including:
Development of methods to ferment sludge and obtain VFAs.
Selection and optimization of PHA-producing bacteria.
Development of an effective method for bacterial inoculation and storage.
Successful scale-up at industrial level.
We extend our sincerest thanks to ACCIÓ and the Waste Agency of Catalonia for their invaluable support in this project.