The DAM Chair held on December 3 the Second Edition of the Scientific-Technical Conference "Wastewater as a source of resources"
During the event, 10 presentations were presented that addressed the current situation, challenges and future problems facing the sector and successful stories in the reuse and recovery of resources.
“The progress towards the sustainability and reuse of resources experienced by the wastewater sector in recent years is a case of success in adapting to the principles of Circular Economy and it should be taken as a reference for other areas involved in this change of paradigm. The reuse of treated wastewater and any product obtained from it (bioplastics, biostimulants, struvite, etc.) requires to ensure the safety of these products or those obtained after their application. This reuse is threatened by the presence of new contaminants such as microplastics, emerging substances or antibiotic resistant genes. Therefore, it is necessary to develop technologies that ensure the security of the resources recovered in a sustainable and socially accepted way.”
In this way, the representatives of the DAM Chair of Integral Management and Resource Recovery of Wastewater of the University of Valencia, Alberto Bouzas and Laura Pastor, during the closing of the Second Scientific-Technical Conference “Wastewater as a source of resources”, held on December 3 in Valencia.
In the meeting, which brought together more than 120 attendees, various research channels that promote the reuse and recovery of resources were discussed.
The meeting served to analyze the current situation, challenges and future problems facing the sector and address, through the presentation of different projects and case studies, various research routes that promote the reuse and recovery of resources.
“In the conference hold in 2018, it was clear that the purification and reuse should be addressed from the integral management, environmental sustainability and efficiency in the use of this resource. In this sense, in this second edition we have observed great progress in this regard and that allow us to face with optimism and excellent perspectives, the transition from the traditional WWTP of elimination of resources towards a system of valuation and generation of opportunities”, affirmed the DAM Chair.
“The event was inaugurated by the Vice-Principal of Innovation of the UV, Mª Dolores Real, who highlighted the importance of R & D & I in the wastewater sector and the need for sustainable solutions”
The event was inaugurated by the Vice-Principal of Innovation and Transfer of the University of Valencia, Mª Dolores Real, who thanked the organizers for holding these types of meetings that value the importance of R & D & I in the sector of wastewater and the need for sustainable solutions.
In the first block Ismael Abel, expert in “Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Development”, reviewed in his presentation “Beyond the transfer, circulating knowledge to enhance the Circular Economy”, the main aspects that make up the “Knowledge Economy”, highlighting that innovation must combine aspects such as talent and sustainability.
For his part, Javier Oliver (Tyris Software) presented the study: "Applications of Artificial Intelligence in the integral water cycle", where he explained the main functions and characteristics of "machine-learning" (methods of mass data processing), highlighting its potential and usefulness in the water sector.
Silvia Lacorte (Department of Environmental Chemistry, IDAEA-CSIC), closed the first block of papers talking about a current topic such as microplastics. In his talk “Microplastics in waters: definition, analysis and environmental distribution”, he discussed the existing problem about this material, the historical context in which it is extended and the methodology that is being developed in its research center for its analysis and rapid ID.
After the coffee break, Nicola Frison (University of Verona) opened the second block of papers with his study "Production of bio-based products from organic waste and municipal wastewater", in which he recounted the experiences and results obtained in certain projects carried out by its research center.
For his part, Manuel Tejada (University of Seville) highlighted in his speech "The use of biostimulants obtained from sewage sludge", the advantages of biocomposting over the elimination of heavy metals and odors.
On the other hand, Daniel Aguado (CALAGUA-IIAMA Group) explained the characteristics and advantages over the environment and the sustainability of the research: “Study of the incorporation of OFUSW in the treatment of wastewater through anaerobic membranes”.
It was the “King Jaume I Award for New Technologies 2016” Hermenegildo García (ITQ-UPV), who closed this second block of presentations explaining the main aspects and advantages of the “Conversion of CO2 into methane using catalysts”.
The third and final block was inaugurated by the “King Jaume I Prize for Environmental Protection 2011”, Sixto Malato (Solar Platform of Almería: CIEMAT), who detailed the factors that cause the water stress suffered by the Southeast of Spain and the possible solutions in this regard in his research, "Treatment of effluents through advanced oxidation processes based on solar radiation: a new water resource for arid regions?"
Sara Rodríguez (ICRA) told the fundamental contents of the research “Elimination or persistence of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes during wastewater treatment”.
Finally, José Antonio Mendoza (ISIRYM-UPV) closed the presentations of this second conference organized by the DAM Chair, with his presentation "Application of direct osmosis to wastewater treatment", where he explained the characteristics and advantages of this technique
After the presentations, the conference was closed by the Director of the Chair, Alberto Bouzas, and Laura Pastor, responsible for the Innovation Department of the DAM company, who thanked the speakers and public for their participation in the conference, placing them to the III edition in 2020.
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