The cork used like a wine sector wastewater treatment

Researchers of the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya - BarcelonaTech (UPC) employ cork waste generated by wine industry as fuel for electricity generation as well as for wastewater treatment, has informed this Thursday the Manresa Technology Centre Eurecat-CTM in a release.

In addition to UPC, other entities participate in the project Life Ecorkwaste, with a budget of two millions euros, which counts with the participation of the European Union (EU), the company Typsa, the Catalan Cork Institute and Innovi Catalan Wine Cluster.

The objective of this research initiative is to demonstrate the effectiveness of an artificial wetland, filled with cork waste particles,as winery wastewater treatment system.

The cork will be employed as absorbing material of organic contaminants, which are difficult to be eliminated with conventional treatment systems. This, in turn, will improve the quality of waste effluent from cellars.

Furthermore, cork waste particles will be used as fuel in a thermal gasification process aimed at generating electricity. In this case, a part from cork waste reduction, clean thermal energy produced in this process can be employed within cork industry.

Two experimental pilot plants will be designed and constructed during the three years duration of the project: an artificial wetland will be deployed on the grounds of ‘cava’ producer Codorniu, as well as a gasification pilot plant will be implemented in the headquarters of Eurecat-CTM, in the city of Manresa.

The results of this research initiative,through technical solution implemented, will be assessed with special emphasis on theproject contribution to environmental and social improvements.