Project: Intelligent Reclaim Irrigation System
General description:_x000D_Water and minerals are critical factors for food production worldwide. The demand for water grows faster than the world population. In the coming bio-based economy, anticipated to emerge in the 21st century, agriculture will become as an even more intensive water user. This means that, in situations of relative scarcity, competition between the different user groups (agriculture, municipalities and industry) will be strong. The value of nutrients in reclaimed water can be an important economic consideration, particularly as the cost of fertilizers increases with the cost of energy used to produce them. _x000D_When incorporating nutrients from reclaimed water in irrigation fertilization plans it is also important to account for the timing of application since the relatively constant, low dosage provided by irrigation with reclaimed water may not supply the right amount of nutrient at the right phenological stage. The conventional wastewater treatment plants, usually use technology wich remove nutrients and spend lot of energy in this process. The energy cost in the conventional treatment plants is around 65% of the total cost. The biological treatment is the largest energy consumer with 63%. Thus, reducing the biological process, COtaining the nutrient and energy saving._x000D__x000D_This project is innovative because it reveals a new treatment of the water and utilization of minerals and energy for greenhouse application. The water treatment technology which will be developed will consist of: anaerobic membrane bioreactor, aerobic ultra filtration reactor and disinfection and removal of micropollutants._x000D__x000D_The project will be developed in four phases:_x000D_ 1. Development of the purification technology which reclaims water containing nutrients and CO2 from biogas._x000D_ 2. Development of sensor control system to control the minerals and pollutants._x000D_ 3. Development of the irrigation technology / greenhouse technology in relation to crop results._x000D_ 4. Assessment of food safety and HACCP standards._x000D__x000D_Market applications: _x000D_In the first place, the new product will be tested in Spain, where the national programmes aim to improve the efficiency of irrigation, change in irrigation practices and control of the infrastructure. In Europe, the Water framework Directive requires more sensors and more sophisticated networks to control water deposits and quality. The National Water Quality Plan 2007-2015 requires that advanced waste water treatment plants are used in small communities, therefore 3,600 new plants have been planned for small communities in sensitive areas. The CO business opportunities would seem to be for equipment and processes that can be incorporated into the prefabricated modules. On a second stage, the Ps will export this technology to other countries with similar climate conditions._x000D__x000D_Project consortium: _x000D_The application will be tested at the wastewater treatment plant of Roldan (province of Murcia). Murcia has been chosen because it is currently the only Spanish Region where more than 99% of domestic water is treated and reused, compared to a 13% of the Spanish average.The municipal authority is one of the Ps, ESAMUR (ES), and will operate the purification unit. RITEC (ES) is the co-ordinator and also responsible of developing the irrigation system, automation system and nutrient control system for the greenhouse. RUFEPA (ES) will create a new integrated intelligent greenhouse. CEBAS-CSIC (ES) will monitor the effects of application of the irrigation water on soil, crops and yield production. Hellebrekers (NL) has expertise in the field of waste water treatment technology and re-use technology. It designs and builds the project purification system.Capilix (NL) will apply microchip capillary electrophoresis technology and will be responsible of developing a sensor system for the assay of nitrate, phosphate and sulphate. Capilix will also develop and built an on line instrument to perform the pilot tests in Spain, in combination with the pilot waste water treatment plant._x000D__x000D_
| Acronym | IRIS (Reference Number: 6599) |
| Duration | 01/10/2011 - 31/03/2015 |
| Project Topic | The objective is to develop a water treatment system which reclaims water and utilizes nutrients from municipal wastewater for irrigation purposes. The system will treat domestic wastewater from small villages. It will connect waste to food production with modern technology. |
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Project Results (after finalisation) |
As the Capilix company has been taken over and the people involved in this project have all left, it is difficult to say. Metrohm Applikon will take over the Capilix technology and further develop it. What has been done in this project has certainly helped in further improvement and development of a process CE measurement system._x000D_All the further questions are quite difficult to answer as there has only been a technology take-over. |
| Network | Eurostars |
| Call | Eurostars Cut-Off 6 |
Project partner
| Number | Name | Role | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | AGENCIA ESTATAL CONSEJO SUPERIOR DE INVESTIGACIONES CIENTIFICAS | Partner | Spain |
| 6 | CAPILIX, B.V. | Partner | Netherlands |
| 6 | ENTIDAD REG. SANEAMIENTO Y DEPURAC. AGUAS RESIDUALES REG. DE MURCIA | Partner | Spain |
| 6 | HELLEBREKERS INSTALLATIE- TECHNIEK NUNSEET B.V. | Partner | Netherlands |
| 6 | RIEGOS Y TECNOLOGIA, S.L. | Coordinator | Spain |
| 6 | RUFEPA TECNOAGRO, S.L. | Partner | Spain |