Every year, up to 10 kg per capita of toilet paper is wasted in the sewage and then metabolised in the activated sludge process, contributing to the increase of energy consumption and sludge disposal in municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTP). Despite their added value, cellulose fibers contained in toilet paper are an untapped resource, which might be efficiently recovered from the sieving of municipal wastewater and biologically converted into platform chemicals (volatile fatty acids), biopolymers (polyhydroxyalkanoates) and ingredients for animal feed (single cell proteins).
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WP4
Project Management and DisseminationWP1
Characterization of Cellulosic Primary Sludge (CPS) and assessment of pretreatment methodsWP2
Control and optimization of Volatile Fatty Acids (VFAs) and Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) production from CPS, including extraction and purificationWP3
Assessment of microbial communities via metagenomic analyses and evaluation of PHAs biomass for aquacultureREFRAME IMPACT
Application and exploitation of the innovation
Revolutionizing wastewater treatment, is it possible? Yes, step by step, with smart upgrades. One of the first impactful actions we can take is applying filtration before wastewater enters the treatment plant. Filtration is a physical separation process that removes suspended solids by passing water through a fine mesh or porous material. Unlike traditional sedimentation, which […]
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In response to the new EU Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive, the REFRAME project is working to transform traditional Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs) into Water Resource Recovery Facilities (WRRFs). Our mission aligns with several key articles of the directive, including Art. 11, and Arts. 14, 15, and 20. 🔋 1. Boosting Energy Efficiency How can REFRAME […]
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Urban Wastewater: The EU Gets an Upgrade Why this matters: the old rules were established back in 1991, a time when environmental concerns and technological capabilities were vastly different from today. Over the past three decades, significant advancements have been made in understanding and managing what we flush, making an update crucial. To […]
Read moreDo you know how much energy it takes to treat the water you use every day? Way more than you think! As we saw in the previous article, wastewater treatment plants are essential for both the environment and public health, but they come with a hidden cost: they consume massive amounts of energy! ➡️ Treating […]
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Ever wondered what happens to wastewater after it disappears down the drain? 🚽 Let’s explore how treatment plants transform dirty water into a safe, reusable resource for the environment! 🌊 WHAT ARE URBAN WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS? Wastewater is used water that contains various substances, including human waste, food scraps, oils, soaps, and chemicals. In households, […]
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📉 THE PROBLEM Did you know that the average European uses about 100 toilet paper rolls annually? Americans use even more: 140 rolls per person. In China, 50 rolls are used per person, but their total consumption stretches over 6.5 billion km, which, from a NASA perspective, means that the length of this ‘unrolled toilet […]
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Through our European project REFRAME, we aim to do more than just share milestones and challenges We want to bring the knowledge of water treatment to everyone, not just scientists! Water is a precious resource that we use every day: to drink, to clean, to refresh. But where does it go once it’s been used? […]
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Presentazione di Federico Micolucci Ore 15:20 – Ottimizzazione energetica e recupero di risorse dai depuratori urbani: il progetto europeo REFRAME al Convegno su TRATTAMENTO ACQUE REFLUE ED EFFICIENTAMENTO NELLA PRODUZIONE DI ENERGIA RINNOVABILE DA FANGHI E SOTTOPRODOTTI Convegno Gratuito in Presenza (3 CFP) Giovedì 17 Ottobre 2024 | 13:45 – 17:30 SALA RESPIGHI // PALAEXPO […]
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SIDISA 2024 (XII International Symposium on Environmental Engineering) in Palermo is a premier event for environmental engineering professionals, addressing topics related to water, air, soil, and waste management. The symposium highlights advanced treatment technologies, sustainable development, the circular economy, and climate change mitigation. It serves as a platform for sharing scientific research and practical experiences, […]
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When toilet paper enters our wastewater, it reaches wastewater treatment facilities. While toilet paper is biodegradable, it undergoes a more…
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Reframe is the new scientific project funded by the European Union and led by the University of Verona, which transforms waste into resources
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