Admnistrador

The four year investigation has come to an end with the following results:

• 80% reduction of footprint for the technology implementation, i.e compact treatment systems compared to conventional treatments, such as a conventional activated sludge (CAS).
• AGS CAPEX resulted 20-50% lower than CAS for the treatment of high strength wastewater.
• Total costs savings calculated for AGS and MBBR prototypes ranged between 49-51%, compared to the current DAF technology, including the additional investment required to renovate the plant. If only OPEX is considered, savings reach 72%.
• Important reduction in estimated environmental welfare damage in both biofilm-based technologies for the case of eutrophication.
  • AGS decrease up to 74% the expected value of damage to river ecosystem and nearly 90% in the case of marine ecosystems
  • MBBR decrease 65% expected value of damage to river ecosystem and 70% in the case of marine ecosystems
• The results of DOQ and Nitrogen removal for the different technologies have reached:
  • MBBR system. Removal efficiency higher than 70% (COD and N) in low-strength wastewater treatment.
  • AGS system. On the one hand, COD removal efficiency of 70-80% and up to 90% of total nitrogen in low-strength wastewater treatment. On the other hand, COD removal efficiency of 80-90% and between 30-40% of total nitrogen removal in high-strength wastewater treatment.

The monitoring of the benthonic ecosystem demonstrated the need to implement sustainable and effective technologies for the treatment of complex fish canning wastewaters. Biofilm-based technologies are suitable and efficient alternative systems for the treatment of biodegradable industrial wastewaters, including fish canning wastewater, dairy industry and other effluents from the food and beverage sector. The complete breakdown of results can be consulted in the Layman’s Report of the proyect.

LIFE SEACAN contributes to the achievement of EU policy with regard to Water Framework Directive and the challenges in the water sector through i) policy making, ii) technical solutions, iii) management solutions, iv) social responsibility

The positive effects of the proposed treatment technologies have been assessed using several key performance indicators, including a specific monitoring study of the benthic ecosystem has provided for the first time direct quantification of environmental benefits. The main objectives of the project have been accomplished following specific sub-tasks:

1. Demonstration
   Feasibility of applying biofilm-based wastewater treatment systems to reduce the impact of the effluents generated from industrial facilities of fish canneries located in coastal zones.
2. Monitoring
   Technical and environmental performance of two biofilm based processes treating in parallel the same fish cannery effluent.
3. Assessment
   Impacts of the new treatment systems on diversity of invertebrates around the discharge point, and function of benthic assemblages compared both to the initial situation and to pristine areas.
   Advantages of each biofilm process in terms of effluent quality and process robustness, considering technical, economic and environmental perspectives.
4. Identification
   Specific features for the application of the two biofilm-based treatment alternatives and comparison with the existing treatment on site
5. Dissemination
   Main outcomes and lessons learned from the project will be transferred to potential end users in other EU areas that will be identified.
6. Elaboration
   Good practice manual with regard to wastewater treatment in the fish canning industry, focused on innovative processes.

LIFE SEACAN has demonstrate the potential of two innovative biofilm-based technologies (aerobic granular sludge and hybrid bioreactors) which have been implemented to decrease the impact of industrial activity on marine ecosystems. Biofilm-based systems have been successfully applied in several industrial sectors, but the application to fish canning effluents has not been reported yet. However, preliminary tests have shown a remarkable high effluent quality with simultaneous reduction of energy consumption and carbon footprint, compared to conventional wastewater treatment technologies:

• • Reduction of energy consumption by at least 20%.
  • Improvement of the effluent quality: up to 90% and 95% of nitrogen and organic matter removal, respectively.
  • 25% lower footprint.

LIFE SEACAN prototype has been implemented in a representative fish cannery industry located in Galicia, where almost 80% of Spanish fish canning industries are gathered. The potential benefits over marine environment preservation have been quantified and evaluated in Rías Baixas, the most adequate environment for a reliable demonstration.
Duration: September 2015 – October 2019
Budget: 1,722,373€ / 1,033,123€ funded by European Comission