The Galician marine ecosystem is one of the most diverse in the world. Fishing and aquaculture activities represent 3% of the Gross Domestic Product of this community. In this sense, Galicia perfectly exemplifies the impact that wastewater treatment systems from the canning industry can achieve.
In a clear commitment to the conservation of the marine environment, the Life Seacan project, led by Cetaqua Galicia, has developed two technologies addressed to a sustainable management of wastewater from the canning industry. Under this premise, the development of these two technologies based on biofilm bioprocesses has allowed the reduction of the energy consumption of the treatment process and, consequently, its carbon footprint. Besides, an optimum effluent quality has been obtained which, finally, is discharged into the natural channel.
Specifically, technologies based on biofilm processes, which have been developed and implemented throughout these four years of research, consist of a prototype of aerobic granular sludge, in which microorganisms, responsible for the biological elimination of pollutants from the wastewater, form compact aggregates called granules. On the other hand, it is the MBBR purification system, where microorganisms adhere to the surface of plastic supports forming the biofilm. These treatment systems are capable of purifying complex wastewater, thus contributing to the reduction of the impact of industrial activity on natural ecosystems and ensuring compliance with the discharge limits imposed by legislation.
In this context, Cetaqua Galicia organised in October 8th a project final event at Cidade da Cultura, in Santiago de Compostela (Spain). During this workshop, the project results were presented. Besides, since these technologies can be validated for their use in other sectors, such as dairy or winemaking, among others, its application in other fields of action was also discussed.
This event combined perspectives from different entities, both public and private, that share an environmental commitment. So, the day has been enriched thanks to the presence of the partners of the LIFE SEACAN project: Cetaqua , Universidade de Vigo and Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, in addition to the presence and participation of companies from the food and beverage sector such as CAPSA FOOD, CONDES DE ALBAREI or COCA-COLA EUROPEAN PARTNERS IBERIA, as well as other entities such as Augas de Galicia, ANFACO-CECOPESCA and FIAB. This broad vision has allowed expanding the initial spectrum and forging new commitments towards increasingly sustainable management of treatment processes.