Last week, the PHA2USE project was concluded at the Greenwise Campus Innovation Center, together with the consortium partners. This project has made a significant contribution to the scaling up of technologies for the production of PHA from sewage sludge and has shown that this can be a viable business model.
Positive results
Over the past four years, five water boards have worked together with STOWA, HVC and Paques Biomaterials to scale up a process to produce a natural biodegradable plastic alternative from organic waste streams such as sewage sludge. This plastic alternative has been tested for various applications, including agricultural applications and self-healing concrete. The material proved to be particularly suitable for situations where good biodegradability is important, such as in the environment, soil and water. The positive results of this project form a solid basis for further development.
At waste and energy company HVC in Dordrecht, a test installation has been used over the past two years to produce PHA from fatty acid-rich residual flows. The process works as follows: bacteria feed on the fatty acids and convert them into a material that can serve as a substitute for plastic. This material is then removed from the PHA-rich flow, cleaned and converted into a powder. This powder is suitable as a natural alternative to plastic in various products.
During the trials at HVC, the material was produced in sufficient quantities to be tested by companies. This gave potential users the opportunity to assess whether the natural plastic replacement can be used in their products.
Collaboration as the key to success
The realization of this test installation was possible thanks to a unique collaboration between companies, governments and researchers. Ronald Hopman, director of Municipalities and Water Boards at HVC, explains: “Differences in approach can sometimes pose challenges. Companies often want quick results, while governments have a long-term vision. By making clear agreements about who does what and discussing each other's interests properly, these differences have not become an obstacle. Thanks to the joint effort to convert residual flows into valuable, circular materials, important steps could be taken. Both the water boards and Paques Biomaterials played a major role in this.”
An example for the future
The PHA2USE project shows that the process is promising for water boards. It offers a way to extract more value from sludge at wastewater treatment plants. This fits in seamlessly with the sustainability objectives of the water boards, says Bas Peeters, chairman of the PHA2USE steering group and board member of Waterschap De Dommel. “This project fits perfectly with our ambition to be climate neutral by 2035 and fully circular by 2050,” he says. “We currently convert part of the sludge into biogas. But by converting it into a plastic alternative, we ensure a truly circular process and the sludge becomes even more valuable.”
Peeters emphasizes that there is still work to be done: "We have to convert the foundation we have laid with this project into a concrete investment. A new factory can be an example for all water boards."
Photos: SuSanA Secretariat
Source: Paques Biomaterials
