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Bio-Based Workshop and Documentary Night in Vienna: Exploring Innovative Waste Management Solutions

On February 29, 2024, our project partner alchemia-nova hosted a bio-based workshop in Vienna to tackle social and legal barriers while raising awareness about innovative waste management solutions. The public event aimed to attract diverse audiences and kicked off with a screening of the documentary HOLY SHIT! Can Poop Save the World?. This film provided insights into the problems of human wastewater streams and showcased global best practices and trails for utilizing human waste.

The event began with a presentation by Sarah Tariq Gilani (Project and Communication Manager, alchemia-nova) who introduced the DEEP PURPLE project. She detailed the demo sites, processes, and five bio-based products developed by the project.

Sarah Tariq Gilani presenting the DEEP PURPLE project

The presentation was followed by the screening of the documentary Holy Shit! Can Poop Save the World?.

The DEEP PURPLE project explores innovative ways to convert biowaste into valuable bio-based products, perfectly aligning with the themes of the documentary. Holy Shit! Can Poop Save the World? delves into the significant potential of human waste as a resource, highlighting the environmental and economic benefits of reusing human excreta.

By screening this documentary, the DEEP PURPLE raised awareness about sustainable waste management practices. The film illustrates the transformation of human waste into useful products like fertilizers and biogas, mirroring DEEP PURPLE’s goals of creating a circular economy. Both initiatives emphasize the importance of overcoming societal taboos and legal barriers to leverage waste as a valuable resource, contributing to environmental sustainability and reducing dependence on fossil fuels.

Screening of the documnetary, Holy Shit! How Poop Can Save The World?

Rubén Abruñ shares his inspiration behind making this documentary.

Panel discussion on the topic, 'The Taboo of Reusing Poo: Breaking Down Social and Legal Barriers (Progress in Austria, the EU, and Globally) — Panel discussion on the topic, ‘The Taboo of Reusing Poo: Breaking Down Social and Legal Barriers (Progress in Austria, the EU, and Globally)

After the screening, Rubén Abruña, the director, shared his inspiration behind creating this unique documentary. He spoke about his personal experiences with composting toilets and the realization of the untapped potential of human waste. His motivation stemmed from a desire to address environmental issues and to challenge societal perceptions around human excreta, aiming to foster a more sustainable and eco-friendly approach to waste management.

This was followed by a panel discussion featuring local industry experts and the director of the documentary. Moderated by Helen Dolinsek (Project Manager and Stakeholder Engagement Specialist, alchemia-nova) the panel included Rubén Abruña (Director of the documentary), Heinz Gattringer (Senior Developer at alchemia-nova), Veronika Reinberg (Wissenschaftliche Mitarbeiterin, ÖGUT ) and Nikolaos Bogianzidis (Founder and CEO of öKlo).
Key Takeaways from the Panel Discussion

Feasibility of Reusing Waste: The panel emphasized the potential of reusing nutrients and materials from waste products, including human excreta, to transition from a linear, fossil-based economy to a circular, bio-based economy. Utilizing waste can prevent ecosystem contamination and contribute to sustainability.
Social and Legal Barriers: Implementing waste reuse solutions faces significant social and legal challenges that need to be addressed to make progress.
Diverse Applications of Biowaste: The DEEP PURPLE project demonstrated various technologies for value creation from biowaste, including producing biogas, substrates, fertilizers, reclaimed water, and even cosmetics. The potential of liquid waste components like urine for applications such as algae cultivation was also highlighted.
Nutrient Management: Heinz from alchemia-nova stressed the importance of phosphorus management in addressing climate change. He warned about the rapid depletion of phosphorus and urged significant research and solutions for sustainable nutrient management.
Public Perception and Behavior: Nikolaos from öKlo discussed the importance of comfort and convenience in waste management practices and highlighted the need to reconsider traditional sanitation methods in light of water scarcity.
Technological and Environmental Impact: Heinz addressed concerns about contaminants in human faeces and the environmental impact of phosphorus mining. He emphasized the need to balance the benefits and drawbacks of current waste management practices.
Excluding Contaminants: Veronica from ÖGUT highlighted the necessity of excluding persistent compounds and heavy metals from wastewater to ensure safe recycling processes.
Local and Global Challenges: Participants shared personal experiences and examples of local and global challenges in wastewater management, emphasizing the need for improved infrastructure and practices.

Interactive Display and Social Acceptance Study
After the panel discussion, products derived from the DEEP PURPLE project were displayed at the venue. Attendees could engage with these tangible outcomes and participate in a social acceptance study. The event concluded with discussions on other potential solutions and barriers to implementing waste streams within value chains, especially human excreta.

The workshop highlighted the importance of recognizing waste as a valuable resource and the need for innovative solutions to manage it sustainably. Participants and experts shared a vision of transitioning to a circular economy, emphasizing the critical role of research, technological advancements, and public awareness in achieving this goal.

The bio-based workshop in Vienna successfully raised awareness about the potential of human waste utilization and addressed significant social and legal barriers. By showcasing innovative solutions and fostering discussions among experts and the public, the event contributed to the ongoing efforts to create a more sustainable and healthier world.

The alchemia-nova team behind the bio-based workshop

Exploring Sustainable Agriculture: Engaging Local Farmers in Linares, Spain.

Local farmers and agricultural cooperatives convened at the Linares demo site for an informative session that included a tour of the demonstrative photobiorefinery. The session was led by Aqualia‘s Victor Monsalvo, Javier Delgado, Patricia Zamora, and Daniel Puyol from the University Rey Juan Carlos– The goal of the session was to highlight the possible advantages of using biomass from photobiorefineries (PPBs) as a starting point for biofertilizers.
As a teaching aid, the demonstrative photobiorefinery gave participants a close-up look at the procedures used to turn PPB biomass into biofertilizers. The DEEP PURPLE team emphasized this novel technique’s environmental and sustainability benefits.
Plans are in place to start prospective field trials in the future. Verifying the suitability of PPB biomass as a raw material for the industrial manufacture of biofertilizers will be a major task accomplished by these trials. This is a big step in the right direction for the agricultural industry to really use bioproducts from biorefineries.
As local farmers explore new avenues for enhancing the efficiency and sustainability of their practices, The utilization of PPB biomass in biofertilizer production not only presents an eco-friendly solution but also opens doors to a more circular and sustainable agricultural model.

Inauguration of Deep Purple Project’s Photobiorefinery at Linares Treatment Plant

Linares, October 2, 2023 – A momentous occasion unfolded today as the photobiorefinery of the Deep Purple project was officially inaugurated at the Linares Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP). This pioneering venture is founded on Aqualia ANPHORA® technology, representing a game-changing approach to cost-effective wastewater purification through the use of purple bacteria. The ceremony was graced by the presence of notable figures, including Mayor Mª Auxiliadora Del Olmo, Secretary of State for the Environment Hugo Morán, Territorial Delegate of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development in Jaén Soledad Aranda, and Luisa Mascia, Project Officer from the Circular Bio-Based Europe Joint Undertaking of the European Commission.

The Deep Purple project’s primary objective is to harness wastewater as a valuable energy resource, simultaneously enhancing the sustainability of the treatment process and championing the principles of the circular economy. Through this initiative, bioproducts are generated from wastewater, adding an innovative dimension to environmental protection and resource management.

This international undertaking, led by Aqualia’s R&D team and co-financed by the Bio-Based Industries Joint Undertaking (BBI-JU) under the European Horizon 2020 Programme, brings together a consortium of 14 entities from six countries, with a total budget of 9.5 million euros. Notably, Aqualia’s investment of over €650,000 has culminated in the construction of the world’s largest 100% solar anaerobic photobiorefinery at the Linares WWTP, solidifying the town’s global presence in this pioneering field.

Víctor Monsalvo, Project Coordinator and head of Aqualia’s Eco-efficiency Area, and Patricia Zamora, Project Head of Deep Purple, highlighted the project’s core objective: the purification of wastewater without conventional energy usage, instead relying on sunlight and purple bacteria. This groundbreaking approach positions the Linares facility as the world’s largest photobiorefinery employing ANPHORA® technology, further reinforcing its commitment to sustainability.

The infrastructure has an impressive treatment capacity of 350 m3 per day for urban wastewater. ANPHORA® technology, a collaborative development by Aqualia and the Rey Juan Carlos University, has been patented in Europe and is currently undergoing evaluation for protection in the United States.

Beyond its impressive scale, this facility exemplifies the principles of the circular economy by demonstrating how valuable products can be extracted from wastewater and urban biowaste resources. The plant yields up to 440 tons of bioproducts annually for commercial applications, with the added benefit of an annual reduction of 11,300 tons of CO2 emissions.