Horizon Europe's WaterProof develops carbon capture and utilization process to convert CO2 from waste incineration into renewable formic acid to replace fossil feedstock in consumer products and for precious metals recovery; project promotes circularity

The incineration of waste and wastewater sludge and the treatment of waste streams lead to high greenhouse gas emissions. By this, CO₂ is released into the atmosphere contributing to global warming and climate change. Currently, carbon capture and storage (CCS) is the subject of lively debate as a solution for eliminating CO₂ emissions. However, by merely storing carbon, a valuable renewable resource is lost for application by the chemical industry. Therefore, carbon capture and utilisation (CCU) is a sensible approach for replacing fossil feedstock with carbon from greenhouse gas emissions.

WaterProof is currently developing an electrochemical process that converts CO₂ emissions captured from consumer waste incineration and wastewater treatment facilities into formic acid. This renewable formic acid can be applied in valuable green consumer products, e.g. as decalcifying agent in cleaning products, and for the tanning of (fish) leather. Furthermore, WaterProof uses formic acid for the generation of acidic deep eutectic solvents (ADES) that can be applied for the recovery of precious metals from wastewater sludge and incineration ash. As the electrochemical process aims to utilise renewable energy, the process will contribute to a clean water-cycle with zero emissions. Furthermore, the renewable WaterProof process supports the sustainable transition of the EU by defossilising the chemical industry and by becoming more independent from fossil imports.

WaterProof now presents its complex and groundbreaking process in a project video:

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WaterProof is a four-year project with an international and multidisciplinary consortium of 11 partners under the lead of Avantium. More information on the project can be found here: https://waterproof-project.eu/

The WaterProof project is funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Health and Digital Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

Source

nova-Institute, press release, 2024-01-10.

Supplier

Avantium Technologies B.V.
Coatema Coating Machinery
CTA Centro de Ciencia y Tecnologia de Antioquia
Ecover
European Commission
European Union
FUNDITEC
Horizon 2020
HVC Group
IZES gGmbH
Nordic Fishleather EHF Iceland
nova-Institut GmbH
Stichting Waternet BV
Tecnalia Corp

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