Pablo de Olavide University (UPO) participates in the European Valzeo research project, which aims to design and develop a sustainable method for its use. rice husk ash as a resource for elaborating materials that serve For purification of contaminated water and production of biodiesel. The UPO research team is coordinated by the Autonomous University of Barcelona.
An average of 3.1 million tons of paddy is produced annually in the European Union (80% in Italy and Spain). Each ton can produce 200 kilos of rice husk, from which approximately 40 kilos of CCA (rice husk ash, a by-product from the combustion of rice husk) is obtained.
On the whole planet, the amount rises to 37 million tons and In the 2022-2030 period, the annual growth rate will be 5%. “This large volume of CCA has become a major challenge for landfills, where they eventually accumulate, becoming serious pollutants due to their effects on the respiratory system of humans and animals,” said the UPO.
However, the high silicon content of these ashes makes them highly attractive for obtaining silica, silicon chips, additives in the manufacture of rubber and in insulation and construction materials, among other uses.
The “relevant scientific and technological motivation” at Valzeo is to “develop” zeolite photocatalysts and adsorbents by increasing their stability and entrapment properties.
“This leads to a Increasing the efficiency of using sunlight in the fight against water pollution This is due to persistent organic compounds such as pharmaceuticals, pesticides and dyes, as well as other pollutants that occur due to their difficult degradation in wastewater treatment plants. In this way, a clean and sustainable water treatment alternative is provided to the community,” says the team of researchers.
Biodiesel with used cooking oil
On the other hand, Valzeo developing new low-cost heterogeneous zeolite catalysts to produce biodiesel using used cooking oil. These fuels will have net zero CO2 emissions for a demand expected to increase from 1.86 million tons to 16.68 million tons per year. In total, it is estimated that around four million tonnes of used cooking oil is produced annually in the European Union, which could be used for the expected 14% increase in the use of renewable fuels in transportation.
As Professor Ruiz Salvador explains, “For Pablo de Olavide University, participation in Valzeo means a new contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a support for the development of functional materials with the perspective of presenting research results to Andalusian and European companies in general.
It also provides participating students the opportunity to deal with issues of high environmental and socioeconomic impact and encourages scientific and technological exchange of UPO researchers with their peers from other European and Latin American centres.”
Valzeo has around one million euros in financing and is in line with the SDGs to “ensure the availability and sustainable management and sanitation of water for all” and “produce clean and affordable energy”. In addition to two Spanish universities, Universitá Politenica delle Marche (Italy) has the participation of Spanish company AERIS Tecnologías Ambientales, Irish company Sutaineable Innovation Technology Services Limited and Public and private organizations as business partners. Havana (Cuba), Indio Hatuey Pastures and Forages Experiment Station (Cuba), Grain Research Institute (Cuba) and ZPrime Limited (UK).
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Contact details of the environment department: [email protected]