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Project title

An Integrated System to Mitigate Environmental Impact from Disposal of Difficult Ammoniacal Wastes and Residues

Primary Funding Agency

Environmental Protection Agency

Co-Funding Organisation(s)

n/a

Lead Organisation

National University of Ireland Galway (NUIG)

Lead Applicant

Vincent O'Flaherty

Project Abstract

REFERT will identify how technologies can be developed, adapted and integrated into an energy + nutrient recovery system to mitigate the environmental impact arising from disposal of difficult ammoniacal streams such as agricultural slurries, AD digestates, municipal wastewater and landfill leachates. The project will leverage results from previous research to scale up a method for efficient separation of solids that sufficiently clarifies liquor filtrates to enable use of advanced downstream processes to recover N and remove other contaminants, minimising environmental impact on liquor discharge. De-watering facilitates cost-effective aggregation of solids for optimal (centralised) energy/nutrient recovery. REFERT will investigate technology adaptations required to optimise energy recovery from N-charged solids via anaerobic digestion (AD) or advanced thermal technologies (ATT). It will investigate methods for recovery of N and P from both solid and liquor fractions, converting nutrients into safe saleable fertiliser forms that minimise loss and mitigate environmental impact when recycled back to land. It will outline the business models and commercial frameworks required to underpin wide deployment, reducing the cost and mitigating environmental impact of waste/ residue management, to make measurable contributions to Water Quality Framework, Air Quality Framework and 2030 Energy and Climate Change Framework objectives. Outputs will include: � Webpage to brief interested stakeholders on the REFERT topic � One infographic describing the project aims & objectives and one on completion of the project summarizing the main findings � A technical report which will include the detail methods and results from individual technology development/evaluation tasks � A synthesis report that will integrate the results and provide a techno-economic analysis of the issues to be addressed to support deployment � A policy briefs to be used to disseminate the findings of the research to key governmental stakeholders � A meeting with relevant governmental stakeholders to review outputs � At least 1 presentation at a conference/workshop to disseminate results to stakeholders � Post project at least 1 international peer-reviewed scientific paper on project results � An outline of an EU project that can be developed into an application to an EU funding programme to support concept demonstration

Grant Approved

�396,556.82

Research Hub

Natural Environment

Research Theme

Innovative water technologies

Start Date

14/01/2019

Initial Projected Completion Date

13/01/2021