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Production of biochars for sustainable wastewater treatment and reuse in agriculture

EUTeens4Green Team

05/05/2023 19:04

💡 Description: "My idea is the research and development of a new biochar material from organic waste and its application in beneficial
uses.
"My idea is the research and development of a new biochar material from organic waste and its application in beneficial
uses. The project has to do with the production of biochar from agricultural waste biomass (olive tree waste) and from
municipal wastewater sludge, two waste sources largely generated in our region of Crete. Biochar is a beneficial carbonrich material with multiple agricultural and environmental applications, valuable as soil amendment by augmenting the
retention of fertilizers and it encourages beneficial microorganisms. It also has the ability to remediate organic and
inorganic contaminants. Therefore, the produced biochar will be tested as substrate in a green wastewater treatment
technology called Constructed Wetlands. This green technology imitates natural processes and utilizes only natural
materials, bringing an up to 90% reduced energy consumption compared to the conventional wastewater treatment
technologies. This is crucial as we need to move to low-carbon technologies, especially in regions like Crete and other
islands that still largely rely on fossil fuels for energy production. The use of biochar as substrate in constructed
wetlands will be tested in terms of treatment efficiency improvement. Moreover, the treated wastewater will be reused in a
small irrigation field where the biochar will also be tested as soil amendment, in an effort to promote a greener approach
of agriculture and reduce the use of expensive and unsustainable commercial fertilizers. The whole project idea is to
design a circular wastewater management scheme using novel organic materials and green technologies and practices, as a
low-carbon wastewater management model for our region"
🎯 Target Group
🌱 Expected Results: "3 pilot scale units construction
1 report with research results summary
1 conference participation to present project results"
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