Looop has partnered with TORWASH, an innovative start-up that has developed a unique technology for more sustainable and efficient processing of sewage sludge. In a joint trial, the technology is now being tested within the Looop network.
Sewage sludge is created as a by-product in wastewater treatment plants and consists of about 80% water. In recent years, sludge processing has faced various challenges. In the Netherlands and other parts of Europe, processing capacity is often insufficient to handle the large amount of sludge produced. In addition, strict environmental legislation imposes high demands on the processing and use of sewage sludge. In almost all cases, sludge is therefore treated as a waste stream and burned in incinerators, which is a costly and non-sustainable solution.
TORWASH, a spin-off from TNO, has developed a unique process where the sludge is heated energy-neutrally and treated under high pressure. This process changes the physical properties of the sludge, making it easier to extract water mechanically without the use of chemicals. The result is a product that is significantly drier than conventional sludge.
Drier sludge offers various advantages. Because it takes up less volume, fewer trucks are needed to transport it. In addition, the end product of the processing offers potential new applications such as use as a raw material in the green chemical industry, as fertiliser and for generating renewable energy. “Existing processing methods need to evaporate the water first. This is expensive and does not produce any reusable products or energy on balance. Our process both delivers substantial savings and utilises the value contained in the sludge,” says Levien de Legé, CEO and co-founder of TORWASH.
Following successful TORWASH trials at various water treatment plants in Almere and Land van Cuijk, among others, Looop and TORWASH are now moving forward together to test the technology at a food manufacturer. ”With this, we aim to support our suppliers in processing their residual streams more sustainably and efficiently, with a focus on both cost and process optimisation,” explains Imke Welzen, Business Developer Innovation. If the practical results are a success, the technology can be expanded further to other partners within the Looop network.