This cross-cutting project, carried out by Sorigué’s Innovation Department under the title “Beyond Waste”, integrates two of the group's lines of business: construction and operation of infrastructure associated with the water cycle and waste management. The research is part of Sorigué’s strategic goal of exploring new options to promote the circular economy and transform waste into raw materials.

The Beyond Waste project aims to develop a technology to isolate and extract nanocellulose from the waste separated by the filtration of sludge at sewage treatment plants, before converting it into high-value raw material for industrial use.

The wastewater cycle
The wastewater that comes to treatment plants contains traces of materials from domestic waste, such as wet wipes, absorbent paper or tampons, which do not biodegrade easily. These waste products require the installation of filtration grids to prevent them from making it to the next stage of the treatment process where they could complicate the wastewater management process.

Wastewater treatment plants in Spain extract an estimated average of 4,500 kilos of this type of waste per day. This by-product contains damaged cellulose fibres with a high degree of impurities, which cannot be transformed back into paper or fabric.

The research carried out by Sorigué looks to develop a technology to generate nanocellulose from this type of waste.

Nanocellulose is a high-value-added product that has multiple uses. For example, it can be used in biomedical applications, batteries, printing filaments, textiles, and cement, and, in addition to improving the mechanical properties of some materials, it is a biodegradable and renewable alternative to artificial polymers. 

At present, this material is mainly extracted from virgin raw materials, such as wood pulp or agroforestry waste, making the recovery of cellulose from wastewater treatment a pioneering project.

The project is being developed with support from Tecnalia, an expert technology centre in nanocellulose synthesis. During the second phase, tests will be performed on the extracted product at two companies operating in the paint and paper production industry.

Beyond Waste began in 2020 and has a duration of two years. The project is funded by a “Nuclis de recerca industrial i desenvolupament experimental” grant for projects promoting the circular economy from the Catalan Waste Agency (ARC) with the support of Acció, the business competitiveness agency of the Regional Government of Catalonia.
 
Innovation at Sorigué
Sorigué is a business group that was founded in 1956 and a leader in the water technology and engineering, service, construction, and materials sectors. Sorigué is firmly committed to innovation and giving back to society.

Sorigué has a cross-cutting Innovation Department that aims to focus the business group’s efforts on innovation-based projects; the creation of synergies, both internal and with national and international institutions and organizations; the modernisation of processes; and the active search for new business.

Sorigué has been a signatory of the United Nations Global Compact since 2018 and, through its activity, puts forth a business model that contributes to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).