AquaMinerals – Aded value from water
‘Valorisation’ of residual streams is unique in the world
Destinations for wastewater treatment material streams
AquaMinerals seeks, develops and operates application destinations for the material streams generated by water treatment processes. We were initially set up for all the Dutch drinking water utilities, but have since also become active for a Belgian drinking water utility and a number of Dutch Water Authorities. This collective, sectoral collaboration dedicated to the ‘valorisation’ of residual streams is unique in the world. It provides the sector with purchasing, sales and innovation power. Over the last few years the results have been both measurable and compelling.
Circular applications
AquaMinerals works closely with its participants in research and development projects. Together with our participants and other stakeholders, we frequently brainstorm the possibility of new, preferably circular, chains. Collaboration is the key word here: research institutes share their knowledge and thinking, and the service providers (transport, storage, processing) function as links between supply and demand. The clients also soon become involved in the development process, as they join us in examining how best to meet their requirements (quality, quantity, logistics), and how to organise the appropriate, sustainable chains.
The circular application of the material streams is the ultimate objective. The materials are reused and, in many instances, following a reprocessing step, are applied in the same water-chain processes where they originated. If this is not possible, we use the material streams in other parts of the water chain. When neither reuse nor application elsewhere in the water chain is feasible, we strive to return as many residuals as possible to a biological or technical resource loop. For instance, calcite pellets are used in glass or in carpet tiles, and the product is recycled. Other examples are the biological resource loop of aquafer in biodigesters that return the residual digestate product to the land, and the use of struvite in agricultural applications. In 2020 a great new circular destination was added: Mosa began using calcite pellets instead of chalk in its cradle-to-cradle certified tiles.
Collaboration
AquaMinerals collaborates in particular with the suppliers of the materials, the water utilities, but naturally also with market players that can reprocess the materials and are interested in using them in their production processes. In many cases this calls for applied research; and in this regard, KWR is a important partner for AquaMinerals.
