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Project - ACCIONES

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ACTIONS

   A. Preparatory Actions

 

A.1 Characterization of residual effluents

In order to define the physical and chemical properties of the effluents generated in the wine and dairy businesses, to quantify their Greenhouse Gases (GHG) emissions and to evaluate their potential application in the cultivation of edaphic algae, the following sub- actions was performed:

 

A.1.1 Evaluation of carbonated residual effluents generated in each productive sector

A visit to Bodegas La Fontana (Tarancón, Cuenca) and to the dairy industry Quesos de Sasamón (Burgos) were performed in which the emission points were identified, the first measurements of gases emitted were taken and information on energy consumption, water, raw materials and volume of waste generated were collected. This information has been incorporated into the evaluation of Carbon Footprint in D.O. Uclés. Thereafter, it was applied to the dairy industry Quesos de Sasamón.

 

A.1.2 Evaluation of fluid residual effluents generated in each productive sector

Samples of liquid effluent and solid waste generated in the wine and dairy industries were analyzed in the UBU. Manure samples of sheep and other livestock wastes, such as pig manure and chicken manure, were also taken, as alternative substrates for the project.Theoretical methanogenic yield of these wastes was calculated using the computer application DACOMA. We concluded that the potential biogas production of the effluents of winery and cheese industry is low being necessary the incorporation of other organic waste such as manure. This does not affect the viability of the project because manure is generated in the whole process of dairy associated industry and also, it is normally used as organic fertilizer in these vineyards. The use of manure is already assumed in wineries and dairy industries and the introduction of this prototype only change the form and moment of its use.

 

A.1.3 Evaluation of the liquid phase of residual effluents as source of nutrients for algae growth

The residual nutrients of a digestate of agro-industrial wastes, which composition will be quite similar to that which will be generated in the Pretreatment Module of Wastes (PMW), the liquid effluent of dairy industries and livestock slurry, have been used successfully in the growth of soil algae at a laboratory scale. The yields obtained with the use of these liquid wastes, pretreated to flocculate suspended particles and adjust its pH and salinity, were always higher than those obtained using growing culture media for algae, which allows its use in the preparation of bio-improver.

 

   B.  Implementation

   Actions

 

B.1 Production of autochthonous algae

With the objective of extracting, isolating and identifying the species of microalgae and cyanobacteria that are present in the agricultural soils on which the bioimrpover would be applied, determine the species with the best growth rates in liquid medium to obtain an algae inoculum that would allow their application as soil bioimprover and become a carbon sink, the following activities were carried out:

They have been extracted and isolated 10 strains of soil algae from the initial soil sampling done at the places where algal bio-improver will be applied at Losar de la Vera (Cáceres) and Tarancón (Cuenca) (sampling also with 1 strain from Coimbra algae collection). The characterization was performed at the morphological level and subsequently by sequencing extracted samples of DNA. The kinetic study showed that the species with higher growth rates and shorter adaptation are: Chlorella sorokiniana, isolated from the soil of the D.O. Uclés and Oocystis sp., isolated in soils of Losar de la Vera (Caceres). Thereafter, when a change in the place of Project location, samples of Chlorella sp. were isolated in soil samples taken at Ros (Burgos), with similar growing rates.

A volume of 45 L of inoculum were produced for the Module of Production of Bio-improver (MPB), to start the production process in both locations.

 

B.2 Setting up of an industrial prototype for the pre-treatment of effluents (Module of Pretreatment of Waste – MPW)

The Module of Pretreatment of Waste (MPW) adapted to process wastes generated by the winery and the dairy industry has been redesigned by the company KEPLER Engineering & Eco-management in order to adapt it to process wastes generated by the winery and the dairy industry. Both characterized by a high degree of fiber, high dry matter, energy potential and with a processing volume of 40 m3; all of it with an automated system that allows the autonomous operation of the module.

The MPW has been operational after its commissioning in September 2015 in Uclés and in October 2016 in Burgos.

 

B.3 Setting up of an industrial prototype for the growing algal biomass - Module of Production of Bioimprover (MPB) 

The Module of Production of Bioimprover (MPB) in the Industrial Prototype has been produced by the University of Valladolid (UVa) from the design described in the P201330932 patent, on which modifications have been made to adapt it to the project: to optimize energy consumption, ventilation systems, optional lighting, bubblers and flocculation systems.

This MPB in the Industrial Prototype is finished and running. In December 2014 previous tests to the final design was done, and in June 2015 the MPB was very advanced.

 

B.4 Use of both prototypes adapting their function to the characteristics of the agroindustrial facilities

To adapt the facilities of the industries where to locate the waste pretreatment and bioenhancer production modules, in particular those processing facilities that generate waste that can be treated with the pretreatment module and used for the cultivation of the bioenhancer, the following actions have been carried out:

 

B.4.1 Adaptation of industries to the Industrial Prototype

D.O. Uclés has coordinated the participation of the different wineries in the project. Fifty tons of harvest residues have been collected in a semi-buried silo for subsequent processing, and chicken manure was acquired as an organic residue necessary to optimize biomethanation. It has been necessary to build reinforced platform to support the weight of MPW. It was also necessary to re-construct this platform in the terrains of the ROPULPAT Company in Burgos, improving the perimeter recollection of rainwater and leachates.

On the other hand, the capture and conduction of the gases emitted by the winery to the MPB has not been carried out due to technical and safety issues. The CO2 used in the production of bio-improver comes from the combustion of biogas.

 

B.4.2 Operation of the Industrial Prototype in the A.C. Wines of Uclés

On March 2015, implementation of prototype in Winery was planned. At the end of August, the algae bio improver module was moved to the Fontana winery.

Both modules were fully operational on October 2015.

The first week in September, research teams identified and planned trial areas in the vineyard. The last application of soil bioenhancer in Ucles was performed in May 2016.

 

B.4.3 Operation of the Industrial Prototype in the dairy industry

In May 2016 the Algae soil improver module was transported and deployed in cheese industry in Burgos

At the ROPULPAT site, the installation and commissioning processes of the Industrial Prototype modules were successfully carried out in full operation since September 2016.

In April 2017 the application of soil bio-enhancer was carried out to extensive crops in Ros (Burgos).

 

   C. Monitoring of the

   impact of the

   project actions

C.1 Monitoring of the impact of the project actions

In order to calculate the real contribution of the prototypes to the GHG mitigation both in the productive phase of the bioenhancer and once applied to the soil, the fertilizer effect of the bioenhancer is analyzed and its substitution action of the traditional mineral fertilization is evaluated. Advanced monitoring equipment has been provided that assess the carbon balance in the soil-plant system, in the soil, and in the microbial biota of the soil and has been related to the agroclimatic variables of the test area in order to obtain models to extrapolate results to other European regions.

 

C.1.1 Monitoring of GHG consumed in the module of algal production

A record of the GHG consumed in the MPB has been made by measuring the gases in the dome, as well as the production of algal biomass. Control elements installed on the MPB allowed determining continuously the volume of gases introduced into the MPB, amount of processed digestate, concentration of nutrients, and algal biomass obtained in each production cycle. A weather station with automatic registration of climatic variables and soil moisture has also been installed. These data allow performing a Balance of Carbon fixed into algal biomass and system efficiency.

 

C.1.2 Carbon footprint in the substitution of mineral fertilization

There has been done a process of methodological application of the Carbon Footprint, according to UNE-ISO 140644-1: 2006, to the production process in D.O. Uclés and the dairy industry of Quesos de Sasamon and its associated cattle rising of Sotovellanos (Burgos). In the calculation, direct and indirect sources of Greenhouse Gases (GHG) emissions were taken into account.

 

C.1.3 Monitoring of Carbon fixation in soils

The application of the algae bio-enhancer has been carried out in the vineyards of Finca La Estacada (Tarancón, Cuenca) and in the cereal fields of Ros (Burgos), monitoring its effect on the crop and the soil. Due to the high variability of the soils in which the application of bio-enhancer will be performed, mainly in vineyards, a preliminary mapping of the soil is done by mean of their georeferenced electrical resistivity measurement. With these data, fields, doses and monitoring points for the application of soil algae bio-enhancerr were chosen. Such monitoring involved to check crop development by the analysis of aerial images in cereal fields of Ros (Burgos), plant sampling, Total C and N quantification, as well, other soil parameters relevant for this Project, such as soil Organic Matter and available nutrient contents.

 

C.2 Monitoring of the socio-economic impact of the project

 

C2.1. Evaluation of the economic viability

The economic viability of the project has been carried out taking into account the costs of the prototype implementation, cash flows analysis and its comparison with the investment value, considering the whole cost of the Industrial Prototype, including business benefit and additional costs for bio-improver application. In the economic balance calculated, a participative financial model is introduced between farmers and agro-industrial activity in both sectors: viticulture and dairy production.

 

C2.2. Evaluation of the process as carbon sink

The works developed in the Focal Groups have allowed the social and environmental evaluation of the project to be carried out.

 

   D.  Comunication

   and Dissemination

   Actions

In order to ensure the dissemination of the project and thus increase the value and impact of the project and the results achieved within the pilot phase, different activities have been carried out such as the creation and updating of this website, the dissemination in social networks and the disclosure through information panels, as well as in different media: press, radio and television.

 

Presentation of the project and its results

 

In addition, the scientific-technical results of the Project have been the subject of oral communication or poster in numerous national and international meetings, among which are:

 

Events

 

Simposia and Congresses

 

On the other hand, workshops and specific events to disseminate the project have been organized:

 

Dissemination Actions

 

Specific events presenting project results

   E. Project management

   and monitoring project

   progress

E.1 Project Management and coordination

During the KoM of the Project on 11/07/2014, the partners established the Consortium Agreement and established the Steering Committee. In the Project development, seven different monitoring meetings (jul and nov 2014, may and sep 2015, feb, jul and nov 2016) and other three meetings with Irune Osés from IDOM-NEEMO LIFE TEAM (nov 2014, sep 2015 and nov 2016) have held, in which all of the Consortium members were present.

 

E.2 Networking

Coordinators of other LIFE Project have been established contact with the coordinators of other projects such as AGROWASTE, LIFE-MANEV, SAVECROPS, REWIND, REGADIOX, WOGAnMBR, GREENDESERTS, OPERACIÓN CO2, OPERACIÓN CO2, AQUASEF, TL-BIOFERT, as well as the network of the projects REFERTIL and FERTILPLUS of the 7th Framework Programme. With them, a total of 17 networking activities were made in Universities, Technological Centers and Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitivity. A networking of environmental directors of agro-industries is constituted in collaboration with LIFE projects WOGAnMBR, also coordinated by UBU, and TL-BIOFERTIL.