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LIFE ABATE: an innovative breakthrough for VOC reduction in waste treatment plants

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Barcelona, October 15, 2023. The LIFE ABATE project, an innovative initiative co-financed by the European Commission through the LIFE Programme, aims to reduce volatile organic compounds (VOC) emissions and energy consumption in mechanical-biological treatment (MBT) plants for municipal waste in the European Union.

With a total budget of €3,246,062.21 and an estimated duration of four years, the LIFE ABATE project is coordinated by the University of Valladolid in collaboration with several national entities such as the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona; Aeris Tecnologías Ambientales, SL; Kalfrisa, SAU; Polytechnic University of Catalonia, and FCC Medio Ambiente.

Key objectives

The LIFE ABATE project aims to implement a revolutionary system to treat air from MBT plants. The system has the following objectives:

  • Reduce VOC emissions: A large volume of low-concentration VOC air is passed through a filter and a rotoconcentrator, concentrating the VOCs and efficiently treating the concentrated air in a regenerative thermal oxidizer (RTO) and a two-phase biotrickling filter (2P-BTF).
  • Minimize energy consumption: By concentrating the VOCs, the volume of air to be treated is reduced up to ten times, allowing a 90% reduction in the RTO’s thermal energy consumption and a 45% reduction in electrical energy consumption in biological systems compared to conventional systems.
  • Optimize operational costs: Similarly, it aims to reduce the operational costs of air treatment processes by 82% for the RTO and 94% for biological systems, making them more economically sustainable in the long term.
  • Reduce carbon footprint: With an estimated 90% reduction in CO2 emissions from the RTO and 45% in biological systems, the project will significantly contribute to the fight against climate change.

Implementation and demonstration

The demonstration of the LIFE ABATE solution will begin at Ecoparc 3, in Sant Adrià de Besòs (Barcelona), an MBT plant that treats approximately 192,000 tons of municipal waste annually. The system will then be transferred to the Las Dehesas waste treatment center in Madrid.

Image 1. Diagram of the LIFE ABATE solution

Conclusion

With LIFE ABATE, we aim to lead the way in waste management innovation, achieve stricter environmental objectives, and improve the sustainability of waste management in Europe. The project represents both a technological breakthrough and a firm commitment to a cleaner and healthier future for future generations.

For more information, visit the LIFE ABATE project website or the official LIFE Programme portal of the European Commission.