What would it cost to implement these resource recovery systems?+
The project did not publish specific capital or operating cost figures in the available data. However, the project explicitly designed service-based business models like chemical leasing to distribute recovery costs across the whole value chain, reducing upfront investment for any single operator. Contact the coordinator at TU Delft for detailed cost assessments from the 5 demonstration sites.
Has this been tested at industrial scale?+
Yes. WATER-MINING ran pre-commercial demonstration plants in 5 EU countries (Netherlands, Spain, Cyprus, Portugal, Italy). The industrial mining demo involved multiple industrial partners optimizing real process parameters including energy consumption, waste heat recovery, and output quality. A Kaumera Extraction Installation was built and operated at a municipal wastewater plant in Faro, Portugal.
What about IP and licensing for these technologies?+
The consortium includes 44 partners with 15 industry players and 9 SMEs. Individual technologies like the vivianite crystallizer, Kaumera extraction, and brine mining systems were developed by specific partners. Licensing arrangements would need to be negotiated with the respective technology owners through TU Delft as coordinator.
Does this comply with EU water and environmental regulations?+
The project was specifically designed to support implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive, Circular Economy package, and EU Green Deal. The demonstrated solutions address nutrient discharge limits, brine disposal regulations, and resource recovery mandates that are becoming stricter across Europe.
How long does it take to integrate these systems into existing plants?+
Based on available project data, the demonstration in Faro, Portugal involved engineering, construction, implementation, and optimization phases for the Kaumera Extraction Installation at an existing municipal wastewater plant. The full project ran from 2020 to 2024, with optimization continuing through the project period. Retrofit timelines would depend on which specific technology modules are selected.
Can these systems work with our existing treatment infrastructure?+
The project demonstrated different layouts for both urban wastewater treatment and seawater desalination, specifically designed to integrate with existing infrastructure. The modular approach — combining technologies like membrane bioreactors, nanofiltration, reverse osmosis, and crystallizers — allows operators to select relevant modules. Dashboard systems were deployed across 3 demo cases for monitoring and optimization.
What kind of ongoing support is available?+
The 44-partner consortium spans 12 countries and includes 10 universities and 9 research organizations that developed the underlying science. With 15 industry partners already involved in commercialization, technology transfer pathways are established. TU Delft as coordinator can direct inquiries to the appropriate technology provider.
