EU provides funds to SCFI for commercialisation of wastewater technology

The European Union has extended a €1m grant to the Super Critical Fluids International (SCFI) Group for exploring commercialisation of sustainable waste treatment technology AquaCritox.

The grant will be used by the Irish environmental firm to fund a project that aims to establish the environmental and financial benefits of the AquaCritox wastewater treatment technology.

The project will utilise the financial aid received under EU’s Eco-innovation Initiative to explore commercial feasibility of AquaCritox, in addition to trying out a viable route to market for a range of applications.

AquaCritox uses patented hydrothermal oxidation (HTO) process to come up with sustainable treatment solutions for a variety of industrial, municipal and sewage wastes.

Under the project, SCFI will design, manufacture and install an AquaCritox demonstrator in the city of Cork, Ireland, having annual operating capacity of 15,000t.

The unit will be used for the treatment of municipal and industrial sludge initially and will then be transferred to a working commercial facility in the Middle East for further trials, including processing oil and gas waste.

Besides SCFI, the Eco-innovation project will also involve other partners, including Air Products, Eras Eco, Ecuity Consulting and the EcoPRAgency at Richmond Towers.

SCFI chief executive officer John O’Regan said: "AquaCritox provides a safe, secure and sustainable solution to a number of expensive and contentious issues surrounding waste handling and disposal on a global scale.

"Extensive development and trials have already shown that this technology has the potential to become a game-changer, and the Eco-innovation funding is set to make this a reality."

The project is expected to position the technology as a commercially viable and sustainable option for waste generators, processors and handlers in European markets and beyond.

"What’s more, it will also position the EU as the worldwide leader when it comes to the application of sustainable waste treatment technology, helping meet environmental targets and boosting economic growth," John O’Regan added.