Alginate is a harmless gelling compound widely used in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food industries as a stabilizer and thickening agent. However, when it remains in industrial wastewater, its chemical structure and gelling properties can lead to the formation of hydrocolloids, causing clogging, obstruction and operational issues.
As a result, companies often need to store alginate-containing residues and rely on external waste management services for their removal, increasing costs and creating space constraints.
To address this need, researchers from the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya developed an in-situ system capable of degrading alginate and preventing hydrocolloid formation, enabling safer and easier treatment of industrial wastewater.
The technology is based on a system that fragments the long polymeric molecules of alginate, preventing them from forming hydrocolloids in industrial wastewater. By breaking the alginate bonds, the system reduces the risk of clogging and obstruction associated with this type of residue.
The solution combines two technologies already established in the market, which supports easier installation, operation and maintenance. It is designed to be used in-situ, directly at the site where the residue is generated, reducing the need for storage and external waste management.
Due to the technologies involved, the system can also degrade other macromolecules present in water, including compounds such as antibiotics, expanding its potential application beyond alginate treatment.
The technology has been validated at laboratory scale by researchers from the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. The group is currently working on the development and fine-tuning of a prototype.
Benefits:
- In-situ treatment of alginate-containing wastewater.
- Reduced clogging and obstruction risks.
- Lower storage and waste management needs.
- Economical and easy-to-maintain system.
- Fast and effective physical degradation process.
- Potential degradation of other macromolecules.
The represented institution is looking for a collaboration that leads to commercial exploitation of the presented invention.
Institution: Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)
TRL: 5
Contact: Begoña Iborra | biborra@viromii.com