The hydrothermal gasification technology developed by TreaTech not only efficiently eliminates liquid waste but also recovers its byproducts. This water-based alternative to incineration has applications in a wide range of industrial sectors.
Context
While incineration is still considered the most effective way of eliminating viruses, bacteria and micropollutants from waste streams, the method has some environmentally negative aspects. The waste has to be transported to treatment facilities, and many of these do not recover the heat and steam produced during the process. TreaTech’s patented modular solution, on the other hand, converts many types of waste that are usually incinerated into valuable resources – products that can be used on site or recycled, and thus contribute to the circular economy.
Technology
The technology developed by TreaTech combines a hydrothermal gasification process with a catalytic process to maximise the recovery of byproducts generated by the treatment of sewage sludge, industrial effluents and liquid agri-food waste. The recovered byproducts include industrial-quality water and mineral salts (such as phosphorous, nitrogen and potassium), which can be used as fertiliser. The organic fraction is converted into methane in a special reactor that separates out the CO2 emitted by the process – in future, it should be possible to sequester or recover the latter at the end of the process. Depending on the effluent treated, all that is left is a kind of brine that can be disposed of in cement works or landfill. The technology can treat highly polluted water and releases around 95% fewer emissions than conventional incineration processes. The compact apparatus can be installed close to the waste, eliminating the need to transport it.
Maturity
Founded in 2015, this EPFL spin-off joined forces with the Paul Scherrer Institute in 2019. The pilot plant has been validated, and TreaTech is commissioning its first industrial demonstrator in 2024, capable of processing 200 kg/h continuously, in partnership with Ecorecyclage, a subsidiary of the Swiss Holdigaz group. Nine million Swiss francs were raised for this purpose in 2023, mainly from industrial firms, including Holdigaz, French companies Engie and CMA CGM, American company Montrose Environmental and Saudi company Sipchem. This has already opened up a number of markets for TreaTech, which is targeting rapid international expansion.
‘We are looking to treat liquid mixtures containing a lot of organic matter: the production of methane and other byproducts makes our technology profitable.’
- Frédéric Juillard, CEO of TreaTech
This portrait is taken from the 2nd Overview of cleantech start-ups published in 2024. Read the full publication here.
