Flush2Fiber

Flush2Fiber - Recovery of high-quality cellulose fibers from municipal wastewater as a raw material for the paper industry

Goal

Flush2Fiber aims to identify high-quality cellulose fibers from municipal wastewater as a potential resource for the paper industry. In the current exploratory phase, basic prerequisites are being created in order to be able to prepare a later technical development and implementation in a targeted manner in a feasibility phase.

• The starting point is the realization that toilet paper makes up a significant proportion of wastewater solids after use, but has so far ended up unused in sewage sludge disposal.
• The aim of the exploratory study is to systematically investigate potential quantities, fiber qualities and possible separation points in the sewage treatment process - through laboratory tests, expert surveys, literature analyses and initial material analyses.
• At the same time, a requirements matrix is being developed that compares the requirements of various paper products with the properties of the recovered fibers - also taking into account social acceptance, hygiene, legal framework conditions and recyclability.
• In addition, a market and competition analysis is carried out and suitable partners from industry and research are identified in order to assess the technical and economic feasibility.

The knowledge gained will serve as the basis for a subsequent feasibility phase in which the technical processes for fiber separation and use will be further developed in a targeted manner and tested on an industrial scale.

Flush2Fiber aims to tap into a previously unused fiber stream - for resource-efficient, recyclable paper production in line with the bioeconomy.

Funding information