At Sacyr Agua, we’re pushing the boundaries of sustainability and innovation by detecting and removing microplastics in our wastewater treatment plants (WWTP). By joining forces with Captoplastic, we are working together to make this possible.
Although microplastic pollution (plastic particles smaller than 5 mm) occurs throughout the whole water cycle, reducing them in the treated water leaving our WWTP is a significant step in protecting the environment.
These plants are designed to remove organic matter and conventional pollutants from wastewater, but they do not normally include specific processes to deal with the wide variety of microplastics that reach them.
“As well as becoming their preferred partner for projects in Spain, this partnership also allows us to use Captoplastic’s technology and references exclusively in markets such as Australia, Peru and Colombia,” says Eduardo Campos, Managing Director of Sacyr Agua.
An agreement built on innovation
The collaboration with Captoplastic began following a successful pilot project at the Yecla WWTP (Murcia), managed by Sacyr Agua, as part of our open innovation programme, Sacyr iChallenges.
It was there that we discovered Captoplastic’s pioneering solution, which continuously detects and removes microplastics. This fits perfectly with our commitment to sustainability and our drive to bring advanced technologies into our business.
Pilot project success
To test and validate the technology, Captoplastic moved a demonstration pilot plant from the Cantoblanco campus of the Autonomous University of Madrid to the Yecla WWTP, where the trials were carried out.
Beforehand, a detailed study of the microplastics present in the different stages of the plant was completed, both in the water line and the sludge line. Several types of microplastics were identified, including polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polycaprolactone (PCL), poly(ethyl acrylate) (PEA), acrylic, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and polyurethane (PU).
These microplastics were found in different forms, such as pellets, fibres and fragments, with the highest concentration in the sludge line.
The results of this first pilot trial were very positive, showing a 76% reduction in the initial concentration of microplastics. This proves the effectiveness of the solution and its potential to be scaled up.
Captoplastic Technology
Captoplastic is a Madrid-based small business dedicated to developing innovative solutions for detecting and removing microplastics. Established in 2020, the company has been recognised as a Knowledge-Based Company and works with strategic partners such as the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid and the BeAble Innvierte Kets Fund.
Its technology uses an agglomeration technique, adding an inorganic agent to the water stream so that it binds with microplastics and forms larger aggregates that can then be removed.
Thanks to the magnetic properties of the agent, the aggregates can be easily separated and removed from the water stream. The process can handle large volumes of water efficiently. The captured microplastics can be recycled, making this a zero-waste technology that is environmentally friendly throughout its entire cycle.
