FIC-FIGHTERS: To a Fair, Inclusive, Circular and Healthy cities: Valorisation of phosphogypsum wastes into commercial products through sustainable and circular processes
Updated on 02.12.2024
FIC-FIGHTERS is a local democracy project focused on developing innovative, circular economy-based solutions for managing and valorising phosphogypsum waste (PG), a harmful byproduct accumulated near cities. Over 48 months, the project will bring together local actors, industries, authorities, SMEs, research centers, and universities to scale up waste recovery processes to TRL6-7, aiming to produce sustainable raw materials for the paper, cement, batteries, fertilizers, and detergents industries. Key activities include building a mobile pilot plant, creating a PG forum for local discussions, developing flexible and replicable waste valorisation processes across seven case studies, and contributing to knowledge exchange and circular business model development, with a strong focus on community involvement, environmental sustainability, and economic viability.
Leading organisation/partner
IDENER.AI
Cities involved
The phosphogypsum case studies are the following: Barreiro (Portugal), Kutina (Croacia), Prahovo (Serbia), Łąka (Poland), Veles (North Macedonia and Venice (Italy); but there are other cities participating in which the results could be replicated.
Regions involved
There are no regions involved itself but specific partners from specific cities in which the solutions developed can be deployed.
Scope and objectives
Scope: performing PG valorisation activities. Objectives: i) Upscaling, demonstration and validation of sustainable and circular chemical processes for turning the PG wastes into valuable commercial products, validated by end-users in different value chains; ii)To foster the interregional cooperation and integration of the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) perspective, following CCRI guidelines, for reaching circularity, and iii)Reach all stakeholders in the project value chain with the aim of publicizing the project and its results and increasing the possibilities of developing the valorisation of phosphogypsum after the project ends.
Key services provided by the project
- To foster the interregional cooperation and integration of the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) perspective, following CCRI guidelines, for reaching circularity, and b)Reach all stakeholders in the project value chain with the aim of publicizing the project and its results and increasing the possibilities of developing the valorisation of phosphogypsum after the project ends.
Key deliverables
D1.8 Public summary about chemical routes validation & PG characterisation
D2.12 Guidelines for circular systemic solutions
D7.4 Data Management Plan III
D5.8 FIC-FIGHTERS policy brief 2
D5.6 Final report on Environmental Social and Governance (ESG)
D5.5 Ecological restoration assessments for PG cases
D4.5 Public summary about validation of final products for end industries
D2.8 Environmental impacts through LCA
D2.10 Economic validation by LCC
These are public deliverables
Key messages for project promoters
- New products that will benefit economic and environmental issues (industry)
- New circular solution with economic gains according to business indicators (investors)
- New sustainable approach for efficient PG valorisation, assessments and methodologies (scientific community)
- Sustainable solution for PG stacks (CO2 capture, new jobs, new business model, waste prevention, etc.) (policy makers)
- Circular economy, climate change mitigation, benefits of the solution (citizens)
Description of future collaboration with CCRI-CSO
FIC-FIGHTERS project envisions a collaborative partnership where our project aligns closely with the CCRI office's objectives. We hope to leverage their expertise and resources to enhance our project's impact and efficiency.
Regular coordination meetings, sharing insights and progress updates, and integrating feedback from the CCRI office to refine our strategies and outcomes. Our goal is to ensure that both our project and the CCRI office benefit mutually from this collaboration.
Participants
- IDENER.AI
- UNIVERSITY OF SEVILLE
- MAGTEL OPERACIONES SL
- THARSIS MINING SOC LIMITADA
- ÅBO AKADEMI UNIVERSITY
- CIVIL ENGINEERING INSTITUTE MACEDONIA
- WROCLAW UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
- UNIVERSITY OF NOVI SAD FACULTY OF SCIENCES
- Institute of Condensed Matter Chemistry and Energy Techologies - National Research Council (ICMATE-CNR)
- Studiecentrum voor Kernenergie Centre d'Etude de l'Energie Nucléaire SCK CEN
- PREHNIT ltd
- CAPTURA CO2
- ARDITEC
- EFG
- UNIVERSIDAD DE HUELVA
- ASISTENCIAS TÉCNICAS CLAVE
- PERSAN
- CEMENTOS LA CRUZ SL
- AGENCIA ESTATAL CONSEJO SUPERIOR DE INVESTIGACIONES CIENTÍFICAS
- LECTA SA
- FRAUNHOFER IKTS
- ALDA
- CHRISTEYNS NV
- FUNDACION CIUDAD DE LA ENERGIA
- MUNICIPIO DO BARREIRO