Final degree projects as vehicle to promote industrial symbiosis in engineering schools

Abstract

In a world where the circular economy is necessary to the preservation of environment, it is essential that students be aware of the principles behind industrial symbiosis which are quite simple. This concept is linked to the residues generated in an industrial process, which instead of being discharge or destroyed, are captured in order to obtain a "new" input that is redirected into another process, by one or various companies, providing a reciprocal benefit or symbiosis. The European Union have included the industrial symbiosis in the circular Economy Action Plan, therefore the integration of these concepts in final degree projects could be very useful to switch this European recommendation to the industrial sector, when students are incorporated to the work market. On the other hand, the revised legislative proposal of European Union on waste sets clear targets for reduction of waste and establishes an ambitious and credible long-term path for waste management and recycling. To ensure effective implementation, the waste reduction targets in the new proposal are accompanied by concrete measures to address obstacles on the ground and the different situations across EU Member States. Based on research databases, China, USA and UK are clear examples of countries that have become aware of the importance for industrial symbiosis, being Spain in a medium level of development. In this work an example of industrial symbiosis between mining industry, adsorbents industry and winery industry was stablished by a Mining Engineering student of the University of Vigo, during his final degree project. For the elaboration of this plan the student had to develop competences in the field of the analytical chemistry, process engineering, environmental science, materials science, statistic design and biology. The action plan consisted of the use of grape marc, produced by winery industry, as raw material, redirected to the elaboration of bioadsorbents for the treatment of waste water contaminated with cupper. The student demonstrated the positive synergic effect between the industrial sectors included in the study as well as the significance of final degree projects as vehicle to stablish new industrial symbiosis. Additionally, in this final degree project the student developed statistical skills through the elaboration of an incomplete factorial design that allowed to obtain theoretical equations in order to predict the behavior of the adsorbent, formulated with recycled grape marc, in the decontamination of water containing copper, simulating the water stream of extractive industries. This kind of statistical studies not only are interesting for optimizing the use and application of recycled residues but also to optimize operational conditions of any industrial sector. In conclusion, a final degree project is an interesting opportunity to link the abilities and competences acquired by the students of Engineering degrees in order to produce advances in the development of ecofriendly technologies, through the inclusion of the best available residues for the implementation of industrial symbiosis. Therefore, the project presented in this work offers an opportunity to reinvent our economy, making it more sustainable and competitive. This is an example that the industrial symbiosis strategy for sharing resources not only can be activated among companies present within a region but also among