The School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering of the Technical University of Crete accepted its first undergraduates in October 1997 and its first graduate students in February 1998; and very quickly became a major center of environmental engineering research in Greece. Presently, the School has 23 faculty members and another 3 faculty positions are under review. Currently it has about 450 undergraduates and about 90 graduate students pursuing MSc and PhD degrees. Despite the fact that the School is rather new, it has managed to acquire through National and University grants for fostering research and scholarship at the postgraduate level, all necessary laboratory equipment for undergraduate teaching and graduate research.

In this proposal will be involved the department “Design of Environmental Processes Laboratory - Division II: Development, Analysis & Design of Processes”. Their main research interest is Liquid and solid waste management and Water Resources management:

• Wastewater treatment technologies
• Water reclamation and reuse with emphasis on water reclamation processes
• Applications of Anammox process, for the removal of ammonia from wastewater
• Effect of heavy metals on micro-organisms behaviour
• Municipal Solid Waste management, with emphasis on energy production
• Integrated water resources management

TUC has participated in previous projects connected to the subject of the proposal, some of them are:

1. “Investigation and Characterization of M2R Advanced Primary Process”, Funding source: Μ2Renewables, Inc
2. “Integrating Biotreated Wastewater reuse and valorization with enhanced water use efficiency to support the green economy in EC and India”, FP7-KBBE: WATER4CROPS-Funded by: EC
3. “Potential for water reuse at the region of Kamari, in Santorini Island”, Funding source: Waste and Wastewater Public Company of Santorini
4. “Agricultural Utilization of Tertiary Treated Wastewater as an Alternative Water Resource”, Funded by: ΕΕΑ grants

DEVISE ENGINEERING S.A. specializes in the field of Environmental technologies. With a significant knowhow and experience in the design, engineering and construction of Water, Wastewater and Solid Waste Treatment Facilities, the company has developed and produces a wide range of innovative units of a compact and pre-fabricated format which are an excellent solution for the sewage treatment of small communities and municipalities, while they can be a unique alternative to the wastewater treatment of industrial effluents.

CETENMA is a technology centre (established in 2000 as a private, non-profit association of companies) based in Murcia - Southeast Spain. The Centre aims to help and support companies to become more competitive through the use of R&D, innovation, technology transfer and knowledge dissemination. CETENMA’s knowledge areas are: Water Technologies / Bioenergy / Renewable Energies/ and Energy Efficiency.

CETENMA counts with a multidisciplinary team of highly qualified researchers and engineers with large background on energy, environment and R&D management. The Centre is organised into two main departments: “Energy” and “Environment”, both of them equipped with different laboratories to support R&D activities. CETENMA has lots of references in urban waste and wastewater treatment technologies, efficiency, water efficiency and water reclaimed reuse, waste to energy valorisation, etc.

CETENMA has wide experience in the field of reducing the energy consumption of waste water treatment plants, both at industrial and municipal level, performing energy audits and giving recommendations for increasing the energy efficiency of these processes, and also dealing with the optimization of different waste-to-energy technology routes.

CETENMA has participated in several projects related to subject of proposal: -Development of a mobile integrated treatment plant for the treatment and valorisation of olive oil mills and wineries waste water (MISSTOW). Funded by CIP Eco-Innovation programme. - Development of an innovative and sustainable system for the conversion of urban solid wastes into alternative bio-fuels (RSU-OIL). Funded by Spanish INNPACTO national programme.

ENGINNOV CONSTRUCTION LTD studies and manufactures machinery for the treatment of any kind of waste. Prototyping and innovative using the most advanced modern technology, providing our customers with reliable equipment. Headquartered in U.K. provides the European and International market the most innovative global environmental systems. The drying systems for slurries effluent, waste, mud, food, is the solution for all the needs of drying and dehydration. With incredibly low consumption, zero gas emissions are ahead of other competing systems of the global market. ENGINNOV CONSTRUCTION LTD has a big experience in designing and developing drying systems as for example: -Sludge treatment and their transformation into biomass by an innovative system of drying – Sofia Bulgaria -Transformation to biomass, of the olive pomace, by an innovative dryer – Meligalas Greece -Hazardous waste incinerator – RAF aeronautical base in Akrotiri Cyprus -Transformation to fodder and/or biomass of the olive pomace by an innovative system – Beirut Lebanon