The UPV Facsa-Fovasa Chair highlights research in the circular economy through its awards for Bachelor's and Master's theses

La Cátedra Facsa-Fovasa The Polytechnic University of Valencia (UPV) continues its work in promoting talent in the field of water and waste management. Proof of this is the awards for the best Bachelor's and Master's theses, which the institution has just granted for the fourth consecutive year.

A total of four prizes, divided into two prizes of €500 for undergraduate theses and two prizes of €800 for master's theses, seek to highlight and value the research carried out by students of the Universitat Politècnica de València in relation to the circular economy within water treatment and waste management.

The winning final degree projects were those of students Izan Mateo Vendrell and Mauro Seguí Pons. Vendrell's project focuses on the sustainable practices and strategies adopted by fruit and vegetable cooperatives within the framework of a circular economy, addressing the challenge of transitioning from a linear to a circular value chain. Meanwhile, Izan Mateo Vendrell developed a new thermoset biopolymer through the chemical modification of chia oil (Salvia hispanica) to replace current petrochemical-based thermoset polymers.

Regarding the award-winning Master's theses, student Antonio Martínez Segado designed, manufactured, and validated a system for dredging sludge without damaging the seabed. This system is suitable for shallow areas with limited maneuverability and is even effective in areas with irregular or rocky bottoms. Furthermore, within the framework of the circular economy, he conducted tests on reusing the extracted sludge as fertilizer in agricultural fields, obtaining satisfactory results. Meanwhile, student Alexis López Borell's project focuses on the recovery and concentration of phenolic compounds present in vinasse waste, a byproduct of the winemaking process. He employed membrane technology for its treatment. The application of this technology reduced the waste volume by up to 35%, yielding a polyphenol-rich stream with a concentration of 21.2 g/L. Polyphenols are of significant commercial interest to various industries, including food, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics, due to their high antioxidant capacity.

With this new edition of the awards, the Facsa-Fovasa Chair of the UPV maintains its commitment to the development of actions aimed at promoting innovation in the field of circular economy, associated with water and waste management.