The Role of the QUESTOR Centre Applied Technology Unit Ciarán Prunty
The Applied Technology Unit Interface between industry and academia Conduit for industrial ideas, knowledge and experience into QUESTOR Route for demonstration and application of QUESTOR research to industry or member companies
The Applied Technology Unit Industry Problems Ideas Drivers Experiences Products/processes Industry Problems Ideas Drivers Experiences Products/processes ATU Projects Demonstration Knowledge transfer Consultancy ATU Projects Demonstration Knowledge transfer Consultancy QUESTOR Research programme Academic expertise Industrial Membership QUESTOR Research programme Academic expertise Industrial Membership
The Applied Technology Unit Self financing unit 12 full-time staff, multi-disciplined Client base of over 200 companies
The QUESTOR Model Assist members and academics in steering research toward useable products and technologies Monitoring Consultancy Product and Process Development Product Development Product Support QUESTOR Research Programme Range of Environmental Products Based on Novel Technologies QUESTOR Technologies Ltd (Holding Company)
Core activities ATU Collaborative Projects Knowledge and Training Technology Transfer & Exploitation Monitoring and Analysis Consultancy
Collaborative projects EU projects National Cross border
European Project: SESCOWA Interior detail of bioreactor Membrane for cell separation
SESCOWA– microbial extraction of valuable compounds from fish waste Design and construction of bioreactors and downstream processing equipment (small pilot scale - 10 litres) Laboratory tests and trials at a fish processing plant in the West of Ireland
SOPHIED project: Sustainable bioprocesses for EU colour industry Collaboration with 27 members across EU Wastewater decolourisation process demonstration
Current Renewable Energy Collaborative Projects REWISE –Funded by Intelligent Energy Europe (€835K) –Led by d’Applonia (Italy) with 5 partners including QUESTOR –Use of food waste disposers for improved energy recovery from food waste and reduced solid waste disposal costs GreenGrass –Funded by Irish Dept of Agriculture and Food(€1.2M) –Led by TEAGASC (Irish Agriculture & Food Development Authority) with UCC plus QUESTOR –Developing grass for sustainable renewable energy generation BioMara –Funded by EU Interreg Programme (€5M) –Led by Scottish Assoc. For Marine Science with 5 partners including QUESTOR –Developing Marine Algae as a source of renewable energy
Analysis and monitoring Routine and non-routine Bespoke analysis Additional information to support R+D funding application
Consultancy services Wastewater treatment –Troubleshooting Waste and effluent minimisation Problem-solving
Resource efficient production for shellfish company
Information/Knowledge transfer KTP and Fusion projects Training courses –Wastewater treatment –Waste minimisation –Environmental auditing –Anaerobic digestion Desk/scoping studies
Technology transfer Progress QUESTOR research projects to demonstration and commercialisation In-house design/construction of pilot plant On-site operation, monitoring and analysis
Pilot plants
Biosettler Improved final clarifier performance with reduced BOD discharge
Biosettler Inclined plates settling plus bubbleless aeration
Sludge reduction Acid stimulated reduced biomass generation
Sludge reduction On-site demonstration at NI Water site Assessing performance with real wastewater
The QUESTOR Centre David Keir Building Stranmillis Road Belfast, BT9 5AG Tel: +44(0) Fax: +44(0) Thank you