alchemia-nova | institute for innovative phytochemistry & closed loop processes
🌿 Proud moment for our team! Our Team Lead for Nature-Based Solutions & Water, Marco Hartl, and Environmental Engineer Eriona Canga contributed to a new book chapter on the 𝐬𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐞𝐭𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 – an important output of the Hashtag#WATERAGRI project. Constructed wetlands (CWs) have long been used for pollution control and water management. This chapter explores not only their…
This study investigated the performance of the vertECO® green wall system with lightweight expanded clay aggregate (LECA) and biochar-pumice media in treating greywater from an urban city district (1000 residents) under Scandinavian climate conditions. Over one year, the system effectively removed organic matter, achieving 90–97 % of biological oxygen demand (BOD) reduction and 56–94 % for total suspended solids (TSS). However, nitrogen…
Natural hazards increasingly threaten alpine infrastructures and livelihoods due to climate change and expanding settlement, while the sustainability of conventional grey protective structures is constrained by high maintenance demands. Nature-based solutions (NbS) offer more cost-effective, adaptive protection that can strengthen over time, making them central to climate-resilient hazard management. This paper presents a systematic methodology that integrates a three-level hazard…
Nature-Based Solutions for Urban Sustainability provides comprehensive insights on existing technologies and up-to-date advances in the field of water, wastewater and waste treatment using nature-based approaches and systems. This book highlights: Process fundamentals of nature-based solutions, including hydrodynamics, media, bacteria/media interactions and phytoremediation for pollution control, resource recovery and energy generation.Critical insights on the status, major challenges and modern engineering…
This study evaluated pilot-scale sludge treatment reed beds (STRBs) planted with Miscanthus x giganteus for their ability to remove 49 organic micropollutants under different aeration regimes over 16 months. Results showed that 21 of 25 frequently detected compounds were degraded by up to 99% independent of aeration type, suggesting environmental conditions play a greater role than aeration in removal efficiency….
This study presents circular economy interventions implemented in a centenary building in Vienna under the EU-funded HOUSEFUL project, aiming to optimise resource management across building life cycles. The approach integrates technologies for internal reuse of treated rainwater and wastewater, renewable energy generation from biogas, composting linked to urban gardening, and nutrient use in greenhouses. Energy efficiency enhancements include green walls,…
A horizontal flow wetland (HF) integrated in a cascading vertical set-up (vertECO) was tested for decentralised treatment of low load greywater in a Mediterranean tourist facility over 22 months, evaluating 15 plant species and three hydraulic retention times (HRTs: 1.9, 1.4 and 1.0 days) with additional aeration improving the degradation process. Standard pollutant removal efficiencies exceeded 90% for COD, BOD5,…
Urban strategies and the way cities are planned have changed throughout history, adapting to the needs of the inhabitants, infrastructure requirements, and advances in technology. Uses and customs of people and cities are changing and can evolve much faster than in the past, with the result that urban planning is often too slow to adequately meet the current needs of…
This review explores the role of nature-based solutions (NBS), particularly those utilising (micro)organisms, in enabling resource recovery within urban environments under the circular economy framework. Drawing on extensive literature and over 90 European innovation projects from the COST Action Circular City network, it examines NBS applications for treating urban and industrial wastewater, municipal solid waste, and gaseous effluents. The study…
Limited water and phosphorus resources and large carbon footprints of chemical fertilisers drive increased recovery of water and nutrients for reuse in agriculture. Alongside end-of-pipe technologies at conventional wastewater treatment plants, nature-based solutions provide a robust and low-energy alternative solution. This paper evaluates the potential of nature-based solutions (NBS) to close water and nutrient cycles in urban food systems, using…
This study develops a novel dynamic selection approach for Circular Economy indicators, integrating expert and participatory inputs to address the Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystems nexus. Twenty indicators were ranked by diverse stakeholders, and their interrelationships analysed through Interpretive Structural Modeling, identifying six hierarchical importance levels. Cross-Impact matrix multiplication applied to classification (MICMAC) analysis classified indicators into four categories based on driving and dependence…
This study assessed the removal of four pharmaceutical organic micropollutants (carbamazepine, diclofenac, ibuprofen, and naproxen) in meso-scale constructed wetlands (CWs) operated as bioelectrochemical systems (BES), specifically microbial fuel cells (MFCs) and microbial electrolysis cells (MECs), applying a realistic horizontal flow regime and through continuous real urban wastewater feeding. Although CW-BES treatments showed modest, non-significant increases in removal efficiencies for carbamazepine,…
The construction industry is one of the most environmentally detrimental industries in the world, impacting directly the use of raw materials, their determination of use involving the whole lifecycle, as well as all their surrounding environment. This article examines the potential of deconstruction, a selective dismantling of building components for reuse, repurposing, or recycling, as a sustainable alternative to traditional…
VertECO is a vertical constructed wetland integrating horizontal and vertical flow for greywater treatment in hotel settings. The system achieves 90% or higher pollutant removal via plant–microbe interactions, producing effluent meeting regulatory quality standards suitable for reuse (e.g., irrigation, toilet flushing). Water savings of 40%–50% can be achieved. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) indicates a reduced environmental impact compared to conventional…
Water in the city is typically exploited in a linear process, in which most of it is polluted, treated, and discharged; during this process, valuable nutrients are lost in the treatment process instead of being cycled back and used in urban agriculture or green space. This paper proposes a paradigm shift toward closing urban water cycles through nature-based solutions (NBS),…
This study explores temporary pop-up environments as innovative, sustainable living systems supporting the transition to a circular economy in urban construction. Designed for flexibility, lightweight assembly, and reversibility, these Pop-Up structures were conceptualised through six scenarios tailored to Vienna’s technical, urban, and social conditions. An international online survey assessed the transferability of these concepts, revealing that while sustainability requirements for…
This article addresses the early-stage transition from a linear to a circular economy in the construction sector, emphasising the role of deconstruction as a sustainable alternative to traditional demolition. Deconstruction involves selective dismantling of building components for reuse, repurposing, or recycling, reducing material waste and environmental impact. The study analyses strategies to maximise deconstruction potential and minimise urban environmental effects….
This report is aimed at summarising how CE can help Climate in the Buildings and Infrastructure sector. In particular, the 4-pager highlights the impact of the sector, as well as the role of Circular Economy in tackling the pressing challenges the sector faces, and refers to best practices and innovations currently being implemented across the EU region and the UK….
This review evaluates the use of filter materials (FMs) to reduce dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP) losses from tile-drained agricultural catchments, a key source of phosphorus pollution in surface waters. It concludes that sorption-based retention, especially using iron- and aluminum-rich FMs, outperforms precipitation-based methods due to strong DRP binding, fast reaction times, and low desorption. Calcium- and magnesium-based FMs are effective…
This paper examines circular economy opportunities within the construction sector, emphasising market dynamics, value chain collaboration, and industrial symbiosis. It stems from multi-stakeholder consultations led by ENEA and involving key actors, synthesizing barriers, drivers, and strategic pathways to advance circularity, resource efficiency, and decarbonization in construction and infrastructure. Despite limited policy focus on green infrastructure, emerging EU instruments signal increased…
Global phosphorus reserves face depletion risks due to overconsumption and poor management, while eutrophication affects many marine waters from excess nutrients. The nutrient-rich marine environment offers a potential phosphorus source that could serve as future phosphorus mines. Sustainable recovery strategies, especially bio-based approaches using microorganisms, show promise for removing and recovering phosphorus to support both ecosystem health and market demand….
Robust architecture is created based on needs. It is sufficient, resilient, and appropriate to the location. It is about the potential of simplicity, about traditional construction, and about alternative paths to sustainable architecture. Local building materials, solid craftsmanship, and proven construction methods provide guidance. Combined with contemporary planning tools and research findings, this results in design strategies for a climate-positive…
The construction sector is one of the most resource- and energy-intensive industries in Europe, responsible for approximately 40% of CO₂ emissions and nearly one-third of all waste generated in the EU. In Austria, it accounts for around 50% of resource use and over 70% of waste, much of it from excavated material that is typically landfilled. Despite its impact, recycling…
The construction sector significantly impacts material consumption and waste generation, accounting for ~50% of Europe’s material extraction and over 35% of its waste. Current policy momentum, driven by the EU Green Deal, CEAP, the Renovation Wave, and EU Taxonomy, creates an opportunity to embed circularity in the built environment. The Leadership Group emphasizes the need for coordinated action across scales,…
This study evaluated the long-term phosphorus (P) removal efficiency of five filter materials in column experiments simulating drainage water treatment from agricultural fields. Two iron-based materials (calculated diatomaceous earth CDE, and ferric hydroxide granules CFH) and three calcium-based materials (seashells, limestone, and calculated silicate/ calcium oxide (Filtralite-P) were tested under varying flow rates and P concentrations (0.14 and 0.7 mg/L)….
This study investigates stakeholder perspectives on nature-based solutions (NBS) in urban planning across six European cities. Semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis yielded 107 codes categorized into NBS benefits, challenges, opportunities, actors, and regulations. Cooperation emerged as the most frequently cited benefit (Fr=125), while lack of knowledge was identified as the primary barrier to NBS implementation (Fr=93). The demand for green…
Intense agricultural practices are the leading cause of water, soil, and biodiversity degradation in Europe. Since the adoption of the Water Framework Directive 15 years ago, agricultural fertiliser and pesticides applications have been identified consistently as the leading cause of excess pollution loads both in surface waters and groundwater, and for aquatic species loss (Schäfer et al. 2007; Bieroza, Bol,…
This study evaluates decentralised water and nutrient management strategies in two Austrian case studies: a rural eco-village and an urban farm. Green wall treatment systems, rainwater harvesting, and compost application were assessed for their potential to meet local irrigation and fertilisation needs. Results show that reclaimed wastewater can fulfill nearly all water demands and substantially cover nitrogen and phosphorus needs,…
This study investigates the treatment efficiency of the full-scale vertECO® green wall system, developed by alchemia-nova, for all fractions of domestic wastewater. The system consists of aerated, vertically aligned basins operating with subsurface horizontal flow hydraulic regime. While prior research focused on greywater and blackwater liquid fractions, this is the first demonstration treating complete domestic wastewater. Four parallel modules, each…
In our HOUSEFUL project, we are implementing circular solutions for buildings. A lot of innovative ideas and solutions are already available for the building sector. But social acceptance and people standing behind those ideas and pushing them for implementation are key for a circular transformation of the housing sector. Therefore we invite architects and construction companies, policymakers and citizens to…
Raising disruptive Bioeconomy Ventures, Startups and Spinoffs to the Top Press release – Bioeconomy Ventures Investment Opportunities Ideas are a dime-a-dozen, but only sometimes is an idea so good that others may want to invest their money into it. On the 14th of March 2023, six outstanding start-ups were given the chance to present their ideas to ready and willing…
