Consequently, and by means of these technologies transfer and use, ZERO PLUS will define a management model for liquid waste generated in the galvanic industry.

In fact, achieving zero discharge throught the application of new techniques in manufacturing processes is rather a difficult target due to the generation of refuse flows all along with valuable flows wich occurs with the present techniques.

This is the reason why the ZERO PLUS project focusses in obtaining two kind of results. In one hand, it deals with regeneration at source of baths and rinsing solutions, recovery of chemicals and water and reduction of generated waste. On the other hand, it treats the waste flows at source so as to minimize the ultimate pollution and approach the closest zero discharge.

 By doing so, it is in fact the second line of action wich makes the difference between ZERO PLUS and other similar projects carried out before since the treatment of waste flows by means of complementary BAT will allow to meet some discharge targets such as reducing or eliminating final pollution, dropping COD to levels that can be handled by biological wastewater treatments or avoiding incineration of high COD concentratesor.

This project, cofinanced by the European project LIFE-Environment, will last three years and counts on the participation of the following partners, in Spain:  AIMME (Instituto Tecnológico Metalmecánico), project coordinator;  the Fundación Comunidad Valenciana-Región Europea, responsible for the project difussion plan at both national and international level; Innove Verda, responsible for development and maintenance of the ZERO PLUS website; the Economía Aplicada and Derecho Administrativo departments at the Universitat de Valencia – UVEG and the valencian company Galol, in wich the techinques implementation and the management model will be held. And in France: JRU EMSE/ ARMINES, investigation university in charge of demo product development based on technical results; Generale de Eaux, environmental equipment provider company; ECS, environmental equipment provider company and Anjou Recherche, as environmental solutions developer.