LIFE Biolubridge

19/05/2026

We are proud to share that Vitone Eco as coordinator of the LIFE BioLUBRIDGE project, presented the innovative BioLUBRIDGE technology during the latest edition of IFAT Munich, the world’s leading trade fair for water, wastewater, recycling and environmental technologies, held in Munich.

The project attracted strong interest and highly encouraging feedback from industry professionals, researchers, utilities and stakeholders from across Europe.

BioLUBRIDGE demonstrates how wastewater sludge can be transformed from an environmental challenge into a valuable resource through the recovery of lipids and their conversion into sustainable biolubricants. The technology combines circular economy principles, environmental protection and industrial innovation in a scalable and replicable solution for the wastewater sector.

Participating in IFAT represented an important opportunity to: ✅ showcase the results achieved by the project;
✅ discuss future industrial applications;
✅ strengthen international networking and cooperation;
✅ promote sustainable and circular solutions for wastewater management.

The positive response received during the exhibition confirms the growing interest in innovative technologies capable of reducing waste, recovering resources and supporting Europe’s transition toward a greener and more sustainable economy.

A sincere thank you to everyone who visited our stand, shared ideas and showed interest in the BioLUBRIDGE vision.

25/03/2026

The implementation of the Biolubridge project brought to a net reduction of carbon footprint (-76.2 tons CO₂ eq), water consumption (-4786 m3), acidification (-308 mol H⁺ eq), marine eutrophication (-134 kg N eq), freshwater eutrophication (-9.3 kg P eq) and terrestrial eutrophication (-1331 mol N eq). In addition, high removal were achieved for mineral oils (-184 kg), DEHP (-182 g) and Nonyl phenol (-74 g) together with its ethoxylated derivatives NPEO (-66.8 g). Lower but environmentally significant amounts of BPA (-5.1 g), Diclofenac (-3.9 g) and PAHs (-27.8 g) were also eventually removed.

25/03/2026

Grease recovered from the Bari Ovest WWTP (about 1500 kg were eventually obtained) were processed and converted in a new product (2-Ethyl Hexyl Esters, about 1200 kg) to be used as the base ingredient for the production of new Biolubricantformulations. The only coproduct was a mixture of esters of 10-hydroxystearic-based acids, which are natural compounds with very interesting properties in lubrication. The process route optimized during the project allows the recovery of the whole grease recovered from sewage sludge, representing a new potential feedstock for the lubrication sector. The reproducibility experimentally assessed is an important aspect that confers robustness to the entire project and its future implementation.

25/03/2026

Our goal remains clear:
absolute circularity of resources,
complete decontamination of urban and industrial effluents,
a cleaner environment and sustainable growth.

Because every drop of water and every gram of waste can – and must – become part of a cleaner cycle.

25/03/2026

BIOLUBRIDGE EMULDRAW EP 055
A new biolubricant fluid prepared by using 2-ethylhexyl esters of grease recovered from the Bari OvestWWTP was tested in industrial applications. The BIOLUBRIDGE EMULDRAW EP 055 fluid demonstrated cutting performance fully comparable to the commercial reference product. Throughout the testing period, the fluid maintained a stable emulsion, ensuring consistent lubrication and cooling at the tool–workpiece interface. Excellent tool cleanliness was observed, with no build-up of residues or deposits that could affect machining operations. The machined parts consistently exhibited a high-quality surface finish, reflecting the effectiveness of the lubricant in reducing friction and maintaining surface integrity. In addition, the formation of a robust protective film on both tools and workpieces was noted, contributing to prolonged tool life and minimizing wear. The final report received, clearly indicate that EMUL 4FG can serve as an effective alternative to the commercial benchmark, offering comparable performance in terms of lubrication, surface quality, and tool protection.

25/03/2026

DRAWING HB CF-90
A new biolubricant fluid prepared by using 2-ethylhexyl esters of grease recovered from the Bari OvestWWTP was tested in industrial applications. The DRAWING HB CF-90 lubricant consistently ensured the formation of a continuous and stable lubricant film throughout the tests, providing adequate load-bearing capacity and preventing any signs of premature tool wear, staining, or surface damage. The product exhibited excellent anti-stick behaviour and superior surface protection, contributing to optimal process stability. The testing was conducted continuously over a one-week period, during which no darkening, smoke generation, or adhesion of the lubricant to the tooling was observed, confirming its chemical and thermal stability under industrial forming conditions.

The LIFE BioLubridge project will combine two worlds currently unmatched: production of bio-lubricants and wastewater treatment. Discover more >>

25/03/2026

Draw 3A – Biolubridge Drawing HB-CF 40
A new metal-working fluid prepared by using 2-ethylhexyl esters of grease recovered from the Bari OvestWWTP was tested in industrial applications. The DRAWING HB-CF 40 fluid exhibited consistently high and reliable tribological performance throughout all forming operations. Its rheological properties remained stable, with no detectable variation in viscosity, and the fluid demonstrated excellent thermal and chemical stability, showing no signs of oxidation, gumming, or residue accumulation on either workpieces or tooling. Lubricant application was uniform and reproducible, ensuring optimal material flow and minimizing frictional losses during deformation. When compared with the reference fluid DRAWING OIL 60 cSt, which contains chlorinated additives, the BIOLUBRIDGE DRAWING HB CF-40 exhibited extremely similar properties in terms of lubrication, load-carrying capacity, and process stability. This represents an excellent result, considering that the BIOLUBRIDGE fluid is chlorine-free, offering an environmentally friendlier alternative while maintaining equivalent operational performance.

25/03/2026

Over 750 tons of sedimented sewage sludge and 100 tons of sewage scum (EEC190809) equivalent were processed, obtaining the recovery of over 1500 kg of raw grease. A significant reduction in the final sludge to be eventually disposed of was also achieved. At the end of the project, about 27 tons of residual sludge were produced (TS>45%), which represent one third of the amount conventionally produced from the same starting volumes. In addition, such a residue satisfied defecation chalk specifications, potentially satisfying the definition of process at zero-waste discharge.