Background The industrial sectors of ceramics and textiles consume large quantities of water, generating significant amounts of contaminated wastewater. This wastewater has to be treated before being returned to the natural environment in order to avoid pollution of surface waters. The most important treatments in the primary phase are coagulation and flocculation. These use large amounts of chemical products to remove suspended particles and produce sludge as a by-product. Standard sludge from urban wastewater treatment can typically be dehydrated and treated for use as fertiliser. However, the sludge from ceramic and textile industrial wastewater treatment can be dangerous because of the metals or toxicity derived from the pH. Treatment solutions for contaminated sludge also tend to use chemical products derived from non-renewable resources. However, there is potential to use organic products from natural sources to tackle both the metal and pH challenges of the ceramic and textile wastewater sludge, reducing its dangerous character. Objectives The LIFE ADNATUR project aims to demonstrate an innovative and environmentally friendly primary treatment of wastewater. The ultimate aim is to avoid the production of sludge waste contaminated with hazardous chemicals from the treatment of urban and industrial wastewaters. The project will develop a new innovative technology, based on natural products, for the primary treatment of wastewaters at urban and industrial level. It aims to improve the coagulant efficiency in wastewater treatment procedures when compared with current alternatives such as synthetic or inorganic materials. This in turn aims to reduce the dosage of coagulant needed and avoid the need for chemical neutralising agents, such as hydrogen chloride (HCl) and nitric acid (HNO3). To assess its performance, the team will design and assemble two prototype industrial-scale wastewater-treatment plants. Two Spanish companies from the textile and ceramic sector will test the treatment technique using the first prototype. The second prototype will be used to test the technique for the treatment of urban wastewater. These tests aim to assess, fine-tune and ultimately validate the new treatment technique in real-life industrial and urban settings. The implementation of the new technology at EU level is expected to provide economic, technical and environmental advantages. These will arise from reductions in chemical consumption, energy and resource savings and the avoidance of contaminating wastewater and sludge. Expected results: The project expects to achieve the following results: A reduction of up to 75% in the use of chemicals – notably neutralising agents such as HCl and HNO3; A 35% reduction in consumption of coagulant products; A reduction of organic products in the flocculant dosage of some 10%; Avoidance of metallic elements including iron and aluminium in waste sludge; and A 40% reduction in costs.