Profil Title	Replenishable Biomass Carriers Technology for High Efficiency Water Treatments
Reference Nr.	11 IL 80EP 3NDU
Country of origin	Israel
Profil Type	Offer
Entry/Update	2011-12-07 / 2012-07-01

Abstract	An Israeli SME has developed a technology that substantially increases the efficiency of wastewater treatment.The company will market proprietary biomass-carrier knit-fabrics stretching media and support-devices that will substantially increase the water treatment efficiency of existing and specifically-designed WWTP while decreasing energetic-demand for treatment. The company seeks partner to jointly construct, experiment and commercialize the proprietary technology the company has developed.
Details	The removal of dissolved organic and nitrogen substances is typically done by biological processes collectively referred to as “activated sludge”. In the processes, microorganisms are cultivated at the expense of the removed substances. The grown microorganism , referred to as “biomass”, are removed from the treated wastewater by sedimentation. Biomass “prefer” to grow in films (“bio-films”) on support surfaces, thus, by providing media with an abundance of growth surfaces, higher efficiency water treatments can be achieved. The media for supporting biomass is referred to as “biomass-carriers”. Over-growth of biomass on biomass-carrier media blocks the exposure of the microorganisms to the dissolved substances and oxygen, causing a substantial decline in the wastewater treatment efficiency. The use of biomass-carriers of various kinds is well established in water treatment technologies. The Israeli company has developed stretchable biomass-carriers knit-fabrics with exceedingly large growth-surfaces. The company’s biomass-carriers typically have 2,100 m2 growth-surface per m3 and, in addition, have easy and simple in-situ growth-surfaces replenishing capabilities. When the Israeli company’s fabrics become saturated with grown biomass, excess and clogging biomass is removed from the surfaces by stretching and relaxing the fabrics. The now replenished knit-fabrics enable continued logarithmic growth of highly metabolically active biomass. In comparison, commercially available biomass-carriers typically have only 600-900 m2 per m3 growth-surfaces and have no replenishing capabilities. When using free floating particles biomass-carriers, bubbled air must be supplied to maintain the particles in constant motion. The bubbling exceeds the requirement for minimal dissolved oxygen in the water. Utilizing the Israeli company’s knit-fabrics saves the energy of extensive bubbling while manifesting a substantially larger biomass growing surface area per give volume of biomass-carrier media. The Israeli company’s knit-fabrics can be utilized for aerobic water treatments such as the efficient removal of dissolved organic substances from municipal and industrial wastewater and the removal of ammonia from recycled aqua-culturing water. The knit-fabrics can also be utilized in anaerobic water treatments such as de-nitrification of wastewater. The Israeli company’s biomass-carriers technology is based on knitting with available knitting machines commonly available inert mono-filament strings (such as nylon fishing-strings) to fabric sheets. The company has planned, constructed and experimented with devices that enable the stretching-relaxing of submerged fabric-sheets. Stretching-relaxing can be performed at will, utilizing a micro-processor that activates pnomatic pistons of electrical gear-motors. Fig. 1 An isometric view of a segment of mono-filament stretchable knit-fabrics biomass carrier media developed by the Israeli company. Fig. 2 Schematic drawings of the Israeli company’s mono-filament knit-fabrics biomass carrier media in relaxed and stretched states. (A) In a relaxed state biomass develops on the outer surfaces and inside the volume of the knits, between the strings. (B) In a stretched state the excess biomass that developed in and on the knit is released into the surrounding water, thus replenishing the media for renewal high rate growth. Fig. 3 Schematic drawings of three types of devices with submerged knit-fabric encompassing frames. Design A has been built and experimented with. Designs B and C are in construction. Innovative Aspects: The Israeli company’s biomass-carriers media offers a substantially greater biomass growth surface areas per given volume of media when compared to other commercially available biomass-carriers. Unlike commercially available biomass-carriers, when integrated into “stretching-relaxing” devices, the Israeli company’s biomass-carriers replenish at-will the growth surface areas, thus providing continuous logarithmic growing, highly metabolic active, microorganisms. The Israeli company’s technology is easy to implement in presently operating WWT-facilities, large as well as small. The technology saves energy by providing just the right growth conditions for the biomass without energy wasted on excess aeration and water circulation.
Technology sector	- Cleaning Technology - Microbiology - Environmental Engineering / Technology - Water Pollution / Treatment - Biotreatment / Compost / Bioconversion
Market application	- Pollution and Recycling Related - Water treatment equipment and waste disposal systems - Utilities and Related Firms - Water, sewerage, chemical and solid waste treatment plants
Stage of development	Available for demonstration
Patent Rights (IPR)	Patent(s) applied for but not yet granted
	Patent applied for in: US, EC, Australia, India, Israel
Cooperation type	- License Agreement - Joint further development - Financial Resources # Type of partner sought A company in the field of water treatment involved in the field in the scope of planning, construction, maintenance and/or equipment supply of large and small water treatment facilities. # Specific area of activity of the partner Water treatment facilities (including municipal, industrial wastewater as well as recycling grey water). # Task to be performed by the partner sought Jointly with the Israeli company to construct and test devices based on the Israeli company’s technology. To commercialize devices based on the Israeli company’s technology.
Organisation type	Industry     Org. Size: < 10
Status	This profile is expired! For further details, please contact your local EEN office.