Siemens uses Element Six diamond technology in water treatment system
Element Six, a global leader in synthetic diamond super-materials and member of the De Beers group of companies, announced its Diamox electrochemical advanced oxidation cell technology has been adopted as a core part of Siemens Zimpro electro-oxidation technology for use in the effective treatment of recalcitrant industrial wastewater. With high-purity, electrically-conductive, and freestanding boron doped diamond (BDD) electrodes, Diamox is used in Zimpro technology to produce advanced oxidation processes that are capable of mineralizing dissolved pollutants in wastewater streams. Negating the need for oxidizing chemicals to be stored onsite, the specialized Diamox cell and Zimpro electro-oxidation process combine to provide an efficient and cost-effective solution for challenging applications such as spent caustic treatment.
The collaboration between Element Six and Siemens, which follows a successful pilot project using Diamox in Zimpro electro-oxidation technology, has now been brought to market and is specifically focusing on the needs of the oil and gas industry, with potential for applications in other industrial sectors.
S&L aligns with RF Wastewater/Nuvoda to bring biofilm tech to market
Smith & Loveless Inc. and RF Wastewater/Nuvoda LLC announced a strategic alliance to deliver innovative biofilm technologies to optimize activated sludge treatment and clarifier performance for water resource recovery facilities (WRRFs) and other public/private treatment plant systems. This alliance combines Smith & Loveless’ legacy of treatment process innovation and engineered system design with RF Wastewater/Nuvoda’s bioaugmentation expertise and mobile biofilm carrier development. Under the agreement, Smith & Loveless obtains the exclusive right to commercially develop and integrate RF Wastewater/Nuvoda’s patented lignocellulosic biofilm technology for high-rate biofilm treatment for nutrient removal, granular biomass and enhanced clarifier settling. These new eco-friendly processes bring all-natural green solutions to clean water treatment.
With the announcement, Smith & Loveless introduced new process solutions for biofilm treatment and clarifier optimization featuring RF Wastewater/Nuvoda’s patented mobile biofilm media and Mobile Organic Biofilm processes. These patented processes enable new and existing WRRFs to improve organic and hydraulic treatment capacity, nutrient removal and clarifier settling without the use of polymers, petroleum-based carriers or expensive, inorganic ballasted additives. Because it utilizes an all-natural green carrier, the Mobile Organic Biofilm process eliminates the need for non-renewable petroleum-based carriers and other additives.
EU invests in Aquaporin project
Aquaporin has been granted the EU project, AMBROSIA (Aquaporin-Inside Membranes for Brackish water Reverse Osmosis Application) with a budget of DKK 10.5 million. The EU project, which will run from October 2017 to September 2019, will enable the development and commercialization of Aquaporin Inside Brackish Water Reverse Osmosis membranes. The Reverse Osmosis (RO) membrane segment, which is the largest of the membrane market, was valuated at DKK 8.1 billion in 2015 and is projected to grow by 43 percent over the 8-year period from 2014 to 2021, reaching a DKK 18 billion revenue by 2021. Part of the RO market is dominated by brackish water reverse osmosis membranes. With the Aquaporin Inside brackish water technology, seawater can be converted into fresh water by desalination. Aquaporin has developed a ground-breaking biomimetic technology to separate and purify water from other compounds based on nature’s own principles: Aquaporin water channel proteins. This technology may have the potential to make current RO technology more energy- and water-efficient as well as more sustainable and cost-effective.
