Technology

High performance materials are at the heart of our innovative end to end treatment solutions, which are designed in house by our process engineers. These solutions range from toilet to tap water reuse applications for domestic wastewater to zero liquid discharge (ZLD) systems for high strength industrial effluent. They offer significantly higher performance-price ratios when compared to competitor processes commonly in use. We manufacture the materials for distribution and act as system integrators for onsite packaged wastewater and water purification plants as well as customized large capacity systems for communities and cities.

WASTEWATER TREATMENT

Flocculants are used to accelerate the liquid-solid separation phase of many wastewater treatment processes. A major application is in activated sludge treatment systems common to the secondary and tertiary treatment of domestic sewage and industrial effluent with high strength pollutants. The flocculants in use are usually Polyacrylamides (PAM) with varying charge densities and molecular weights.

POLYWEBP30™

PolyWebP30™ was developed in collaboration with the University of British Columbia and partial funding from the National Research Council of Canada. It is a drop in replacement for PAM flocculants in wastewater treatment applications but unlike PAM, it is non toxic and can be used by drinking water treatment plants for removing suspended solids in high turbidity raw water.

PAM in solution, agglomerate microflocs formed through the use of coagulants in conditioning suspended solids in the waste stream. Large macroflocs, which are formed as a result, settle out or float as with Dissolved Air Floatation (DAF) systems during the clarification phase of the treatment process. The agglomeration process is enabled by PAM undergoing “polymer bridging” or “bridging flocculation”. However, PolyWebP30™ induces “webbing flocculation” which comprises an encapsulation phase in addition to polymer bridging. This unique process paradigm results in macroflocs considerably larger and denser than macroflocs formed through the use of PAM. Gravity settlement, floatation or filtration of the macroflocs is significantly faster and more effective in reducing suspended solids in the waste stream. In addition, independent test reports confirm that PolyWeb P30 at a dosage of 1ppm is as effective as 5ppm of PAM distributed by major global producers.

MICROWEB SOLUTIONS

MicroWeb Solutions are wastewater treatment processes designed in-house which capitalize on the advantages of using PolyWebP30™.

MicroWeb EPB

MicroWeb EPB onsite packaged wastewater treatment plants are closed loop systems designed to treat high strength organic effluent from food sector establishments including commercial kitchens, hotels and resorts. Treatment passes through aerobic, anoxic and anaerobic phases and in the process, denitrification and phosphorus removal are effected. The key component is the Biochemical tank which is a proprietary triple chambered bioreactor where PolyWebP30™ is added. Moving filter media and fixed biofilm media feature in two of the chambers resulting in accelerated microbial degradation of organics present. Residential time in the biochemical tank is normally half that of competitor systems owing to the ability of PolyWebP30™ to expedite microbial degradation through microflocculation of the suspended organic solids and its ability to help retain the integrity of the biofilms formed. There is no requirement to deal with sludge as it is continually recirculated to the anoxic tank until totally digested. In addition, MicroWeb EPB systems have a strong competitive edge because of their smaller footprints and considerably lower operating costs.

MicroWeb MWR

MicroWeb MWR packaged treatment plants are designed to cater to a wide spectrum of industrial effluent. The required bioreactor attachments can vary according to the characteristics of the effluent. Examples include an adsorption filter recommended for effluent with an SS/COD ratio less than 0.4; a HESS settling tank when SS/COD ratio is greater than 0.4; DAF when resulting sludge has low specific gravity and press filter when SS/COD ratio is extremely high. As with MicroWeb EPB plants, MicroWeb MWR systems owe their competitive edge to PolyWebP30™ and are characterized by small footprints and low operating costs.

HIGH PURITY WATER PURIFICATION

The standard methods for high purity water purification, apart from deionization, are mainly membrane based processes. Reverse Osmosis, ultra and nanofiltration have dominated the industry for several decades, but despite significant improvements in operating efficiencies, inherent performance limitations remain. Nanotechnology has enabled high performance materials to be produced with the capability of generating high purity water from contaminated wastewater without the use of membranes and their limitations.

Naps 135

Naps 135 are reactive nanomedia with the thickness of a single molecule exfoliated from naturally occurring minerals using a patented nanotechnology platform. Naps 135 is free floating in high purity water but encapsulates suspended or dissolved impurities 15 Angstroms or larger, upon contact. Naps 135 nanomedia collapses on and encapsulates dissolved solids including micro-organisms, after introduction into contaminated feedwater under agitation. Thereafter, the Naps 135 nanomedia loaded with dissolved solids (TDS) can be removed from the contaminated water by centrifuge, allowing high purity clean water to be recovered. The loaded Naps 135 can then be floated in a polar solvent and recovered for reuse via centrifuge, leaving TDS to be separated and voided.


Free floating Naps 135 in contact with Dissolved Solids	Naps 135 Encapsulates Dissolved Solids

Nanocap Solutions

The Nanocap process is built on the use of Naps 135 and can remove a wide range of substances including chemical, radioactive and biological pollutants. A three stage Nanocap working model is being designed and fabricated by our in-house team. It will comprise a cleanwater recovery phase followed by TDS discharge and a final Naps recovery phase.

Nanocap Process Schematic

Applications

Replacing Reverse Osmosis and Membrane Bioreactors in a number of applications:-

Zero Liquid Discharge Systems
Polishing Saline Groundwater
Seawater Desalination
Pretreatment for Deionization
Advanced Biological Treatment

Comparative Analysis

Nanocap processes are not limited by TDS concentrations unlike membrane filtration such as reverse osmosis or deionization. A significant number of other cost and performance benefits can be expected when compared against reverse osmosis.

	Reverse Osmosis	Nanocap Solutions
Cost of Equipment (USD)	1.35 million	0.9 million
Operating Costs (USD/MT)	0.45	0.18
Feedwater Recovery	75%	98%
Fouling	Prone	Unaffected
Scaling (LSI)	Sensitive	Unaffected
Operating Temperatures	25⁰ C Ideal	Up to 85⁰C
Ph Sensitivity	High	Low. Works well Ph 3-14
TDS/TSS Removal	Selective	Versatile. Non selective

WATER DISINFECTION

SMZ Zeolite

SMZ Zeolites are surfactant modified zeolites using a proprietary process to bond a commonly available surfactant, HDTMA-Cl, to its surface. As a result, the zeolites take on a surface cationic charge and are then able to adsorb pathogenic bacteria and viruses. Zeolites have naturally occurring cage like structures with large surface areas. They act as molecular sieves and have proven capabilities in removing 100% of E.Coli and viruses.

SMZ Zeolites have distinct advantages over several common disinfectants, which have significant shortcomings. Chlorine is extremely cost effective but can produce carcinogenic disinfection by products like trihalomethanes (THM). The use of iodine can cause long term health effects, whereas ozone is unstable and UV entails high capital costs apart from being ineffective in high turbidity water. SMZ Zeolites are highly cost effective without any known side effects. They are a more viable alternative to several standard disinfection methods.