| A new technology in wastewater treatment, called | | | | wastewater. The presence of organic, inorganic |
| Advanced Immobilized Cell Reactor technology, | | | | chemicals, and organisms, both pathogenic and |
| available now, promises benefits like: | | | | non-pathogenic in nature, make domestic wastewater |
| * Up to 25% lower plant cost | | | | complex. Conventional biological treatment systems |
| * Up to 50% lower operating costs | | | | do not remove dissolved organics and |
| * Up to 50% lower maintenance costs | | | | microorganisms satisfactorily. Moreover, the systems |
| * Up to 90% less sludge production | | | | are not efficient enough to recover the water for |
| * Up to 60% smaller footprint (can even be set up | | | | reuse purpose. |
| underground or on the roof) | | | | Integrated biological and chemical oxidation happens in |
| * Speedy plant construction (2 to 6 weeks for small | | | | a single reactor. The reactor consists of a tall column |
| medium sized plants) | | | | packed with activated carbon. The activated carbon |
| * Insures high purity level of treated water, as below: | | | | is immobilized with chemo autotrophs. Oxygen |
| (i) BOD (Biological Oxygen Demand): less than 5 mg | | | | required for the oxidation of organics in wastewater |
| Liter, | | | | is supplied in the form of compressed air from the |
| (ii) COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand): less than 60 mg | | | | bottom of the reactor. The counter-current |
| Liter (or even better) | | | | movement of the liquid and air streams enables the |
| * Meets all input specifications of wastewater from | | | | dissolved organics to undergo oxidation and desorb |
| large industries/ cities/ towns. | | | | the converted products, so that the activated carbon |
| It has varied applications: | | | | maintains its activity throughout the operation. The |
| * Small sizes for both industrial and domestic | | | | domestic wastewater treated through Advanced |
| applications. | | | | 'Immobilized Cell Reactor' system has reduced BOD |
| * Can also be created in standard sized, | | | | by 94%, COD by 90% and sulfide by 100%. |
| skid-mounted form | | | | However, the technology also has some limitations: |
| * Can be readily installed cost effectively in small | | | | * Permeability index is less than that of sand filters |
| homes, individual/ small business establishments like | | | | * Maximum organic loading rate allowed is limited |
| car washes, bakeries, restaurants, mini-hotels, etc., | | | | * Performance is limited by the presence of |
| and plants for rural areas. | | | | suspended solids in wastewater. |
| * Can also be installed with Sludge-handling model or | | | | * Anaerobic treatment is an essential unit of |
| Sludge-absorption model for Domestic use | | | | operation before proceeding to Advanced |
| * Can be used to facilitate re-use of water for | | | | 'Immobilized Cell Reactor' reactor to reduce the |
| purposes like golf courses, toilets, gardening, and | | | | viscosity of wastewater and eliminate colloidal solids. |
| even washing. | | | | * Multiple modules are required to handle huge |
| * Or just let off the treated water to recharge the | | | | volumes instead of a single module. |
| ground water. | | | | All in all, the Advanced 'Immobilized Cell Reactor' |
| What's more, it is cost effective to implement small | | | | technology can be applied across a wide spectrum of |
| Plants using this technology anywhere in the world, | | | | industries. It has performed at a credible level for the |
| with mostly indigenous material and conforming to | | | | removal of organics estimated as BOD and COD |
| local standards. This technology has been | | | | from wastewater generated in leather garment |
| implemented successfully in many locations. | | | | manufacturing, textile-yarn-dyeing , sago, chemical, |
| The Advanced 'Immobilized Cell Reactor' technology | | | | and pharmaceutical industries. |
| can also be applied to the treatment of domestic | | | | |