A break through in bioremediation, these remote controlled, intelligent systems can automatically adapt to a variety of waste problems around the globe. While all of our bioreactors can be custom designed for essentially any flow rate, those presently installed are capable of processing from 5,000 gallons to 1.5 million gallons of wastewater effluent per day. These bioreactors can be built in
environmentally controlled trailers allowing easy mobility from
site to site. bioreactors with larger capacity are usually built
for stationary use at permanent locations. The Hydrologix® bioreactor is
comprised of specific components that are adapted in size, scale,
and mobility for each distinct customer group and application.
We see our bioreactor being vertically marketed to consumers
that range from individuals needing point of entry (POE) residential
water treatment, to large commercial and municipal buyers requiring
pollution control, and large scale remediation services. While
the Hydrologix® bioreactor takes advantage of several different technologies,
its most notable performance characteristics occur in the area
of bioremediation.
Bioremediation is a collection of technologies that are playing
an increasing role in the clean up of hazardous wastes. Toxic
pollutants, primarily organic compounds ( including polycyclic
), can be treated to significantly reduce or eliminate their
concentrations in soil, water, and air. Microorganisms metabolize
the organic compounds into stable, non-toxic materials that
won't create future environmental risks. These are naturally
occurring bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms which
will consume or transform almost anything - including the
most dangerous organic chemicals which man has developed and
dumped on earth, in the air, or in the water.
The contaminants that can be treated include; Diesel Oil,
PCB's, Herbicides, Gasoline, PCP's, Pesticides, Aviation Fuel,
PAHs, Nitroaromatics (TNT etc), Bunker C, Cyanide, Heating
Oil, BTEX,TCE-Dichlorethane, Chlorinated Aromatics, Phosphorous,
and Heavy Metals. The BioMatrix of the Hydrologix® bioreactor system can
handle up to 100 ppm Heavy Metals. For concentrations above
this threshold, especially desiged Ion-Exchangers are integrated.
The sequence of changes necessary for bio-degradation differ
from compound to compound, but all waste products are eventually
reduced to carbon dioxide, water, and microbial biomass. In
most bioremediation technologies the supply of oxygen, moisture,
and nutrients for the microorganism are the principle factors
that contribute to the bioremediation process. The rate at
which contaminants are successfully degraded, and the tools
and equipment necessary to "adapt" the microorganisms
to degrade particular contaminants, are usually corporate
secrets. The varieties and effectiveness of this technology,
is what gives any remediation company its "competitive
edge" in the marketplace.
One of the driving technologies behind the Hydrologix® bioreactor is
the surfactant mixture. This proprietary blend of non-toxic surfactants,
emulsifiers, and nutrients transforms pollutants (including
hydrocarbons and Heavy Metals < 100 ppm) into units that
are highly attractive to a wide range of naturally existing
bacteria. These units are then hyper-consumed by the bacteria
rendering the resulting fluid (water) pollutant free. The
impressive functionality of the Hydrologix® bioreactor has been tested
and confirmed by the Engler-Bute Institute of the University
of Karlsruhe, in Germany (documents available) and the
many characteristics it exhibits give it a competitive
advantage in the marketplace.
These characteristics are:
Throughput Rate: The controlled
use of oxygen, our product, and completely natural strains
of pollutant consuming bacteria provides a throughput rate
that exceeds other competing systems by more than a 100 times.
Simply stated, the functional capability of the bioreactor
will be revolutionary for many different industries.
No Need for Supplemental Nutrients: Many bioremediation approaches require the constant addition
of nutrients to feed the microbes. The microbes digest the
nutrients and simultaneously produce an enzyme which helps
to break down pollutant matter. The shortfall of this technique
is that the cleanup process continues only as long as these
supplemental nutrients are available in the system. This problem
is absent from our Hydrologix® bioreactor because the pollutant matter
is in essence transformed into the nutrient required by the
microbe. Therefore, nutrients only run out when there is no
more pollutant matter to be consumed from the waste flow.
Highly Concentrated Biofilm: Our Hydrologix® bioreactor utilizes "fixed-bed reactors" filled
with a specially conditioned substrate of material. This porous
carrier has a high specific surface, serving as a setting
ground for microbial growth. The biofilm formed inside the
porous material is especially protected from mechanical forces,
and prevents any wash-out of free-swimming microbes. A further
advantage of the porous material is the ability to absorb
dissolved organic pollutants, which then become an instant
nutrient for the microbes. This in turn encourages enhanced
growth of biofilm. The ultimate result of these features is
enhanced speed and efficiency of waste consumption.
Minimized Residual Biomass (Sludge):
Conventional activated sludge systems produce excess amounts
of activated sludge which must be transported and discarded.
The residual sludge remaining from our bioreactor treated
waste is significantly less than other systems (> 95% sludge
reduction ). This results in lower transportationand disposal
costs.
Size & Mobility: Our Hydrologix® bioreactor
is designed to accommodate the required throughput of the
user. The greater the throughput, the larger the bioreactor.
The specific size of each bioreactor is a function of cubic
meters of fixed-bed substrate in the system. It is a relatively
uncomplicated equation that is used to determine the specs
for each bioreactor. The system is modular and can accommodate
designs with several smaller reactors or one large reactor.
Each bioreactor system is built inside an environmentally
controlled mobile or permanent structure. The footprints of
these systems are relatively small compared to competing technologies,
and can be configured for virtually any waste treatment application.
Maintenance: Maintenance contracts
for Hydrologix® bioreactors in the field will be carried by licensed bioreactor
Distributors. These distributors will provide both sales and
service for the bioreactors and will be subject to a performance
clause that will be written into their licensing agreement. |
A
Typical Hydrologix® Bioreactor System