CFIC®
Country of application:
Norway
3. Scope of innovation
☐ Office work
☒ Production / Service supply process
4. Sector-specific
☒ Yes / please, specify sector(s): wastewater treatment
☐ No (relevant for all sectors)
Description of the needs
Water pollution remains one of the most pressing challenges worldwide. As industries grow and populations expand, the strain on water resources intensifies. There is an urgent need to address the mounting wastewater issues to ensure both environmental and public health. Traditional wastewater treatment methods often fall short in efficiency, energy consumption, and sustainability.
As such, Biowater Technology AS provides an innovative solution to this predicament. They have pioneered biological wastewater treatment, aligning with the UN Global Compact’s principles to drive actionable change for pressing global challenges.
Description of the solution
Originating from Norway, Biowater Technology has pioneered a transformation in the field of wastewater treatment with their cutting-edge CFIC® technology. Representing a new generation of Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor (MBBR) biofilm methodologies, Biowater’s unique CFIC® technology promises superior performance when compared to the traditional Activated Sludge and MBBR solutions. The innovative design of the technology, along with Biowater’s progressive approach to process structure, sets new standards of versatility, making it highly applicable to a diverse range of existing Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTP).
The CFIC® reactor is densely filled with biofilm carriers, often occupying 90-99% of the total volumetric space, which limits their movement during regular operations. Microorganisms within the biofilm attach themselves to the surface of these carriers, utilizing pollutants as sustenance for their growth. The unique CFIC® process is characterized by a consistent inflow to the bioreactor and intermittent cleaning that uses the incoming wastewater to remove excess biomass or sludge from the biofilm carriers.
A significant breakthrough of this modern MBBR biofilm method is its substantial contribution to energy efficiency. It remarkably reduces energy consumption compared to traditional wastewater treatment methods, indicating a step forward in operational efficiency. The CFIC® technology not only leads to meaningful cost savings but also advocates sustainability in a time when energy preservation is critically important. Further, CFIC® technology is dedicated to efficient water management, as shown by its outstanding ability to recycle and reuse water and wastewater. This feature not only reduces wastage but also nurtures a more sustainable and environmentally conscious industrial ecosystem.
The superiority of CFIC® technology extends to the high-quality effluent it produces. By consistently outperforming traditional methods, the technology ensures that the effluent meets or surpasses rigorous environmental discharge standards. This safeguarding of local ecosystems is a testament to its contribution to overall environmental health. Another prominent advantage of CFIC® technology is its cost-effectiveness. Its compact design requires less space for membranes or tertiary treatments, significantly reducing the initial capital costs. This, coupled with the efficiency of the technology, leads to improved returns on investment over time.
A distinguishing feature of CFIC® technology is its extraordinary flexibility. It can effortlessly upgrade existing Sequencing Batch Reactor (SBR), Membrane Bioreactor (MBR), or Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor (MBBR) systems to accommodate additional capacity. This adaptability offers a practical and economical solution for industries striving to enhance their wastewater treatment capabilities without the need for completely new infrastructure. In addition, CFIC® technology amplifies the efficiency of biological treatments, leading to superior performance of membrane processes. By enhancing these biological processes, the overall efficiency of the wastewater treatment process is significantly improved, leading to better water quality and more effective utilization of resources.
Biowater’s CFIC® technology thus signals a significant shift in wastewater treatment. With its numerous benefits, from energy conservation, water recycling, high-quality effluent production, reduced capital costs, increased flexibility, to improved biological treatment, CFIC® technology is setting new industry benchmarks. It is a groundbreaking solution in the domain of wastewater treatment and represents a remarkable stride towards a sustainable future.
Description of the effect
Water pollution is a pressing global issue. Biowater Technology AS stands as a leader in biological wastewater treatment, offering innovative solutions for sewage and industrial wastewater challenges. Their approach aligns with the UN Global Compact’s principles, advocating action for global objectives.
Ilya Savva, Biowater Technology’s CEO, emphasizes the company’s commitment to safeguarding water and the environment through top-tier technologies. Leveraging naturally occurring micro-organisms, such as bacteria, Biowater effectively cleans polluted water. In collaboration with global municipalities and industries, they consistently set new wastewater treatment standards.
A prime example of their capability is a wastewater treatment plant in Grimstad, Norway. This facility, equipped with Biowater’s patented technology, epitomizes sustainability. It not only reduces sludge but also repurposes wastewater for reuse. Impressively, it turns about 75% of organic waste into methane gas, a greener alternative to fossil fuels. The integration of renewable energy generation and aerated biofilm treatment in one reactor is a Biowater hallmark. They refine standard processes, optimizing energy use, waste reduction, and overall environmental impact. Acknowledging the variability of wastewater, Biowater tailors solutions, ensuring client-specific excellence.
Building strong partnerships is central to Biowater’s ethos. Understanding partner needs and equipping them with the tools and knowledge to maximize technology utility is crucial. Their mission is unambiguous: preserve natural resources and champion environmental protection through knowledge dissemination and solution provision.
Key Highlights:
• Biowater’s systems purify over 1M m3 of water daily, returning pristine water to nature or repurposing it.
• Their tech transforms pollutants into energy. Biogas, when produced onsite, is both eco-friendly and cost-effective.
• They cater to a wide industrial base, offering varied treatment tech and assisting in funding acquisition for novel solutions.
• Their CFIC® technology redefines community water treatment by halving energy consumption.
• By focusing on industrial effluent treatment, Biowater mitigates environmental production impacts.
• With climate change looming, Biowater’s emphasis on efficient energy use, clean energy generation, and pure water is vital.
• The CFIC® technology, rooted in Fixed Film Technology, fosters bacterial growth on polyethylene carriers. Its reactor, densely packed with biofilm carriers, prevents typical MBBR reactor movements.
CFIC® Benefits:
• Up to 30% energy savings.
• Water recycling facilitation.
• Superior effluent output.
• Capital cost savings with smaller membrane requirements.
• Capability to enhance existing SBR, MBR, or MBBR systems.
• Optimized biological treatment boosting membrane efficiency.
• Furthermore, Biowater offers end-to-end system supplies, catering to varied design necessities. Their extensive services encompass plant upgrades, consultations, pilot testing, and energy evaluations.
Biowater Technology prioritizes environmental conservation. Their products curtail wastewater and environmental pollution. The CFIC® technology thus exemplifies energy efficiency, minimal waste, and robust biogas output. To maintain transparency, Biowater Technology has streamlined waste handling, ensuring precise tracking and 98% correct waste disposal. In 2021, their CFIC® technology witnessed its highest demand, emphasizing its significance. They also maintain a commendable waste management record, recently achieving 100% waste sorting.
Company/companies that offer the innovation
Biowater Technology AS is a forward-thinking company specializing in the creation, marketing, and application of technologies aimed at the biological treatment of wastewater from various sectors including industry, municipalities, and aquaculture. While it maintains a focus on the Norwegian market, the company also operates on a global scale, leveraging local partnerships across Europe (especially Scandinavia), Brazil, China, and North America.
Established centrally in Tønsberg, Biowater Technology AS has a subsidiary based in Nanjing, China, designed to cater specifically to the Chinese market. Despite having no local personnel, this subsidiary relies on the Norway-based staff for all aspects of design, sales, and installations, with assistance from local partners. Biowater Technology AS orchestrates its various research and development initiatives from its central office in Tønsberg, continually pushing the boundaries of wastewater treatment technologies across multiple sectors, and reinforcing its commitment to delivering efficient, sustainable solutions worldwide.
Moreover, Biowater Technology AS takes pride in its environmentally friendly operational record. The company is consistently committed to reducing its environmental footprint through the services and technologies it delivers. In 2022, Biowater made specific advancements by bolstering its research and development into non-fossil-based plastics and recycled materials for bio-media. Looking forward to 2023, the company remains focused on conducting Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) for all its products and technologies. Simultaneously, it conducts internal and external initiatives promoting the increased usage of its patented, environmentally friendly technologies.
As 2022 drew to a close, Biowater made a successful bid for its initial project involving technology for phosphorus recovery. This project, awarded in 2023, underscores the importance of phosphorus as a key natural resource, and the role of its recovery technology will become increasingly significant in the years ahead. Through such initiatives, Biowater Technology AS continually strives to develop and advocate for sustainable, eco-conscious solutions.
Contact
Biowater Technology AS
Grev Wedels gate 1
Tønsberg
Phone: +(47) 911 10 600
Email: post@biowater.no
Additional information