M. Gencer, K. Gencer
IMET Corporation,
United States
Keywords: low energy usage, minimal bio-sludge production, efficient wastewater treatment, small foot print, biological treatment, aerobic, treatment
Summary:
This presentation will provide a summary of IMET Technology specifics and results achieved for both aerobic pretreatment and biological treatment of various wastewater types including municipal and industrial using significantly less energy, 50% or less. Reductions achieved in Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Total Nitrogen (TN) and Total Suspended Solids (TSS) by treating wastewaters with IMET technology enable the reuse of treated wastewater within plants, facilities etc. Due to its unique design, IMET Process requires significantly less air and produces minimal bio-sludge if any. Therefore, markedly less energy is required to achieve complete aerobic treatment of any wastewater. IMET technology employs highly porous (pore sizes varying from 5 micron to 50 micron) natural and synthetic multimedia with various surface characteristics to house microorganisms of large population and diversity. This feature of IMET technology enables highly efficient reduction of BOD, Ammonia and TSS in relatively low hydraulic retention times. It also enables the efficient reduction of extremely large BOD levels of 1000-5000 ppm and high Ammonia levels of 100- 500 ppm in industrial wastewaters. Large populations of microorganisms sustained within the pore structures of the multimedia enable IMET technology to achieve desired results in a relatively small footprint. Each module is aerated via a dedicated diffuser placed at the bottom of the module below the multimedia pack. As a result, 100% aerobic conditions are sustained within each module using significantly low energy. The design of each module also utilizes the draft caused by the upward aeration to circulate wastewater through the module on a continuous basis. Small air bubbles generated by the diffuser are entrapped by the packed multimedia. Thereby, IMET technology allows a very long time for the diffusion of air-oxygen into the wastewater within each module. This sustains the dissolved oxygen levels at aerobic levels, 2 ppm or higher within the module and within the tank. Thus, each IMET module uses significantly low energy to accomplish required treatment, 100-250 Watt-hour energy to treat a minimum of 3000 gallons per day of typical municipal wastewater (energy consumption of a typical 1 MG wastewater treatment plant, today, averages 3,228 kWh*). Another important feature of the attachment and growth of large diverse microbial populations within the pore structures of the multimedia is the significant reduction of bio-sludge production. This alone delivers a sizeable reduction in energy consumption. In summary, IMET technology requires 50% or less energy than traditional activated sludge wastewater systems. Given the fact that wastewater treatment plants consume large amounts of energy, estimated between 1-3% of global energy output of 29,000 Terawatt-hour**, IMET technology represents a viable potential alternative in the quest to achieve sustainable energy and water. IMET technology will also potentially reduce at least 50% of carbon dioxide emissions thus delivering substantial reduction in carbon footprint (carbon dioxide emissions vary between 0.8 to 3 lbs. CO2 per kWh***). * Smart Energy Design Assistance Center - https://smartenergy.illinois.edu/benchmarking-for-water-and-wastewater-treatment-plants/ ** Statista - https://www.statista.com/statistics/270281/electricity-generation-worldwide/ ***US EIA - https://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.php?id=74&t=11