Stanford University validates Fluence's MABR technology for nonpotable reuse and enhanced nutrient removal in the U.S.

March 06, 2020 | Case Study

Nutrient (mainly nitrogen or phosphorous) pollution is one of the nation's most widespread, costly, and challenging environmental problems impacting water quality, according to the U.S. EPA. As regulatory and permitting requirements continue to reduce the allowable nutrient discharges, U.S. wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are urged to incorporate processes for extensive nutrient removal, but these upgrades can be costly and difficult to install and operate.

Fluence's membrane aerated biofilm reactor (MABR) offers an energy-efficient, user-friendly alternative promising to address the challenge, allowing passive aeration by oxygen diffusion through membranes and simultaneous nitrification and denitrification in one stage. In October 2017, Fluence entered into an agreement to evaluate the solution at Stanford University's Codiga Resource Recovery Center (CR2C). The two teams worked closely to develop a pilot plant, which has been in operation at a capacity of 3,000 gallons per day since early 2018, and recently published interim results declaring it a success.