Reliable biofilter startups within hours

Reliable biofilter startups within hours

A new, innovative biofilter media enables extremely quick startups and restarts of biofilters for either nitrification or denitrification in Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS). Novozymes is looking for industry partners to commercialize this new technology. 

Cutting-edge encapsulation

Novozymes’ new biofilter media works by encapsulating selected bacteria in specially-designed polymer beads. Startups are rapid because the optimal bacteria are already present from start. The polymer beads protect the valuable nitrifiers and denitrifiers from competing bacteria and ensures post-disinfection restarts are possible within hours.

Better biosecurity, operability and profitability

Rapid startups allow frequent cleaning of RAS water treatment systems and sterilization between batches in hatcheries.

•    Restarts are predictable. 
•    Operations are simplified. 
•    Downtime is minimized. 

Reduce off-flavors

Reduce off-flavors

The beads significantly reduce the risk of off-flavors as the specially-selected bacteria in the beads have a competitive advantage and prevent the establishment of flavor-producing bacteria and pathogen populations in the biofilter.

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24-hour restart 

The polymer beads protect the valuable nitrifiers from disinfection. In laboratory tests, mature beads were disinfected by soaking in 25 mg/L solution sodium hypochlorite for four hours removing all bacteria from the surface of the beads (the dotted vertical line). Just one day later, the nitrifiers in the beads were able to reduce NH4 to safe levels with no NO2 peak.

Higher capacity, lower operational costs

The beads have a higher treatment capacity than conventional biofilter carriers, reducing the footprint of the biofilter. Less aeration is needed due to the efficiency of the encapsulated nitrifiers, which lowers operational costs.

Reduce water consumption

The beads reduce water consumption. The reliable denitrification process efficiently reduces the level of nitrate, which limits the need for make-up water.

Eight-year lifetime

The bacteria in the beads remain active for a minimum of 8 years.
 

Faster startups also for MBBR systems

In addition to the new biofilter medium, Novozymes also supplies RioRas™, a blend of carefully selected, robust nitrifying bacteria that speed up the start and restart of conventional moving bed bioreactors (MBBR). 
 

Better business with biology

Better business with biology

Novozymes is the world leader in biological solutions. Together with customers, partners and the global community, we improve industrial performance while preserving the planet’s resources and helping build better lives.

In aquaculture, we offer solutions for warm- and cold-water species. In warm-water species, our solutions PondDtox®, PondPlus® and PondSafe® improve water quality, reduce disease risk and increase yields. In cold water, we offer microbial enzymes for sea-food protein hydrolysis that improve animal extraction. 

As the world’s largest provider of enzyme and microbial technologies, our bioinnovation enables higher agricultural yields, low-temperature washing, renewable fuels and many other benefits that we rely on today and in the future. 

We call it Rethink Tomorrow.
 

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