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Researchers at Granada University have developed methods for treating wastewater which they say generates cleaner water than existing methods.
The technology also makes it possible to reduce the size of wastewater treatment plants by more than a half and reduces the amount of sludge residue.
José Manuel Poyatos Capilla, a researcher from the Department of Civil Engineering used a membrane bioreactor system to shorten the water clarification process by which sludge is separated off, eliminating the second decanting stage.
Research carried out at the university shows it is possible to reduce the size of the bioreactor between 40 and 60 per cent when using membrane filtration, as well as completely eliminating the need for a secondary decanting process.
The optimised system makes it possible to treat a larger volume of water in a smaller purifier. Installation is therefore much cheaper than traditional plants, and it also makes it possible to use the water immediately after it has been biologically treated.
The work of José Manuel Poyatos, was carried out in collaboration with Cranfield University in the UK.
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