Research partners
The problem
Wastewater treatment plants requires large amounts of energy. However most of them are unable to completely remove those compounds and therefore end up releasing them in natural waters.
In parallel, conventional methods for producing synthetic fertilisers (the Haber-Bosch process) involve using huge amounts of natural gas to extract nitrogen from the air.
In short it is a linear system, where nutrients are constantly added to the environment with little recycling.
Our solution
- After a separation of urine at the source by means of dry urinals or urine-diverting toilets.
- The urine is the stabilised by nitrification in a biological reactor. This step removes bad odours.
- To remove all micropollutants, this effluent is filtered in an activated carbon filter.
- The liquid is then pasteurised and concentrated in an industrial distiller. The two outputs are reusable distilled water and ready to use fertiliser, Aurin.
The process is automated, remotely operated and requires low maintenance.
Controlled Nitrification
During storage, urea contained in urine is transformed to ammonium. This substance is volatile and requires stabilisation to avoid pollution.
We stabilise urine by nitrification, a naturally occurring process.
Nitrification is a process where two types of bacteria Ammonium Oxidising Bacteria (AOB) and Nitrite Oxidising Bacteria (NOB) convert the ammonium to nitrite and then nitrite to nitrate. The only inputs are air and urine.
The treatment time of the urine lasts between 5-10 days depending on various parameters.
Current research and development
Due to our history and relationship with research institutes, we are heavily invested in making our technology evolve.
In 2023, we will for example be working with various research institutes on an Innosuisse project with the goal to reduce gaseous nitrogen emissions from agriculture.