Pilot project Microforce++
Within the Innovation Program Micropollutants (IPMV) of STOWA and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, various technologies were investigated for the removal of micropollutants from wastewater.
MicroForce++ combines ozonation and biological oxidation to remove organic micropollutants (e.g. pharmaceutical residues) from WWTP effluent in a sustainable and cost-effective way. The MicroForce++ process consists of two consecutive, series-connected O3/Bio reactors, in which a specific ozone dose is used in each O3/Bio reactor. This converts non-biodegradable molecules into smaller, biodegradable components that are simultaneously mineralized in a sustainable, biological way using biofilm-on-carrier technology.
Based on a pilot study, this innovative technology was successfully tested in practice at the WWTP location Walcheren and subsequently evaluated on various criteria, namely the removal efficiency of guide substances, the CO2 footprint, TCO (total cost of ownership), ecotoxicity and the applicability at WWTPs in the Netherlands. In addition to the removal of organic micropollutants, it was evaluated under which conditions MicroForce++ performs best for the removal of nitrogen, in order to also achieve the objectives within the Water Framework Directive (WFD) with one and the same post-treatment step.
As a result of the positive results of the feasibility study in 2021 and the proof-of-principle during the pilot study in 2022-2023, the aim is to further implement this technology in practice at demo and full-scale installations in the Netherlands and thus not only provide a solution for the upcoming new legislation on municipal wastewater, but also for the objectives described in the Water Framework Directive on nutrient emissions.