Innovation

In 2006, innovation efforts concentrated on treatment chains and technologies for supplying potable water from alternative sources.

The research, development and industrialisation teams working on these issues focused on optimising membrane systems (which are the usual choice for these applications), purification pre-treatments and energy balance sheets.

There were also research projects on wastewater. Treatment facilities must deal with ever more pollutants – endocrine disrupters, priority substances – and yet achieve smaller footprints, increase their energy-effi ciency and reduce reagent use. On the odour side, in 2006 Degremont optimised its conventional treatment solutions and studied new possibilities. it also increased its expertise on odorous emissions and dispersal models.

On the public health side, Degremont added three innovations to its offering. Subsidiary cerdeg released the new Cristal 3G system, which combines Pulsazur (a reactor with activated carbon bed and pulsed fl ow) and the Cristal process (membrane ultrafi ltration and powdered activated carbon) to treat raw water with a high organic matter load. The IGS (Intelligent Gap System), developed by the Group’s swiss research centre, optimises dielectrics and cuts the investment and operating costs of ozone generators. DENARD, the Group’s research centre in Richmond, USA, developed the Aquaray 3X system which combines the use of cutting-edge UV lamps with reactors of a unique design to provide maximum wastewater disinfection capacity with considerably fewer lamps and a smaller footprint.