Process background
Organica Water is the inventor and sole provider of the Food Chain Reactor (FCR) an innovative biological wastewater treatment solution based on fixed-film technology. FCR falls under the group of technologies referred to as Fixed Bed-biofilm Activated Sludge (FBAS).
In the FCR process, the microorganisms that break down wastewater contaminants grow as a biofilm attached to a specialized surface, known as the support media.
What makes the FCR process unique is its combination of natural and engineered support media. The natural media is provided by the roots of living plants, while the engineered media is a specially designed polypropylene-based textile that maximizes biomass growth. Together, these elements are integrated into easy-to-install, frame-mounted units called Organica Bio-modules.
Providing a stationary habitat for the biomass, which combines natural and engineered media, allows an incredibly diverse and robust biofilm to grow and thrive. The result is superior nutrient removal performance, enhanced energy efficiency and increased resilience, all within a significantly smaller footprint compared to conventional wastewater treatment technologies.
The FCR process can be flexibly configured based on project requirements: fully aerobic when only organic matter removal is required or incorporating anoxic zones when nutrient removal is necessary to meet stricter effluent standards.
The FCR process can also be arranged in a hybrid configuration, known as IFAS (Integrated Fixed-Film Activated Sludge). In IFAS configuration, the FCR process features a combination of microorganisms attached to the Organica Bio-modules (biofilm) as well as microorganisms in suspension (activated sludge). This combination of attached and suspended growth maximizes the treatment capacity of the process, making it a perfect fit for upgrades of existing facilities that require increase in their treatment capacity or to add nutrient removal capabilities.
The FCR process is managed by an intelligent process control software which regulates all engineering components necessary to maintain ideal conditions in the FCR system.