The so called de-ammonification plant will be built at the sewage treatment plant in Apeldoorn. Grontmij is launching the technology on the market in all of Europe. The project was nominated for the World Energy Globe Award at the beginning of June 2008.
DEMON removes high concentrations of nitrogen in a partial flow of the purification process. This technology purifies much better than existing technologies, is more energy efficient and therefore has a higher financial appeal. Two types of organisms constitute the driving force behind DEMON, namely, nitrifying organisms and de-ammonifying bacteria. The technology was developed by the University of Innsbruck and is patented. Grontmij introduces DEMON to the market under licence.
“The nitrogen-rich rejection water that is released in the course of draining and fermenting is ideally suitable for purification with DEMON”, says Patrick Blom, head of Construction and Quality at Waterschap Veluwe. “That way, we are able to produce more biogas, from external waste flows as well, without further taxing the sewage treatment plant”.
Bright future
Bert Geraats, a senior consultant at Grontmij in the Netherlands foresees a bright future for DEMON: “The technology could constitute a step towards energy-neutral purification. The traditional water treatment process is usually effected in two oxidation steps. SHARON, the technology that Grontmij has also introduced on the market, already removes one of those steps. Consequently, less oxygen and less carbon are required. DEMON goes a step further by using even less oxygen and absolutely no carbon. The investment costs involved are also relatively low and the technology provides extra green energy in the form of biogas”.
Largest plant of the world
At the moment, there are three full scale DEMON plants in all of Europe. Another three are currently under construction. The plant for Waterschap Veluwe is not only going to be the first of such plants in the Netherlands but will also be the largest of its kind in the world. The Grontmij - Logisticon Waterbehandeling (water treatment) combination will realise and deliver the plant in the summer of 2009.