Filtralite® Clean’s high porosity boosts biofilm growth and maximizes contaminant removal, enabling higher water throughput in the same filter volume — all while lowering operating costs.
Project Background
At the SILA wastewater treatment plant in Annecy, France, the biofilters were filled with Filtralite® Clean, a lightweight expanded clay aggregate with high porosity that provides optimal conditions for biofilm growth. This biofilm plays a key role in removing suspended solids (TSS), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), and enabling nitrification.
Advantages of Filtralite® Clean
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Lightweight with high porosity.
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Angular grains and large specific surface area enhance bacterial activity.
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Improves removal of organic load and suspended solids, while boosting nitrification performance.
Refurbishment Process
- Quadrimex Chemical was contracted to empty and refill three biological filters at the SILOE plant, designed to treat the equivalent load of 230,000 people.
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The entire operation was completed in just 12 weeks.
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Quadrimex developed an innovative pumping system based on the Venturi effect — an environmentally friendly and noise-free solution to remove filter media without damaging equipment.
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The filters were configured as:
- One carbon (C) filter.
- Two nitrogen (N) filters.
After emptying, the filters were refilled with:
- A portion of the extracted Filtralite® media, carefully cleaned and reused.
- A blend of new Filtralite® Clean media to restore and optimize future performance.
Results & Benefits
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Biofilters returned to full operational efficiency in a short timeframe.
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The Venturi-based extraction system reduced environmental impact and eliminated noise during refurbishment.
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The combination of refurbished and new media ensured long-term biological treatment performance
Mohammed Kastawy Area Sales Manager – MENA Region Mobile: +971565503535 Email : mohammed.kastawy@saint-gobain.com LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com
