Filtralite® Clean is excellent for tertiary filtration; with its unique porosity, its filter media offers optimum conditions for biofilm growth and for water to flow through the filter bed to retain and remove more contaminants.
Project Background
At the SILA (Syndicat Mixte du Lac d’Annecy) wastewater treatment plant in Annecy, France, three biological filters at the SILOE facility—serving the equivalent of 230,000 people—were equipped with Filtralite® Clean, a lightweight, porous expanded clay medium. Originally implemented under the name Biolite® in Suez’s BIOFOR® systems, this media delivers superior conditions for biofilm development, crucial for BOD removal, suspended solids filtration (TSS), and nitrification processes.
Implementation Process
The SILA awarded Quadrimex Chemical the contract to drain, refill, and replace the filter media in the three biofilters—two nitrogen (N) filters and one carbon (C) filter. In just 12 weeks, Quadrimex successfully executed the renewal. They utilized an innovative Venturi-effect pumping system that was both non-polluting and noise-free, preserving the integrity of surrounding equipment during maintenance.
Refurbishment Strategy
Following the drainage process, the filters were refilled using:
-
Portions of the original Filtralite® media that were recovered during draining, and
-
Fresh Filtralite® Clean media to restore performance and longevity of the biofilters.
Why This Matters
Efficiency & Environmental Care: The Venturi-based system enabled media removal and replacement without contamination or noise, ensuring a smooth operation and minimizing operational disruptions.
Biochemical Advantage: The properties of Filtralite® Clean—high porosity, angular particle structure, and large contact surface area—support enhanced microbial activity necessary for efficient purification.
Scalable & Sustainable: Completing the refurbishing of such large-scale filters in under three months illustrates the feasibility of using this media for other major wastewater projects.
Mohammed Kastawy Area Sales Manager – MENA Region Mobile: +971565503535 Email : mohammed.kastawy@saint-gobain.com LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com
