ricion aqua – Water purification

The third pillar in our ricioncore technology cosmos is the treatment, purification and reuse of all types of wastewater with our nature-based processes, such as the organic sorption filter “OSF” or our high-performance soil filters “HBF”.

Back in the early 1990s, Joachim developed his own process for the near-natural treatment and processing of wastewater. The cycle-orientated process consisted of a pre-treatment stage with solid matter composting, an efficient biological stage based on vegetated soil filters and a process water cycle. To date, several hundred plants have been successfully realised in various modifications and for different applications in Germany and numerous other countries. The INTERREG project EMISURE was recently successfully completed in co-operation with the Universities of Luxembourg and Kaiserslautern, the Rhineland-Palatinate Ministry of the Environment and other partners.

The “HBF” process was used for the treatment of micropollutants from the effluents of municipal sewage treatment plants. The extremely positive results from this project confirm our basic approach that nature-based systems, with their enormous capacity for self-preservation, can provide significant support in the regeneration of endangered natural resources – in this case the resource “water” in particular.

ricionaqua – OSF are powerful and versatile physical-biological pre-treatment stages for municipal, agricultural, commercial and industrial wastewater. Depending on the type of wastewater, a mechanical pre-treatment stage is installed upstream to reduce coarse material. “OSFs” consist mainly of organic filter materials, including a proportion of ricion–initial, which are placed in a mobile windrow or container.

The dirty water or the organically contaminated liquid to be treated is applied to the surface of the OSF material and then seeps vertically through the absorbent filter substrate. Organic loads and plant nutrients, such as N, P and K, are absorbed and adsorbed in the filter material. After saturation, which only occurs after several weeks to months, the material remains in the system for some time to dry out and can then be utilised agriculturally as a nutrient-rich kale substrate in accordance with ricionterra. A new filter mixture is then introduced. In practice, at least two “OSFs” are operated side by side. The leachate pre-treated in this way can then be purified fully biologically in our ricionaqua – HBF.

ricionaqua – OSF – Applications

  • Highly effective, nature-based process
  • Requires no external energy
  • Robust, designed for continuous operation and maintenance-intensive
  • Treatment of municipal wastewater e.g. turbid water from sewage sludge drying
  • Treatment of agricultural wastewater, e.g. viticulture, seepage water from manure storage facilities, silage plants
  • Treatment of commercial and industrial wastewater

ricionaqua – HBF are physical-biological treatment stages for municipal, agricultural, commercial and industrial wastewater. Depending on the type of wastewater, a mechanical pre-treatment stage is installed upstream to reduce solids. “HBF” can also be used as a 4th and 5th treatment stage in the effluent of sewage treatment plants. The system offers stationary and mobile solutions. “HBF” work exclusively with natural processes and require no external energy. “HBFs are robust, designed for continuous operation and require very little maintenance. Another special feature that increases performance is the proportion of ricionterra initial in the porous, mineral filter material. Natural mixed planting with partially flowering wetland and marsh plants promotes biodiversity and enhances the landscape. “HBF” can be customised to the site requirements and integrated into the surroundings in terms of design.

ricionaqua – HBF – Applications

  • Highly effective, nature-based process
  • Requires no external energy
  • Robust, designed for continuous operation and maintenance-intensive
  • Promotes biodiversity
  • Promotes natural cooling through evapotranspiration
  • Enhancement of the landscape
  • Treatment of municipal wastewater
  • Treatment of agricultural wastewater
  • Treatment of commercial and industrial wastewater
  • Treatment of contaminated groundwater
  • Treatment of road runoff and leachate (e.g. landfill sites)
  • Post-treatment of wastewater treatment plant effluents (4th + 5th purification stage)
  • Decontamination of contaminated soils
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