Water treatment (waste water): Water treatment with Carbon Fiber

Water Treatment System Featuring CarbonFiber:MiraCarbon

SO-EN CO.,LTD’s water treatment material is referred to as "MiraCarbon,” ideal for many purification applications, including rivers, lakes, marshes and inland seas. The simple process caused by MiraCarbon creates a diverse ecosystem as a seaweed bed.

MiraCarbon is made from CarbonFiber, that is light, strong, corrosion-resistant material that easily expands in water. CarbonFiber features a large surface area on which microorganisms can live and has the ability to absorb pollutants efficiently. 12,000 or 15,000 thin filaments are attached in a bundle and these filaments will become a habitat for microorganisms.

Microorganisms demonstrate high water purification functions such as decomposing organic matter into water and carbon dioxide, ammonia nitrogen into water and nitrogen. Furthermore, reducing the greenhouse gas dinitrogen monoxide, so it contributes to the prevention of global warming.

Major Features and Advantages

I. Natural Decomposition

Microorganisms naturally decompose contaminants and pollutants without the need for power. MiraCarbon makes it possible to decompose organic matter, nutrient salts and suspended solid easily and fairly quickly.

II. Cost Efficiency

With easy routine maintenance, MiraCarbon does not require a lot of upkeep and oversight in order to run at peak performance. The technology comes with a low installation cost, easy maintenance controls and virtually zero running costs. Cost-effective for the company using it, as well as lower energy bills with the reduced use of energy.

III. Ecosystem Integrity and Biodiversity Conservation

Due to its high bioaffinity, MiraCarbon also helps protect the ecosystem. Microorganisms attached to MiraCarbon become nutrients for aquatic organisms, aquatic plants grow and contribute to biodiversity as a seaweed bed.

IV. Passive Solution

Compared to large-scale processing facilities, MiraCarbon is a passive technology that does not require specialized operation and maintenance, it reduces a lot of intensive work trouble and energy. As a result, great amount of civil works and energy are reduced on the water quality purification projects in rivers, lakes, marshes and inland areas.

Developed in 2000 and commercialized in 2008, MiraCarbon by SO-EN CO., LTD. is being used in more than 1000 locations in Japan and is also being used in more than 100 locations worldwide, in countries such as China, India, Russia, Sweden, South Africa etc.

Technology Data

Conceivable applications

Water treatment with Carbon Fiber named “Mira Carbon”; River purification, Lake/marsh purification (closed water bodies), Purification of seawater areas (Inland seas, closed sea water bodies).

Ecosystem integrity; Seaweed bed formation

Competitive advantage

Carbon fiber has large surface on which microorganisms can live. Microorganisms can naturally decompose contaminants and pollutants. The contaminants and pollutants are adsorbed without any power when carbon fiber is swayed by water current.

Therefore carbon fiber maintains cost efficiency.

Low installation cost, easy maintenance control, and no running costs.

Ecosystem integrity and conservation biodiversity.

Performance

Water quality purification using carbon fiber is effective in improvement of transparency in a short time, decrease COD and BOD, and purification of TN and TP.

Technical maturity

Developed in 2000

Commercialized in 2008

Past performances

　Japan; more than 300 locations

　Other countries; more than 20 locations

　(China, Korea, Taiwan etc.)

Conceivable risk

Outflow of carbon fiber by a natural disaster.

Damage of carbon fiber by improper installation.

Information on patent related to this technology

Acquisition patents (Japan)

　JP 3331372, JP 3328700, JP 3080567, JP 2954509,

　JP P2009-195848A, JP P2009-195849A, JP P2009-195850A

Contact person

Yukio Kogure

E-mail: [email protected]

URL:  http://so-en.net/msc-e.html