- Email: [email protected]
Sugar-recovery system meets key environmental demands
NEWS system for low-energy consumption, maximum water production, minimum footprint or the best permeate quality.’ Contact: NanoH2O Inc, 750 Lairport Street, El Segundo, CA 90245-5006. Tel: +1 424 218 4000, www.nanoh2o.com
Nephros markets Medica products based on Medisulfone UF technology
U
S-based Nephros Inc, a medical device company that develops and markets filtration products for therapeutic applications, infection control and water purification, has announced that it has entered into a strategic license and supply agreement with Italy’s Medica SpA. This agreement grants Nephros exclusive global rights, with specific exceptions, to market products based on Medica’s proprietary Medisulfone ultrafiltration (UF) technology. Medica, which is located in Medolla, one of Europe’s largest centres dedicated to developing and manufacturing medical products, makes and sells a complete range of medical devices for applications such as chronic and acute dialysis, gastroenterology, urology, oncology, cardiology and microbiological water purification for use in the hospital sector. The Medica Water Division, based in Iglesias, Italy, makes a proprietary hollow-fibre polysulfone synthetic membrane for blood and water purification in medical and industrial applications. ‘Medica and Nephros have a long history of collaboration, and I am pleased to formalise our relationship through this agreement, which positively addresses the interests of both companies,’ commented Luciano Fecondini, Chief Executive Officer, Medica. ‘We are excited to solidify our relationship with Medica through this agreement,’ added Nephros board member Dr Paul Mieyal. ‘The Medisulfone technology is a differentiated component of ultrafiltration applications. This agreement consolidates the ultrafiltration products and intellectual property of Nephros and Medica into a comprehensive product line and enables Nephros to market these products on an exclusive basis globally.’ Nephros says that the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instruments’ (AAMI) adoption of more stringent water purity standards for dialysis applications, combined with 4
Membrane Technology
observational studies showing a substantial reduction in required erythropoietin dosing when its Dual Stage Ultrafilter (DSU) is used during dialysis therapy, has led to significantly increased interest in its UF products. In addition to the DSU, Nephros has received FDA 510(k) clearance for its Safe Spout Ultrafilter (SSU) and Mega Stage Ultrafilter (MSU) products to enable these additional UF products to be used in dialysis applications. The firm has also introduced product line extensions for the hospital infection control market which include a more durable filter design to withstand the higher pressures of hospital plumbing and filter covers to improve the aesthetics of the finished installations in hospital showers. In a study involving two major US hospitals, the Nephros DSU system was shown to be effective in reducing waterborne legionella bacteria to undetectable levels, an effect which was sustained for the three-month study period. Contact: Nephros Inc, 41 Grand Avenue, River Edge, NJ 07661, USA. Tel: +1 201 343 5202, www.nephros.com Medica SpA, Via Degli Artigiani 7, 41036 Medolla, Modena, Italy. Tel: +39 0535 51159, www.medicasrl.com
Report discusses the use of nano-materials in polymers
T
he Market Publishers Ltd has released a market research report that provides an overview of the use of nano-materials in plastics and advanced polymer applications. Entitled ‘Nanomaterials in Plastics and Advanced Polymers’, the study features: comprehensive quantitative data and forecasts for the market to 2016; a qualititative insight and perspective on the current market and future trends in end-user markets (based on interviews with key executives); end-user market analysis; and over 80 tables and figures. Nanotechnology and nano-materials currently represent a multi-billion industry that will continue to grow, says the company. A wide range of markets are being affected by nanomaterials that are incorporated into plastics and polymers, such as aerospace and aviation; automotive; food, pharmaceuticals and electronics packaging, and electrical and electronic goods. Specific nano-materials that are finding application in these markets include nanoclays, carbon nanotubes, metal nano-particles,
nano-fibres, nano-cellulose, fullerene and, more recently, graphene (see Membrane Technology April 2012, page 8). Contact: The Market Publishers Ltd, Central House, 582– 586 Kingsbury Road, Birmingham B24 9ND, UK. Tel: +44 208 144 6009 http://marketpublishers.com
Sugar-recovery system meets key environmental demands
U
S-based ThermoEnergy Corp reports that its CASTion sugarrecovery system is meeting key environmental demands, especially at a time when regulatory agencies are increasing the pressure they are putting on companies to safely dispose of wastewater containing soluble sugars. Wastewater generated by the food and beverage industry has a high biological oxygen demand (BOD) from dissolved sugars, fibre and carbohydrates, and cannot be discharged into a sanitary sewer without significant surcharges. ThermoEnergy says that it can help eliminate the expense of BOD treatment and disposal by making concentrated sugars suitable for resale in a wide variety of applications, including feedstocks for bio-ethanol production. In addition to concentrating the sugars, the remaining water is purified to levels suitable for normal discharge. ‘Instead of incurring profit-draining treatment and disposal costs, companies are studying ways of converting wastewater streams into revenue streams, and ThermoEnergy is ready to help,’ explained Cary Bullock, Chief Executive Officer, ThermoEnergy. ‘One particularly exciting use for the recovered sugar is for feedstock for bio-ethanol production,’ noted Bullock. ‘Bio-ethanol is garnering significant international attention and support. Cleaning up a water discharge stream and converting it into a usable bio-feedstock has a tremendous, positive impact on sustainability.’ ThermoEnergy says that its system is compact, uses less energy than competing technology, produces higher-quality concentrations, and requires little maintenance. In 2011, the US Congress eliminated corn subsidies for ethanol production. The Obama Administration, however, continues to support renewable fuel standards that call for the production of more than 15 billion gallons of renewable fuels in 2012. In addition, the US Department
June 2012
NEWS of Defense has a goal of meeting 25% of its energy requirements from renewables by 2025. ThermoEnergy is expecting waste sugar to become a high-value feedstock replacement for corn in conventional ethanol production. The firm says that its sugar-recovery systems integrate a range of technology to achieve the lowest operating and capital expenditure, and the highest concentration levels of recovered sugar. These include reverse osmosis, ThermoEnergy TurboCAST, and ThermoEnergy CAST systems. ThermoEnergy’s Controlled Atmospheric Separation Technology (CAST) concentrates sugar-bearing wastewater to create a sugar product (up to 65-brix) for use in a variety of agricultural and renewable fuel market applications. At the same time, the system recovers 100% of the wastewater for reuse in plant operations. Contact: ThermoEnergy Corp, 10 New Bond Street, Worcester, MA 01606, USA. Tel: 1 508 854 1628, www.thermoenergy.com
ItN Nanovation publishes its financial figures for 2011
G
ermany’s ItN Nanovation Ag, a portfolio company of Nanostart Ag, reports that in fiscal year 2011 it achieved its sales targets for the areas of coatings and contracted research. However, in water filtration technology there were delays in anticipated sales from Saudi Arabia. Overall, there was a year-on-year increase in sales of E0.1 million (to E2.8 million). Sales in the water sector recorded a slight decline, while in the field of coatings they remained at the same level has previously recorded. Contracted research grew significantly. The six test containers for water treatment undergoing trial operations in the USA led to a net increase in inventories of E0.4 million. Operating performance rose by 22% to E3.1 million in 2011. Gross profit improved by E0.2 million, reaching E1.4 million and resulting in a gross profit ratio of 45.1%. The expansion of the workforce, particularly in sales and production, as a result of ‘‘insourcing’’ module production at the beginning of the second half of 2010 led to a rise in staff costs in the year under review, says the firm. There were also increases in write-downs (special writedowns were required) and in other operating
June 2012
expenses. Here, the intensified sales activities in the USA, for example, had the effect of increasing costs, says the company. In addition, there were extraordinary expenses from the capital measures implemented in the first half of the year and from the securities prospectus in connection with the admission of new shares to trading in the second half. The company’s earnings before interest and taxes fell by E2.1 million to E-7.4 million in 2011. Taking into account the financial result and other taxes, the year-end result amounted to E-7.5 million. Contacts: ItN Nanovation Ag, Untertürkheimer Strasse 25, 66117 Saarbrücken, Germany. Tel: +49 681 50 01460, www.itn-nanovation.com Nanostart Ag, Goethestrasse 26–28, 60313 Frankfurt, Germany. Tel: +49 69 21 93 9600, www.nanostart.de
Recycled wastewater helps keep luxury resort cool
T
he Park Hyatt Dubai hotel is using technology from Dow Water & Process Solutions (DW&PS), a business unit of Dow Chemical Co, to reuse wastewater for the sustainable operation of its heating, ventilating, and airconditioning (HVAC) cooling towers. The company’s membranes filter and process 148 300 m3 (39.2 million gallons) of water annually for the hotel. This is later used to supply its HVAC towers which, in turn, help cool the resort’s 225 luxury rooms and suites. To date this has saved enough potable water to fill 62 Olympic-sized swimming pools, says DW&PS. (The average volume of an Olympic-sized swimming pool is 2500 m3 (660 430 gallons)). The overall system – designed and built by Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies – has helped the hotel save as much as 154 880 m3 (40.9 million gallons) of potable water since 2010. As a global brand, Park Hyatt recognises the environmental impact associated with its hotels and as a result, it is focusing on implementing sustainable practices, such as this water reuse project. According to DW&PS, this approach is an excellent example of sustainability at work, and shows that what is good for the environment also can be good for business with a proven return on investment of less than a year. The system has not only helped the hotel to reduce consumption of potable water, which is a scarce resource in the region, but also to improve the efficiency of the cooling system.
In Brief Novasep strengthens its management team France’s Novasep, a supplier of purification products for the life sciences industry, has recently announced two new managerial appointments. Jean-Claude Romain has become the group’s Corporate Quality Director and a member of Novasep’s executive committee, while Alain Lamproye has joined Novasep Process, the company’s biomolecules business segment, as Director of Novasep Belgium. He has also become a member of Novasep Process’s management committee. Qua manufacturing facility is ISO certified Qua Group Llc reports that its facility which manufactures advanced membrane technology products has been certified as complying with the ISO 9001:2008 quality standard. ‘ISO registration is very important to Qua, as our customers represent many of the world’s leading OEMs. This certification clearly demonstrates our commitment to quality and recognises the rigorous standards to which we adhere in all aspects of our operations,’ commented V.J. Nathan, Technical Director, Qua Group. This is the second important certification received by Qua in 2012 (also see Membrane Technology March 2012, page 5) Dr Mark Rizzone receives Brewer Award Dr Mark Rizzone, Business Manager, Industrial & Life Sciences Group, Koch Membrane Systems Inc, has received the Electrocoat Association’s prestigious George E.F. Brewer Award. The award is presented to individuals who have dedicated their career to advancing electrocoat technology. Power plant uses ERI’s PX devices Energy Recovery Inc (ERI) of San Leandro, California, USA, which designs and develops energy-recovery devices for desalination and other industrial processes, has been selected to supply its PX Pressure Exchanger devices for use at a power plant in Haiyang, Shandong Province, China. Humes licenses Jellyfish Filter Australia’s Humes Water Solutions, a longstanding licensee of Imbrium International Ltd’s Stormceptor oil and sediment separator technology (HumeCeptor), has expanded its product range to include the membranebased Jellyfish Filter. The agreement grants Humes the exclusive right to manufacture, sell and distribute Imbrium’s Jellyfish technology for storm-water treatment throughout Australia. ‘This is a natural fit for both organisations. We are excited about expanding our relationship with Humes Water Solutions and the range of technology offered,’ said Scott Perry, Managing Director, Imbrium.
Membrane Technology
5
Nephros markets Medica products based on Medisulfone UF technology
U
S-based Nephros Inc, a medical device company that develops and markets filtration products for therapeutic applications, infection control and water purification, has announced that it has entered into a strategic license and supply agreement with Italy’s Medica SpA. This agreement grants Nephros exclusive global rights, with specific exceptions, to market products based on Medica’s proprietary Medisulfone ultrafiltration (UF) technology. Medica, which is located in Medolla, one of Europe’s largest centres dedicated to developing and manufacturing medical products, makes and sells a complete range of medical devices for applications such as chronic and acute dialysis, gastroenterology, urology, oncology, cardiology and microbiological water purification for use in the hospital sector. The Medica Water Division, based in Iglesias, Italy, makes a proprietary hollow-fibre polysulfone synthetic membrane for blood and water purification in medical and industrial applications. ‘Medica and Nephros have a long history of collaboration, and I am pleased to formalise our relationship through this agreement, which positively addresses the interests of both companies,’ commented Luciano Fecondini, Chief Executive Officer, Medica. ‘We are excited to solidify our relationship with Medica through this agreement,’ added Nephros board member Dr Paul Mieyal. ‘The Medisulfone technology is a differentiated component of ultrafiltration applications. This agreement consolidates the ultrafiltration products and intellectual property of Nephros and Medica into a comprehensive product line and enables Nephros to market these products on an exclusive basis globally.’ Nephros says that the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instruments’ (AAMI) adoption of more stringent water purity standards for dialysis applications, combined with 4
Membrane Technology
observational studies showing a substantial reduction in required erythropoietin dosing when its Dual Stage Ultrafilter (DSU) is used during dialysis therapy, has led to significantly increased interest in its UF products. In addition to the DSU, Nephros has received FDA 510(k) clearance for its Safe Spout Ultrafilter (SSU) and Mega Stage Ultrafilter (MSU) products to enable these additional UF products to be used in dialysis applications. The firm has also introduced product line extensions for the hospital infection control market which include a more durable filter design to withstand the higher pressures of hospital plumbing and filter covers to improve the aesthetics of the finished installations in hospital showers. In a study involving two major US hospitals, the Nephros DSU system was shown to be effective in reducing waterborne legionella bacteria to undetectable levels, an effect which was sustained for the three-month study period. Contact: Nephros Inc, 41 Grand Avenue, River Edge, NJ 07661, USA. Tel: +1 201 343 5202, www.nephros.com Medica SpA, Via Degli Artigiani 7, 41036 Medolla, Modena, Italy. Tel: +39 0535 51159, www.medicasrl.com
Report discusses the use of nano-materials in polymers
T
he Market Publishers Ltd has released a market research report that provides an overview of the use of nano-materials in plastics and advanced polymer applications. Entitled ‘Nanomaterials in Plastics and Advanced Polymers’, the study features: comprehensive quantitative data and forecasts for the market to 2016; a qualititative insight and perspective on the current market and future trends in end-user markets (based on interviews with key executives); end-user market analysis; and over 80 tables and figures. Nanotechnology and nano-materials currently represent a multi-billion industry that will continue to grow, says the company. A wide range of markets are being affected by nanomaterials that are incorporated into plastics and polymers, such as aerospace and aviation; automotive; food, pharmaceuticals and electronics packaging, and electrical and electronic goods. Specific nano-materials that are finding application in these markets include nanoclays, carbon nanotubes, metal nano-particles,
nano-fibres, nano-cellulose, fullerene and, more recently, graphene (see Membrane Technology April 2012, page 8). Contact: The Market Publishers Ltd, Central House, 582– 586 Kingsbury Road, Birmingham B24 9ND, UK. Tel: +44 208 144 6009 http://marketpublishers.com
Sugar-recovery system meets key environmental demands
U
S-based ThermoEnergy Corp reports that its CASTion sugarrecovery system is meeting key environmental demands, especially at a time when regulatory agencies are increasing the pressure they are putting on companies to safely dispose of wastewater containing soluble sugars. Wastewater generated by the food and beverage industry has a high biological oxygen demand (BOD) from dissolved sugars, fibre and carbohydrates, and cannot be discharged into a sanitary sewer without significant surcharges. ThermoEnergy says that it can help eliminate the expense of BOD treatment and disposal by making concentrated sugars suitable for resale in a wide variety of applications, including feedstocks for bio-ethanol production. In addition to concentrating the sugars, the remaining water is purified to levels suitable for normal discharge. ‘Instead of incurring profit-draining treatment and disposal costs, companies are studying ways of converting wastewater streams into revenue streams, and ThermoEnergy is ready to help,’ explained Cary Bullock, Chief Executive Officer, ThermoEnergy. ‘One particularly exciting use for the recovered sugar is for feedstock for bio-ethanol production,’ noted Bullock. ‘Bio-ethanol is garnering significant international attention and support. Cleaning up a water discharge stream and converting it into a usable bio-feedstock has a tremendous, positive impact on sustainability.’ ThermoEnergy says that its system is compact, uses less energy than competing technology, produces higher-quality concentrations, and requires little maintenance. In 2011, the US Congress eliminated corn subsidies for ethanol production. The Obama Administration, however, continues to support renewable fuel standards that call for the production of more than 15 billion gallons of renewable fuels in 2012. In addition, the US Department
June 2012
NEWS of Defense has a goal of meeting 25% of its energy requirements from renewables by 2025. ThermoEnergy is expecting waste sugar to become a high-value feedstock replacement for corn in conventional ethanol production. The firm says that its sugar-recovery systems integrate a range of technology to achieve the lowest operating and capital expenditure, and the highest concentration levels of recovered sugar. These include reverse osmosis, ThermoEnergy TurboCAST, and ThermoEnergy CAST systems. ThermoEnergy’s Controlled Atmospheric Separation Technology (CAST) concentrates sugar-bearing wastewater to create a sugar product (up to 65-brix) for use in a variety of agricultural and renewable fuel market applications. At the same time, the system recovers 100% of the wastewater for reuse in plant operations. Contact: ThermoEnergy Corp, 10 New Bond Street, Worcester, MA 01606, USA. Tel: 1 508 854 1628, www.thermoenergy.com
ItN Nanovation publishes its financial figures for 2011
G
ermany’s ItN Nanovation Ag, a portfolio company of Nanostart Ag, reports that in fiscal year 2011 it achieved its sales targets for the areas of coatings and contracted research. However, in water filtration technology there were delays in anticipated sales from Saudi Arabia. Overall, there was a year-on-year increase in sales of E0.1 million (to E2.8 million). Sales in the water sector recorded a slight decline, while in the field of coatings they remained at the same level has previously recorded. Contracted research grew significantly. The six test containers for water treatment undergoing trial operations in the USA led to a net increase in inventories of E0.4 million. Operating performance rose by 22% to E3.1 million in 2011. Gross profit improved by E0.2 million, reaching E1.4 million and resulting in a gross profit ratio of 45.1%. The expansion of the workforce, particularly in sales and production, as a result of ‘‘insourcing’’ module production at the beginning of the second half of 2010 led to a rise in staff costs in the year under review, says the firm. There were also increases in write-downs (special writedowns were required) and in other operating
June 2012
expenses. Here, the intensified sales activities in the USA, for example, had the effect of increasing costs, says the company. In addition, there were extraordinary expenses from the capital measures implemented in the first half of the year and from the securities prospectus in connection with the admission of new shares to trading in the second half. The company’s earnings before interest and taxes fell by E2.1 million to E-7.4 million in 2011. Taking into account the financial result and other taxes, the year-end result amounted to E-7.5 million. Contacts: ItN Nanovation Ag, Untertürkheimer Strasse 25, 66117 Saarbrücken, Germany. Tel: +49 681 50 01460, www.itn-nanovation.com Nanostart Ag, Goethestrasse 26–28, 60313 Frankfurt, Germany. Tel: +49 69 21 93 9600, www.nanostart.de
Recycled wastewater helps keep luxury resort cool
T
he Park Hyatt Dubai hotel is using technology from Dow Water & Process Solutions (DW&PS), a business unit of Dow Chemical Co, to reuse wastewater for the sustainable operation of its heating, ventilating, and airconditioning (HVAC) cooling towers. The company’s membranes filter and process 148 300 m3 (39.2 million gallons) of water annually for the hotel. This is later used to supply its HVAC towers which, in turn, help cool the resort’s 225 luxury rooms and suites. To date this has saved enough potable water to fill 62 Olympic-sized swimming pools, says DW&PS. (The average volume of an Olympic-sized swimming pool is 2500 m3 (660 430 gallons)). The overall system – designed and built by Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies – has helped the hotel save as much as 154 880 m3 (40.9 million gallons) of potable water since 2010. As a global brand, Park Hyatt recognises the environmental impact associated with its hotels and as a result, it is focusing on implementing sustainable practices, such as this water reuse project. According to DW&PS, this approach is an excellent example of sustainability at work, and shows that what is good for the environment also can be good for business with a proven return on investment of less than a year. The system has not only helped the hotel to reduce consumption of potable water, which is a scarce resource in the region, but also to improve the efficiency of the cooling system.
In Brief Novasep strengthens its management team France’s Novasep, a supplier of purification products for the life sciences industry, has recently announced two new managerial appointments. Jean-Claude Romain has become the group’s Corporate Quality Director and a member of Novasep’s executive committee, while Alain Lamproye has joined Novasep Process, the company’s biomolecules business segment, as Director of Novasep Belgium. He has also become a member of Novasep Process’s management committee. Qua manufacturing facility is ISO certified Qua Group Llc reports that its facility which manufactures advanced membrane technology products has been certified as complying with the ISO 9001:2008 quality standard. ‘ISO registration is very important to Qua, as our customers represent many of the world’s leading OEMs. This certification clearly demonstrates our commitment to quality and recognises the rigorous standards to which we adhere in all aspects of our operations,’ commented V.J. Nathan, Technical Director, Qua Group. This is the second important certification received by Qua in 2012 (also see Membrane Technology March 2012, page 5) Dr Mark Rizzone receives Brewer Award Dr Mark Rizzone, Business Manager, Industrial & Life Sciences Group, Koch Membrane Systems Inc, has received the Electrocoat Association’s prestigious George E.F. Brewer Award. The award is presented to individuals who have dedicated their career to advancing electrocoat technology. Power plant uses ERI’s PX devices Energy Recovery Inc (ERI) of San Leandro, California, USA, which designs and develops energy-recovery devices for desalination and other industrial processes, has been selected to supply its PX Pressure Exchanger devices for use at a power plant in Haiyang, Shandong Province, China. Humes licenses Jellyfish Filter Australia’s Humes Water Solutions, a longstanding licensee of Imbrium International Ltd’s Stormceptor oil and sediment separator technology (HumeCeptor), has expanded its product range to include the membranebased Jellyfish Filter. The agreement grants Humes the exclusive right to manufacture, sell and distribute Imbrium’s Jellyfish technology for storm-water treatment throughout Australia. ‘This is a natural fit for both organisations. We are excited about expanding our relationship with Humes Water Solutions and the range of technology offered,’ said Scott Perry, Managing Director, Imbrium.
Membrane Technology
5