RFICs

PRODUCTS

  • GettyImages-1346675604 clinical lab research
    Safety And Pharmacovigilance In-House Services

    Clinical trials safety monitoring and reporting is vital to ensure participant safety, data integrity and regulatory compliance.

  • AST innovation
    A User-Friendly Solution For Fill-Finish Professionals

    When AST came to the table on the design for our new fill-finish isolator, one of the first areas AST engineers wanted to address was the usability and accessibility of the isolator and corresponding operations. With our customers’ point of view in mind, we wanted to address specific points of friction routinely encountered by operators and closely examine whether those friction points were necessary.

    Does an isolator need to be ergonomically unfriendly to clean?

    Should simple mechanisms like isolator doors be challenging to engage? (As much as one can appreciate exercise, no one wants to do “arm day” in cleanroom coveralls).

    Does routine maintenance have to be time-consuming and laborious?

    Many of these factors are accepted as par for the course in aseptic fill-finish manufacturing. Our question was, why?

  • BE4
    Small Batch Pharmaceutical Blister Packaging System: BE4

    Ideal for small batch sizes, many format changes, or a wide variety of packaging materials – the BE4 reliably meets all requirements. It enables a highly efficient process thanks to the two-lane operation with a very small footprint. Thanks to the 100% modular concept of the Blister Expert platform, the BE4 can be upgraded to a high-speed solution at any time.

  • check computer for vitals-GettyImages-1446748436
    How iMednet Addresses Key Industry Challenges

    In today’s complex clinical research landscape, sponsors and CROs face numerous challenges that can impact study timelines, costs, and data quality. The iMednet platform offers innovative solutions to address these critical issues.

  • Europe iStock-490822468
    European Regulatory Development

    Scientific knowledge to strategize viable and efficient drug and device development pathways to achieve successful outcomes.

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About Nutrient Removal

Nutrient removal from wastewater consists of treating wastewater to remove nitrogen and phosphorus before it reenters natural waterways. High levels of nitrogen and phosphorus in wastewater cause eutrophication, a process where excess nutrients stimulate excessive plant growth such as algal blooms and cyanobacteria. The decomposition of the algae by bacteria uses up the oxygen in the water causing other organisms to die. This creates more organic matter for the bacteria to decompose. In addition, some algal blooms can produce toxins that contaminate drinking water supplies.

As authorized by the Clean Water Act, the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program regulates point sources, such as municipal wastewater treatment plants, that discharge pollutants as effluent into the waters of the United States. In recent years, many of the States’ environmental bodies have lowered nutrient limits to arrest eutrophication. Maryland’s effort to protect the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries is perhaps the most notable example of nutrient removal in the US. Nutrient removal continues to be a growing area of focus for wastewater treatment throughout the world.   

The removal of nitrogen and phosphorus require different nutrient removal processes. To remove nitrogen, the nitrogen is oxidized from ammonia to become nitrate through a process called nitrification. This process is then followed by denitrification where the nitrate is reduced to nitrogen gas which is released to the atmosphere and removed from the wastewater.

Nitrification is a two-step aerobic process which typically takes place in aeration tanks. Denitrification requires anoxic conditions to encourage the appropriate biological conditions to form. The activated sludge process is often used to reduce nitrate to nitrogen gas in anoxic or denitrification tanks.

Phosphorus can be removed biologically using polyphosphate accumulating organisms (PAOs) which accumulate large quantities of phosphorus within their cells and separate it from treated water. Phosphorus removal can also be achieved by chemical removal. Once removed as sludge, phosphorus may be stored in a land fill. However, many municipalities and treatment facilities are looking to resell the biosolids for use in fertilizer.