Koch MBR plant in Germany completes three successful years of operation

• German plant effectively treats low temperature, highly infiltrated wastewater.

WILMINGTON, MA, Oct. 16, 2006 -- Koch Membrane Systems (KMS), a world-class developer and manufacturer of innovative membranes and membrane filtration systems, announces that the membrane bioreactor (MBR) system located in Simmerath, Germany, recently completed three successful years of operation.

The local sewage board, Wasserverband Eifel Rur, operates a 3.4 MGD wastewater treatment plant in Simmerath. The plant utilizes an MBR containing submerged membrane modules supplied by Koch Membrane Systems GmbH, formerly known as Puron AG. These submerged modules contain bundles of hollow fiber membranes and have been functioning effectively since the system was commissioned in March 2003.

The MBR is operated as a bypass facility to the existing wastewater treatment plant and is designed for a population of 750. The MBR includes an aeration tank with denitrification and nitrification functions, and a membrane tank containing the PURON modules. The PURON^® modules have successfully met all challenges including low wastewater temperatures along with high levels of infiltration water. The extremely effective design of the PURON module, which includes a unique single header and the introduction of compressed air in the center of the fiber bundle to optimize solids management, has contributed to the system's successful performance.

The Simmerath MBR features two PURON modules with a total membrane area of 1,000 m² and has a capacity of 630 m³/day.

Koch Membrane Systems Inc. (www.kochmembrane.com) has been a global leader in separation and filtration products for more than 30 years. A designer and manufacturer of state-of-the-art membrane cartridges and elements, as well as complete membrane systems, KMS products are specified for the most demanding applications. To enhance membrane performance, KMS offers a line of antiscalants and cleaning chemicals, and provides a wide range of maintenance and technical service programs. The company has supplied membranes for more than 15,000 systems installed around the world, serving the food processing, life sciences, and general manufacturing industries, as well as providing potable water and wastewater treatment technologies for communities of all sizes. Based in Wilmington, MA, Koch Membrane Systems is a Koch Chemical Technology Group, LLC company.

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