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Levapor - Advanced Bio-Carrier (MBBR/IFAS)
The "Levapor" biocarrier is an advanced biocarrier used for; MBBR (Moving Bed Bio Film Reactor), IFAS (Integrated Fixed Film Activated Sludge) applications as well as use with Bio Trickling Filters for gas removal. The Levapor MBBR media is made of reticulated PU foam impregnated with activated carbon along with other numerous proprietary compounds which provide a very high specific surface area, 15,000 m2/m3. This provides a very high adsorption capacity and high inner porosity. The specific properties of the Levapor MBBR Media biocarrier enable colonization within 120 minutes to 189 minutes, enable growth of highly active and efficient biofilms which create a remarkably higher process performance compared to plastic media or conventional activated sludge and conventional attached growth processes.
Reticulated PU Foam with high inner porosity and high surface area:
Levapor carriers are made of Hydrophilic Poly Ether based reticulated PU foams having fine pore structure ranging its pore size from 450-750 microns. The reticulation process of the PU foam imparts very high strength to the material with durability and flexibility like rubber making it ideal material for an MBBR biocarrier application. The fine pore structure of the reticulation also provide a very high surface area, "15,000 m2/m3" and high inner porosity result in a very high amount of voids per cubic metre of carrier material.
Impregnation with Activated carbon and surface active pigments:
Further to an enhanced surface properties of this reticulated PU foam, the Levapor biocarrier is impregnated with fine activated carbon and surface active pigments. This impregnation of activated carbon with the PU foam matrix creates a high adsorbing capacity along with a surface area of 15,000 m2/m3, the very high surface area and extremely high adsorbing capacity with ionic charges on the surface create are beneficial for faster and efficient colonization of live and active biomass to adhere to the biocarrier.
Reversible Adsorption and Regeneration: A unique property of Levapor MBBR/IFAS media
The presence of Activated carbon on the Levapor carrier provides additional benefit of PACT (Powdered Activated Carbon Activated Sludge) process to the attached growth MBBR/IFAS process. Due to presence of activated carbon, the toxic substances entering the reactor during the toxic events, gets adsorbed on the carrier material. This reduces the bulk liquid concentration of the toxic substances reducing its toxic impact on the micro-organisms present in the suspended phase.
As the higher substrate gradient of the adsorbed substance is developed on the carrier material, abundant growth of specific types of micro-organisms responsible for the degradation of toxic substances occurs. This growth of specific type of microorganism aids in the effective and efficient bio-degradation of such toxic and difficult to biodegrade kind of substances. The bacterial film growing on the biocarrier material converts this substance into smaller molecular weight substances through hydrolysis and eventually biodegrades it. Thus, this biodegradation of adsorbed pollutants via micro-organisms automatically regenerates the adsorption capacity of the carrier material.
The permanent impregnation of the carrier material with activated carbon eliminates the need for any addition of activated carbon on a continuous basis as practiced in PACT systems for industrial effluent treatment and the ‘’reversible adsorption and regeneration’’, this phenomenon helps to regenerate the adsorbing capacity of the biocarrier material eliminating any need for "top up", back wash or cleaning, enabling the adsorbing capacity readily available for any further prevention of toxic shock loads.