The IMANS® System
A Novel Membrane Approach for Carbon Diversion in Wastewater Treatment
The IMANS® (integrated membrane anaerobic stabilization) approach to wastewater treatment is a simple and innovative approach to treating wastewater and diverting carbon from energy-intensive processes to energy-producing processes.
Physical separation using gravity, screens, and membrane processes produces high-quality water that can be used for groundwater recharge.
Organic-rich streams produced by carbon diversion are stabilized anaerobically, yielding energy.
IMANS® Features and Benefits
Conventional aerobic biological treatment processes (including activated sludge), convert the inherent energy in wastewater (in the form of biochemical oxygen demand) into biosolids, incurring significant treatment and disposal costs. The IMANS® approach, through eliminating the use of aerobic treatment, preserves and concentrates the inherent energy in wastewater for conversion into useful energy (methane) by anaerobic treatment.
Features of the IMANS System:
- No activated sludge treatment.
- Produces 50% less biosolids.
- Generates 35% more biogas.
- Requires 45% less energy.
- Small footprint.
- Less odor.
- Diversion of carbon.
- High-quality RO product water.
- Lower cost.
Directly to Electrical Power
Replacing the high-rate, up-flow anaerobic sludge bed process with a microbial fuel cell provides a direct power source derived from the diverted wastewater organics.
Pilot Results
Testing conducted in 2012 — 2013 showed repeatable performance of PvDF microfiltration membranes and 4-week intervals between chemical cleans.
Further piloting in 2016 — 2018 tested microbial fuel cells on RO concentrate and confirmed high COD removal and direct energy production. Testing also showed excellent removal of chemicals of emerging concern (CECs) — including PFOS.
IMANS® for Ocean Discharge
Two years of testing, using a full-scale submerged microfiltration system, demonstrated the long-term performance of the membranes and the high-quality effluent produced, which may be suitable for ocean discharge.
