Clearas has developed an Advanced Biological Nutrient Recovery (ABNR) technology that effectively eliminates excess nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus from wastewater streams, without the use of any chemicals.

The Clearas Advanced Biological Nutrient Recovery (ABNR) solution is a chemical-free water filtration device that is highly effective at removing excess nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen from wastewater streams. It is highly scalable and compatible with existing wastewater treatment facilities that may already be in use in industrial and municipal settings. The ABNR system works in three phases: blending, nutrient recovery, and separation.

Wastewater streams are blended with a mixture of CO², algae and other microorganisms. The liquid is then channelled into a vertical pond system of tubes where the liquid is constantly exposed to light to enhance photosynthesis. The algae then ‘feed’ on the excess nitrogen and phosphorous in the water. The liquid and microorganisms are finally separated using advanced microfiltration technology. The clean water is then discharged or reused and the biological components are recycled back into the blending tank to be used for the next batch of wastewater.

Tests have shown the ABNR system to enhance phosphorus filtration tenfold, and nitrogen threefold, helping to prevent dangerous volumes of these nutrients from entering marine ecosystems. For instance, by installing an ABNR system in their municipal wastewater treatment facility, the municipality of Missoula in Montana saw a 96% reduction in phosphorus and 63% fall in nitrogen.

Effective removal of excess phosphorus and nitrogen from wastewater streams is crucial for tackling nutrient pollution and eutrophication, which occurs when high concentrations of nutrients stimulate excessive growth of algae in bodies of water. Over time, algal blooms consume too much oxygen in the water, which starves other species of oxygen and can create marine dead zones. The US EPA estimates that more than 160,000 km of rivers and streams, 10,000² km of lakes, and 2000 km² of bays and estuaries have been affected by nutrient pollution.