High-speed clarifier BioMag®

Overview
The BioMag® System uses magnetite (inert iron ore particles) to ballast biological floc and improve clarification in activated sludge processes. It applies ballasted clarification technology to increase secondary settling rates and plant capacity with minimal civil or process modifications. The system routinely achieves a sludge volume index (SVI) below 50 and is used for wastewater intensification, enhanced nutrient removal and management of variable loads and flows.

Key claims

• Ballasted activated sludge substantially increases biological treatment capacity and supports compliance with ENR nutrient limits.
• Simplified secondary settling: magnetite ballasting significantly accelerates sludge settling rates.
• Capacity gains: reported up to 2x MLSS and up to triple effective capacity in some configurations.
• Consistent solids removal and reliable performance under variable loading.

Features

• Designed for integration into most activated sludge plants using a sidestream (WAS) configuration without impacting the main liquid stream.
• Ballast material: magnetite, fully inert and non‑abrasive; particle size ~10–15 µm; magnetically recoverable via a proprietary recovery drum.
• Equipment located in sidestream for limited footprint and simplified tie‑in.
• Mobile units available to support staged implementation or temporarily mitigate poor-settling sludge.
• Fully automated operation with straightforward process control.

Benefits

• Accelerates and stabilizes secondary settling, eliminating bottlenecks and enabling higher throughput.
• Allows up to ~2x increases in MLSS within existing reactors with controlled operational risk.
• Enhances solids and nutrient removal; in some cases enables total phosphorus (TP) ≤ 0.25 mg/L without tertiary filtration.
• Cost-effective reuse: system recovers and reuses up to ~95% of injected magnetite; inert magnetite does not alter sludge microbiology.

Applications

• Wastewater intensification in activated sludge systems.
• Upgrades for plants seeking increased capacity, improved clarifier performance, compliance with strict nutrient limits, or management of variable loads.

Technical specifications

• Commercial name: BioMag® System
• Ballast material: magnetite (inert iron ore particles)
• Magnetite particle size: approximately 10–15 µm
• Magnetite recovery: recovers and reuses up to ~95% of injected magnetite
• Typical SVI: < 50 achievable
• Capacity increase: up to 2x MLSS (reported); up to 3x capacity in certain cases
• TP performance: can achieve TP ≤ 0.25 mg/L without tertiary filters in some configurations
• Installation: sidestream / WAS (no impact on main liquid stream)
• Operation: fully automated; mobile units available