AirPrex, which is CNP’s flagship technology, is a sludge optimization process that recovers the high-phosphate mineral struvite after anaerobic digestion but before the dewatering process – saving operating and maintenance costs. AirPrex creates a fertilizer that can be resold, adding a revenue source for municipal utilities and treatment plants.
CNP North America is headquartered in Kenosha, Wisconsin, with additional facilities in Hamburg, Germany and Chengdu, China. The company will be led by wastewater industry veterans Rudi Bogner as CEO, Bernd Kalauch as chief technology officer and Gerhard Forstner as president.
“The AirPrex technology represents a breakthrough for treatment plants struggling with struvite precipitation, poor dewatering and high polymer consumption,” said Forstner. “CNP is pleased to offer to our customers a proven system which will eliminate the maintenance problems associated with struvite precipitation. AirPrex will lower disposal costs and drastically cut down on polymer use – all while producing a slow-release fertilizer product to ensure that the recovered phosphorus can be beneficially used.”
“Wastewater treatment plants are important sources for phosphorus recovery. Given limited world reserves of phosphorus and rising commodity prices, the recovery of this finite element is increasingly important,” said Bogner.
