The aim of the MerEFF project was to develop an environmentally sustainable technology based on a strict biological approach in a semi-technical scale at Herning Water. The technology concept developed and tested at a large pilot scale, is based on the moving bed biofilm reactor principle, where it is possible to select slow-growing bacteria capable of degrading organic compounds present in effluent waters. For wastewater effluents, the organic content is low and consists primarily of medium to hardly degradable compounds, including pharmaceuticals. Based on the MBBR principle and extensive knowledge on operational regimes favouring pharmaceutical-degrading microbial consortia, the eXeno™ technology from Veolia Water Technologies was developed further and optimized for the removal of micropollutants.
The MerEFF project was funded by the Danish EPA as project: MST 141-01596/2019-8760.