Chief Technology Officer, Jim Banaszak, says, "We have an elegant solution to an age-old problem‹-how to reduce the mass of biosolids ultimately requiring disposal." The size of a phone booth, the OpenCEL equipment fits anywhere. If it¹s paired with an aerobic system, it reduces sludge volume by 80 percent. Paired with an anaerobic system, the OpenCEL system allows the treatment plant to recover significantly more methane. Because there¹s more methane, more energy is available for capture.

"Everyone talks about biomass being a potential fuel," says CEO Michael Gallagher. "The key is to make the extraction more efficient. We do that." The technology releases the potential energy in biomass, a big plus when the waste stream is high in organic matter. Food processing, breweries, pulp and paper manufacturing, and agriculture typically have waste streams that are high in organic matter.

The OpenCEL equipment allows a plant to:

"We¹re an enabling technology," says Jim Banaszak. "Our equipment, coupled with other systems, can have a big impact on the plant¹s efficiency and energy recovery. Depending on the current operation, the equipment can raise the efficiency of an anaerobic digester from 40 percent to 80 or 90 percent."

The improved efficiency occurs because waste gets processed through the OpenCEL system before it reaches the digesters. The OpenCEL equipment breaks open cells so that an anaerobic digester can more completely convert the biosolids to methane gas.

"This has the potential to change the industry in a big way," Michael Gallagher says. Installing an OpenCEL system will have an immediate payback. Operating costs go down because less sludge winds up being generated. Methane can be used for energy. And, remaining biosolids are safer.