Pioneer in biological wastewater treatment Read more Transparant block

Since 1981, biotech pioneer Paques has delivered cost-effective and highly reliable biological treatment systems to 3400+ customers in 61+ countries. As a result, Paques’ technologies for biological wastewater treatment are ecologically ánd economically sustainable, as they are designed to save on costs.

With world-renowned systems such as ANAMMOX^®, Paques’ technologies help commercial industries and water service providers on the way to a circular economy by imitating nature. With our biological treatment systems, companies can reduce fresh water usage, recover precious resources, decrease carbon footprints and meet strict effluent requirements.

For example, 25.8 million kg of organic pollution is treated with over 1500 anaerobic BIOPAQ^® installations of Paques worldwide. These biological treatments systems produce an amount of biogas equal to the natural gas requirements of 2.8 million households in the Netherlands – and additionally reduce 11.2 Mt CO2 per year.

Biological wastewater treatment can be used to effectively treat and recycle wastewater, but also to recover useful elements like metal or phosphate, produce biogas, and/or desulfurize gas. Thus, biological wastewater treatment is key to sustainable success in a circular economy.

The multi-purpose biological treatment systems of Paques are ecologically ánd economically sustainable. Moreover, they are so effective in resource recovery, that they give companies an edge regarding resource management.

Biological treatment systems make use of naturally occurring biochemical processes of microorganisms. By design, microorganisms eat and digest the pollutants that are dissolved in effluents

There are two types of biological treatment systems: aerobic (in the presence of oxygen) and anaerobic (in the absence of oxygen). Here’s Jung & Pauly’s general overview of advantages and disadvantages of these two forms of biological wastewater treatment.

Anaerobic treatment Low amount of excess sludge Low energy demand Low required space Partial biological degradation (biogas as byproduct) Most effective if COD > 1000 mg/L Aerobic treatment High amount of excess sludge High energy demand High required space Complete biological degradation Most effective if COD < 1000 mg/L

Anaerobic processes mimic nature’s chemistry in a controlled environment to transform organic waste into biogas and clean water. In these systems, complex compounds like carbohydrates, fats, and proteins are broken down step by step by specialized bacteria, releasing energy-rich biogas.

Unlike in nature, where such reactions can deplete oxygen and harm ecosystems, our reactors carefully regulate pH, temperature, and flow to maintain ideal conditions for these delicate biochemical pathways. This precise control prevents uncontrolled reactions, enabling industries to turn wastewater into a valuable biosource while protecting the environment.

By managing nature’s complexity within engineered systems, Paques delivers sustainable solutions that close the loop between waste and resource.