AMT

Australian Membrane Technologies Pty Limited (AMT) has been established to commercialise a novel nano-particulate membrane bioreactor technology (the "NMB") with a wide range of applications, in particular, waste water treatment and recycling.

Compared with other bioreactors and other aerobic waste water treatment processes, the NMB offers more efficient aeration of organic material in the waste stream and very efficient biomass retention. Thus the biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) of the waste stream (or nutrient-containing liquid) is reduced at a faster rate.

This is achieved by using a novel membrane which is folded to form a series of "gills". Each gill comprises a pair of membranes containing a liquid stream sandwiched between two thick biofilms. The nutrient stream trickles down through the gills, whilst air is available outside the gills. Oxygen diffuses through the membranes and biofilms.

The membrane is relatively inexpensive, durable, ultra-porous, extremely strong and autoclavable.

Worldwide patents have been filed for both the membrane itself and the treatment

The NMB technology has been demonstrated at various scales as a very effective treatment for grey water, grease trap waste, sewage and many different industrial waste water streams such as effluents from breweries, wineries, a detergent factory and grease-traps.

In addition to waste water treatment, NMB technology also has potential applications in the production of pharmaceuticals and biochemicals, mining (bioleaching), microbial remediation processes and aquaculture for example, the extremely high availability of oxygen in the NMB enables cells that produce metabolites, such as antibiotics, to provide higher yields and higher production rates. The NMB also provides a process for production of antibiotics that can only be produced in solid state culture.