Partners - PURATREAT
New Energy Efficient Approach to the Operation of Membrane Bioreactors for Decentralised Wastewater Treatment

The Biotechnology Research Centre was created in 1988 in the city of Sfax, Tunisia. The CBS integrates a highly qualified kernel of researchers aimed at the development and implementation of projects dealing with Biotechnology in the Tunisian context.
- To take part in the development of scientific research in biotechnology and in its insertion in the social and economic domain.
- To contribute to the management and training in biotechnology and to support collaboration and partnership with the university.
- To develop the results of research and to support their exploitation by economic actors.
- To carry out an activity of expertize and to promote science and technology in the benefit of the national economy in biotechnology.

CBS has infrastructure necessary for realizing projects financed by International organizations such as UNDP, ICGIB, EEC, e.g. large pilot-plant facilities and laboratories. Among its 4 laboratories, the Bioprocesses Laboratory Unit has the role of studying the biological system involved in the aerobic and anaerobic degradation of urban and industrial wastewaters. This Laboratory has an extensive experience in biological pre-treatment of industrial and urban effluents and started the studies of integration of membrane technology. Research in this last field revealed the need of switching from lab scale experiments to pilot scale tests as well as improving research in integrated processes for water management and reuse.The research focuses on the aerobic and anaerobic treatment of urban and industrial wastewaters. In the Puratreat project CBS collaborates in the design, construction and preliminary tests of the laboratory bioreactor in Bath. CBS are in charge of the installation of the laboratory plant in a wastewater treatment plant of the city of Sfax (Tunisia). This partner is the main responsible for the operation of the system during the whole course of the research as well as for the processing of the experimental data obtained. CBS will also carry out the scientific management of the project.