Xogen Technologies is expecting that its new pilot plant will generate global interest.

Now operational in the Town of Orangeville’s Water Pollution Control Plant, the pilot treats between 20 and 30 litres of raw wastewater per minute (up to 1,800 per hour). At about 1,600 square feet, the plant also removes pharmaceuticals and personal care products to below detectable levels, says Xogen. The company’s technology uses an electrolytic process that eliminates biosolids and requires a smaller footprint than traditional treatment methods. The process also produces a mixture of hydrogen and oxygen gas that can be used to generate energy through combustion or a fuel cell. Eventually, this energy may be sold to the grid or reused to help reduce costs.

Over the next year, the plant will undergo extensive testing and validation. Researchers will assess its ability to meet municipal regulations and reduce air, soil, and water emissions.

The plant will also undergo Environmental Technology Verification (ETV) to validate the technology’s effectiveness at removing suspended solids, phosphorous, pathogens and other contaminants from wastewater. The ETV will be performed by the Ontario Centre for Environmental Technology Advancement (OCETA) in Canada and by the US-based National Sanitation Federation (NSF). These two bodies will work together to verify Xogen’s technology for potential use in both Canadian and international markets.

Xogen is arranging private tours of the plant. “Instead of reports, papers and experiments, people can now see first-hand how wastewater can be safely treated with less environmental impact and for less money,” says Angella Hughes, CEO. “This plant is the culmination of years of hard work, research, testing, and planning as well as support from the federal and provincial government.”

This funding comes from Sustainable Development Technology Canada, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, the Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation, and Ontario Centres of Excellence.

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