Headworks BIO™ Inc. Enters Egyptian Market With First MBBR Order

While Egyptians flooded Tahrir Square in celebration of President Mohamed Morsi's election on June 24th, the Vice President and Process Manager of the MENA Region for Headworks BIO Inc., Mr. Afnan Din, was in Cairo negotiating the final details of the company's first municipal contract in Egypt.

The contract was executed between Headworks BIO Inc., based in Houston, Texas, and The General Egyptian Company for Buildings (GEC) on the 4th of July in Cairo, a symbolic date of freedom for those in the United States of America as well.

The subject of the contract, the Mubarak WWTP located in Alexandria, was designed to treat 4,000 m3/day and commissioned in 2001. After the membrane bioreactor (MBR) operated successfully for many years, the plant began to experience problems with membrane fouling that demanded high levels of operator attention and maintenance. Consequently, the plant was taken out of service in 2009. 

Headworks BIO was asked to review the performance of the existing plant and evaluate the options available for refurbishment. The retrofit was required to meet the following criteria:

• Maximize the use of existing infrastructure and assets to minimize construction
• Produce a consistent effluent quality of 50:80:50 mg/L for BOD:COD:TSS
• Simplify operation and reduce the required level of operator attention

"Headworks BIO demonstrated our expertise as a solutions provider throughout the bid process," explained Afnan Din. "We provided a complete process design, taking into consideration the challenges associated with the existing plant and desires of the client. Through working closely with our local representative, Ament, we are proud to announce our first major win in Egypt."

The proposed system from Headworks BIO involves retrofitting the MBR aeration tanks with a Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor (MBBR) to treat 4,000 m3/day and converting the remaining volume into a secondary clarifier - avoiding any new construction or additional infrastructure expense.

The biological treatment process will remove the influent BOD to meet the required effluent target and require minimal maintenance because each piece of media self-maintains an optimum level of productive biofilm. 

About Headworks BIO Inc.
Headworks BIO Inc. is a total solutions provider offering wastewater screening, MBBR/IFAS biological treatment, and tertiary filtration products to the worldwide municipal and industrial treatment industry. Headworks BIO Inc. is based in Houston, Texas with offices around the world including the United States, Canada, India, and the Middle East.