The unique Biolac moving aeration chain system for mixing and oxygen transfer brings all these features and capabilities together. Developed by Parkson in the mid-1980s, the floating aeration chains suspend Biofuser^® fine bubble diffusers approximately one foot above the basin bottom. Because there are no points of attachment or support to the basin bottom, all equipment is easily accessible and removable for service and maintenance without basin dewatering, eliminating the need for redundant treatment basins. The flexible, floating aeration chains systematically move through the wastewater propelled only by the rising air bubbles from the diffusers. As a result, the Biolac moving aeration chains are extremely efficient mixing devices, requiring only 1/4 – 1/3 of the energy for complete mixing compared to stations diffused air or mechanical aeration systems. This unique mixing capability is the key to providing operating flexibility and efficiency in a long sludge age process.

The Biolac system design is completed by the Biolac^® EZ Clear™ secondary clarifier. Common wall construction between the EZ Clear™ clarifier and effluent end of the treatment basin minimizes the plant footprint and construction cost while providing significant operational and process advantages:

• Incorporates an airlift sludge return system within the clarifier itself, eliminating the need for mechanical RAS and WAS pumps
• Dampens peak flow through the clarifier using automatic in-basin equalization
• Simplifies and reduces construction costs by eliminating splitter boxes, field piping and RAS/WAS pumps and pump stations
• Reduces the plant footprint by 50% vs. a separate clarifier design, allowing the plant to be constructed on a much smaller site
• Minimizes hydraulic loss between the treatment basin and clarifier discharge

Phosphorus removal can be accomplished either chemically by adding coagulant, or biologically by incorporating an anaerobic Bio-P zone in front of the Biolac treatment basin in a traditional biological phosphorus removal approach.