Development and validation of water treatment processes and technologies
The Centre for Research, Development and Validation of Technologies and Processes in Water Treatment (CREDEAU) is an interuniversity research centre devoted to research and development and to the validation of technologies and training of specialists in the field of water treatment. It specializes in potable water treatment and distribution and wastewater treatment. It strives to meet the needs of industry, government authorities and Canadian society via a systemic approach to the anthropogenic water cycle in an urban context. CREDEAU projects focus on potable water, wastewater, treatment processes and process chemistry, microbiology, the environment, public health risk analyses, the impact of climate change on water quality and emerging problems (algal toxins, trace compounds), as well as ecotoxicology combined with chemical analyses for the optimization and development of water treatment processes. Projects focus in particular on applied research. They can take the form of research partnerships or industrial contracts. In addition to laboratory spaces at Polytechnique Montréal, Université de Montréal and École de technologie supérieure, CREDEAU has eight instrumented, automated, exceptionally flexible pilot units that enable on-site validation of a large number of processes and combinations of processes, depending on variations in raw water quality, for treatment of both potable water and wastewater. The units allow CREDEAU to avoid the use of reconstituted water. They are installed in trailers that can be moved to different test sites. The mobile units have enabled work on upgrading various potable water treatment plants, including those of the cities of Montreal and Laval. CREDEAU’s efforts have had a significant impact on municipal decisions and the government’s regulatory vision. In the long term, these efforts lead to lower treatment costs and discharges of better purified water.
CREDEAU’s research services are aimed at individuals and businesses and organizations seeking water treatment expertise. They comprise: ad hoc information, simple services, contract work, research collaborations and partnerships, technology monitoring, feasibility studies, pilot tests, methodological and analytical pilot support, treatability studies, identification of the occurrence of pollutants and the effectiveness of treatments to remove them, validation of processes, development of new treatment processes.
- Clean technology
- Environmental technologies and related services
- Utilities
Specialized labs and equipment
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Specialized lab |
Equipment |
Function |
|---|---|---|
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Potable water treatment laboratory (Polytechnique Montréal) (analytical chemistry, microbiology including Level II and pilot spaces) |
LC-MS/MS GC-ECD IC ICP-OES GC-MS with an SBSE PCR and RT-PCR TOC meters DPA Annular reactors Flow cytometry |
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Wastewater treatment laboratory (Polytechnique Montréal) (analytical chemistry, microbiology and pilot spaces) |
Infrared and UV-Vis spectrometers Membrane bioreactors/fermenters Fermenters Kjeldahl digester CI |
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Environmental analytical chemistry laboratory (Université de Montréal) |
LC-MS-MS Online sampling and preconcentration by semi-automatic double chromatography |
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Phytotechnology laboratory (Université de Montréal/Montréal Botanical Garden) |
Phytozome including an aeroponic culture system and a sample preparation and preservation system |
Controlled growth to develop wastewater and sludge treatment processes using plants |
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Biodiversity Centre, Plant Biology Research Institute (Université de Montréal) |
Heat block COD Spectrophotometer digester Two-channel flow injection analysis system |
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Industrial wastewater treatment laboratory (École de technologie supérieure) (analytical chemistry, microbiology and pilot spaces) |
LC-MS/MS GC-MS Infrared and UV-Vis spectrometers Kjeldahl and TOC analyzer Automatic reactor Nebulizer |
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Gaseous discharge treatment laboratory (Polytechnique Montréal) |
GC/MS GC/PFPD |
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Sludge biodrying laboratory (Polytechnique Montréal) |
Industrial sludge biodrying pilot unit (Bio Déshydratation Solution Inc.) |
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Design computer laboratory (Polytechnique Montréal/Université de Montréal) |
Analysis/communication computer system BALAS Process Simulation Software |
Obtaining off-site operation data in real time Data modelling for technological development |
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Hydrodynamic modelling of multiphase processes at extreme conditions laboratory (Polytechnique Montréal) |
Characterization of biofuels produced from sludge pyrolysis (GC-MS/TCD, distillation apparatus, CHNS/O, FTIR) |
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Mobile pilot units (Polytechnique Montréal) |
Conventional treatment unit – potable water: 20 m (L) x 5 m (W) x 8 m (H) |
Conventional flocculation Ballasted flocculation and settling Granular filtration Ozonation |
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Advanced treatment unit – potable water |
Treatment of tastes and odours and removal of micropollutants Ballasted settling Ozone – UV Membranes Adsorption using powdered active carbon |
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Automated nanofiltration test bench |
Programmable controller High-pressure, low-throughput pumps Motorized valves Process control sensors |
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Wastewater treatment unit The treatment capacity depends on the configuration used. It ranges from 1 to 4 m3/h. |
Biological removal of organic matter, nitrogen and phosphorus AS+ Pilot: treatment by activated sludge and moving bed bioreactor (MBBR) |
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Physicochemical and biological treatment unit The treatment capacity ranges from 2 to 6 m3/h |
Ballasted flocculation (ActifloTM) and buoyant media bed biofiltration (BiostyrTM) processes |
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Mobile pilot units (École de technologie supérieure) |
Ozonation, UV disinfection and biotreatment units |
Reduction of wastewater effluent toxicity. Validation of attached bacteria aerobic biotreatment (BioforTM) and advanced oxidation. |
Private and public sector research partners
- Veolia Water Technologies Canada
- Degrémont Technologies Ltée
- EnviroSim
- Municipality of Montreal
- Municipality of Laval
- Municipality of Longueuil
- Municipality of Repentigny
- Municipality of Saint‐Hyacinthe
- Hydro‐Québec
- Société québécoise d’assainissement des eaux
- Natural Resources Canada
- St. Lawrence Centre
- Ministère du Développement durable de l’Environnement et de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques
- Ministère des Affaires municipales et de l’Occupation du territoire
- Ministère de l’agriculture des pêcheries et de l’alimentation
- Health Canada
- United States Environmental Protection Agency
- World Health Organization
- Zoo de Granby
- Aqua‐Centrum
- Montréal Biodôme
- Montréal Botanical Garden