Activated Sludge Process Instruments (ASPI) is a newly established micro SME registered in Scotland. Its core business is the design, development, manufacture, supply and support of specialist respirometric instruments and algorithms for improving automation of the activated sludge (AS) process commonly used within wastewater treatment plants (WWTP). The treatment of sewage and industrial wastewaters accounts for ~2% of national energy consumption so ASPI products will enable WWTP operators to achieve significant efficiencies and savings in energy consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions whilst ensuring compliance with statutory regulations for protection of the environment. The Activated Sludge (AS) process requires significant levels of manual operator assessment of the biomass and being limited by a lack of real-time information can be highly inefficient. Case studies show for a 900,000 population-equivalent WWTP simple, manual, respirometry techniques achieved an annual reduction in energy consumption and GHG emissions of 26% (3.9GWhrs / €350k / 2,994 tonnes CO2). Despite these benefits, an internal market assessment indicates that very few WWTP operators have adopted respirometric techniques, potentially explained by the lack of existing commercially available instruments that are capable of providing reliable, in-situ, comprehensive and automated operational measurements to dynamically control an optimum environment for the biomass. The CASPA Proof of Market Study (POMS) will investigate the performance and limitations of existing instruments, process algorithms and PLC/SCADA interface to enable optimal forward control of the WWTP system. The output will inform scientific direction and commercialisation objectives providing initial concept development for a new and unique instrument (set) with the desired performance. Protection of intellectual property will be sought prior to commencing supplier/partner selection, prototype development and trials.

Activated Sludge Process Instruments (ASPI) is a newly established micro SME registered in Scotland. Core business is focused upon the design, development, manufacture, supply and support of specialist respirometric instruments and supporting algorithms for automating the aeration process within wastewater treatment plants (WWTP). ASPI products will enable WWTP operators and utilities worldwide to achieve significant efficiencies and savings in energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions whilst ensuring compliance with statutory regulations for the protection of the environment and public health.