Arkema, Polymem, and Tergys Collaborate on Innovative Autonomous Filtration Systems for Clean Drinking Water Supply

Arkema, Polymem, and Tergys Collaborate on Innovative Autonomous Filtration Systems for Clean Drinking Water Supply

(IN BRIEF) Arkema, Polymem, and Tergys have partnered to develop innovative autonomous filtration systems that address the challenge of supplying drinking water to remote and disaster-stricken areas. The collaboration builds on the expertise of Arkema and Polymem in the development of Neophil® advanced hollow fiber ultrafiltration membranes, known for their durability and long-lasting permeability. Tergys, a manufacturer of autonomous water treatment systems powered by solar panels and rechargeable batteries, joined the effort to create containerized solutions for producing drinking water from degraded water sources. These filtration systems, utilizing Kynar® FSF® PVDF membranes, meet stringent French Sanitary standards and effectively remove contaminants at the nanoscale level. The solution is well-suited for regions with varying filtration capacity needs, ranging from small-scale to large-scale production. The collaboration aims to contribute to alleviating the global issue of access to clean drinking water, which affects millions of people worldwide.

(PRESS RELEASE) COLOMBES, 14-Jul-2023 — /EuropaWire/ — The innovation is the result of a three-way development between the companies to develop innovative autonomous filtration systems that bring drinking water to remote and disaster-stricken territories.

Access to drinking water remains one of the world’s biggest social problems with an estimated 1.8 billion humans affected globally by 2025. Arkema is proud to collaborate with its partners in tackling this major issue.

For many years, Arkema and French membrane producer Polymem, recently acquired by US life sciences company Repligen Corporation, have been partners in the development of Neophil® advanced hollow fiber ultrafiltration membranes based upon Arkema’s Kynar® FSF® PVDF. These fibers are well known for their tremendous durability in terms of physical strength and chemical resistance. They are tailored to offer extremely long-lasting permeability and long-term repeated cleanability.

Both companies collaborated with Tergys, a manufacturer of autonomous water treatment systems powered by solar panels and rechargeable batteries to develop containerized solutions that enable drinking water production from off graded water. These filtration systems are ideally suited for deployment in remote and disaster-stricken regions, where filtration capacity can range from just a few cubic meters to several hundred cubic meters. The Kynar® FSF® PVDF based membranes are compliant with demanding French Sanitary standards ACS and ensure effective and durable filtration of contaminants in the scale of tens of nanometers allowing the efficient in-situ production of safe drinking water.

Arkema and Polymem have had a long and successful relationship on water ultrafiltration thanks to Neophyl® membranes manufactured with Kynar® PVDF. We are proud to collaborate with Tergys on this exciting innovation that enables safe access to drinking water in isolated territories.” GUILLAUME DE CREVOISIER, GLOBAL GENERAL MANAGER – FLUOROPOLYMERS & FLUOROMONOMERS AT ARKEMA

About POLYMEM:

Polymem S.A.S, French manufacturer of hollow fiber membranes since 1997, recently became the global center of expertise and European membrane production site for the U.S. life sciences company Repligen Corporation, for filtration membranes used in Water Treatment and in the production of bioprocessed medicines. Polymem uses a specific innovative Kynar® PVDF for the production of its Neophil® ultrafiltration membranes.

About TERGYS:

TERGYS S.A.S, French Start up started by end 2017 develops innovative autonomous containerized water treatment systems powered by renewable energy equipment. TERGYS has held a range of new  plug & play systems for drinking water and electricity access 24/7, for decentralized desalination in coastal and island areas and for reuse of waste water. Most TERGYS Offers include membrane technologies with the very powerful UF Neophil® membranes as main treatment or pretreatment for Reverse Osmosis.

Media Contacts:

Gilles Galinier
VP Communication
+33 (0)1 49 00 70 07

Anne Plaisance
Corporate Press Relations Manager
+33 (0)6 81 87 48 77

SOURCE: Arkema