Catching the Razone
Sustainable systems for aquaculture water treatment and disinfection
THE Norway based company Normex has more than 16 years’ experience in developing innovative disinfecting and water treatment solutions for the aquaculture and seafood industry.
Since its start-up in 2003, the Aalesund firm has delivered more than 300 systems to various companies in aquaculture, maritime and fisheries worldwide. Normex environmentally friendly technology provides clean water, increased fish welfare, increased biosecurity and disinfection without the use of chemicals.
The company claims to provide complete solutions, taking part in the entire process from design and engineering to commissioning, user training and follow-up through service agreements.
The overall goal of the company is ‘making a clean difference’ and Normex therefore has a strong focus on sustainable and environmentally friendly solutions that are in line with several of the UN’s sustainability goals.
‘Ozone plays a central role in our solutions,’ said Normex managing director Stig Ove Johansen.
‘Ozone is formed by oxygen (O2) in an electric discharge in an ozone generator. Ozone (O3) is a very powerful and effective oxidising agent and eliminates micro-organisms and pathogens in water.
‘After ozone has reacted with micro-organisms in the water, it returns to its original form: oxygen.
‘Since 2003, we have built up a very broad expertise in disinfection and purification of water, process water and waste water.
‘Together with international industrial partners, and public research institutions, we have developed several innovative solutions in our product portfolio.’ The key to land based farming is good water quality, said Normex. By eliminating micro-organisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites, biosecurity increases and the risk of disease is reduced. By removing micro-particles and colour in the water, the fish welfare increases.
The end product is higher quality and survival. For breeders, this means increased dividends and a stronger environmental profile for customers who are becoming increasingly aware of sustainable solutions and environmental footprints.”
Normex Razone ozone skimmer Normex has developed an optimal water quality system for land based fish farming, for increased biosafety and fish welfare.
‘Normex Razone is a unique solution for water purification in land-based farming,’ said Johansen. ‘The system contributes to a significant improvement in water quality. ‘In RAS systems, the organic load is often high. The danger is, therefore, great for both infections and blooms of harmful micro-organisms, micro-particles, micro-pollutants and adverse H2S problems.’
Normex has developed Normex Razone to meet these challenges through the efficient elimination of micro-organisms and the removal of micro-particles and contaminants through an ozone flocculation and skimming process.
Normex Razone skimmer works just as well in freshwater as in seawater, and it is compact, easy to operate and has low operating costs, said the company.
‘Our control system regulates ozone concentrations against the current water quality and can be linked to the overall control system for the plant,’ said Johansen.
‘By removing micro-particles, micro-organisms and micro-pollutants, the water gets optimal quality which improves fish health, biosecurity and fish welfare, and prevents the build-up of micro-pollutants in aquaculture RAS systems.’
Normex Razone ozone skimmer effectively removes unwanted micro-particles, which are not extracted using existing treatment solutions. The water is treated in a two-phase skimming process, in a side stream configuration. In phase 1, the water is ozonated and microflocculated and in phase 2 the waste materials are skimmed out.
‘In our solutions, ozone plays a very central role,’ said Johansen. ‘Ozone (O3) reacts with all oxidisable material, organic as well as inorganic, and is far more reactive than chlorine to render bacteria, fungi and viruses harmless.
‘The reaction time for ozone is very short and requires much less contact time than other chemical substances. Ozone is also very effective in removing and clearing water.’ The company claims that the use of Normex Razone ozone skimmer gives: • Improved biosecurity • Improved fish welfare • More effective feed utilisation • Increased fish growth • Reduced risk of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) build-up.
For more information contact Stig Ove Johansen on +47 91 70 80 23 or email stig@normex.no, www.normex.no
Normex is exhibiting at Aqua Nor on stand A-152.
“The water gets optimal quality which improves fish health, biosecurity and welfare” fish