Bordo

Purification of industrial process water using boron-doped diamond electrode technology

How can highly polluted industrial wastewater be treated safely, efficiently and without the use of harsh chemicals? The BORDO project provides the answer through an innovative technology: boron-doped diamond electrodes (BDD).

The challenge: ‘Forever’ pollutants

Modern industrial processes, such as battery recycling, generate wastewater containing extremely stable organic contaminants. Conventional treatment methods often reach their limits here:

Filters (such as activated carbon) become saturated quickly and must be disposed of at great expense.
Chemical processes (such as the Fenton process) require large quantities of additives and often produce new sewage sludge.
Particularly stubborn substances such as PFAS (‘forever chemicals’), pesticides (glyphosate) or antibiotic residues can hardly be completely broken down using standard methods.

This is precisely where there is a pressing need for action, particularly on the part of industry and local authorities: stricter limit values and permit requirements are driving the need for scalable, chemical-free and energy-efficient processes.

The solution: diamond electrodes as cleaning tools

Boron-doped diamond electrodes (BDD) are technologically advanced components used in electrochemical water treatment. They are so robust that they remain undamaged even in aggressive environments.

How does it work?

Electrical voltage generates highly reactive particles, known as hydroxyl radicals, on the surface of these diamond electrodes. With a potential of 2.8 V, these radicals are extremely powerful oxidising agents – almost as reactive as fluorine, the most reactive element known. They act like a ‘chemical scalpel’, attacking even the most stable and resistant pollutants directly in the water and breaking them down into harmless components.

The benefits at a glance

Environmentally friendly & chemical-free: The process requires no additional chemicals for purification.
Highly efficient: Compared to other modern oxidation processes, BDD technology consumes significantly less energy.
Sustainable: No contaminated filter residues or concentrates are produced that require costly disposal.
Cost-effective: The electrodes’ exceptional stability ensures low maintenance costs and a long service life for the systems.

The aim: From the laboratory to industrial application

The aim of the project is to develop the technology to market-ready status, taking it from the research laboratory into industrial use. The annex will be scaled up in two stages:

Step 1: Development of a prototype with a throughput of 50 litres per hour.

Step 2: Scaling up to a mobile industrial plant capable of treating up to 3,500 litres of wastewater per hour.

The project partners: A strong team for clean water

The project combines excellent research with industrial expertise:

The Fraunhofer IWKS contributes its expertise in diamond electrode technology and process development. We are responsible for the research and development of both prototypes on-site, as well as their operation and scientific validation. For economic purposes, we also carry out CAPEX/OPEX analyses and comparative studies.
Viridis Aqua GmbH is responsible for the construction, flow simulation, programming and intelligent control of the annexes.

Together, we are creating a solution for a growing global market that urgently needs sustainable and efficient water treatment systems.

This project (HA-Projekt-Nr.: 2127/25-236) is financed with funds of LOEWE – Landes-Offensive zur Entwicklung Wissenschaftlich-ökonomischer Exzellenz, Förderlinie 3: KMU-Verbundvorhaben (State Offensive for the Development of Scientific and Economic Excellence).