Research & Development

University of Birmingham
For more than 30 years, ARM has worked in collaboration with the University of Birmingham’s School of Chemical Engineering, developing new techniques to meet new challenges in waste treatment. A number of Phd students have utilised the reed beds at Rugeley to conduct their studies, including the use of reed beds to treat agricultural wastewaters, landfill leachates and tidal flow reed beds.

A Knowledge Transfer Partnership was set up with Harper Adams University College in Shrophire, to develop a sustainable method for the refurbishment of reed beds. The project required an MPhil Student to develop a machine capable of recycling aggregate by washing the sludge from the gravel so that it can be reused. Traditionally, gravel from refurbished reed beds was taken to landfill, a costly and wasteful method.

The Aggregate Recycling Machine has revolutionised the maintenance and refurbishment of reed bed treatment systems. Our Field Services team has seen the machine in permanent use since the completion of successful trials in March 2008.

École Nationale Supérieure de Chemie de Mulhouse
ARM has assisted several students carry out their final year projects and provided a placement for a chemical engineering student  from the ENSCMu, part of the Université Haute-Alsace in France who spent their year in industry with us. They took part in the collection  and analysis of data for the ongoing research of trial beds based in Rugeley and other sites.

Non Academic Collaborations
In addition to academic partnerships, ARM collaborate with UK Water Companies and some Industrial companies to explore and adapt reed bed technology and in some cases to test their suitability to treat industrial effluents.