NIVA Results: Up to 70% Particles Removal in Freshwater Protein Skimmers

Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA)

The Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA) is Norway’s leading Nonprofit Institute for marine and freshwater fundamental and applied research. NIVA’s world-class expertise is multidisciplinary with a broad scientific scope.

NIVA officials, performed an independent, nonpaid field trial on MAT freshwater protein skimmer performance in an undisclosed salmon farm facility in Norway.

The trial occurred between 12.08.2020 and 10.09.2020. NIVA collected water samples before the installation of MAT-KULING freshwater skimmer and continued collecting samples after the installation of the Protein Skimmers for about 1 month.

During the trial the pre-smolt pool was operated in full capacity and following the standard farming protocol.

The results as they can be observed on the diagrams presented, were better than expected. There was significant removal in small, medium and large particles. This resulted in improvement in several water quality chemical parameters.

Up to 70% Average Particle Removal in Freshwater Protein Skimmers

Particle Removal (%) During 12 Aug – 10 Sept 2020

Particle Range 0.8 – 2 μm

Particle Range 3 – 5 μm

Particle Range 6 – 10 μm

Particle Range 10 – 22 μm

Particle Range 23 – 32 μm

More Fish & Feed in the Same Pool

Freshwater Farms, specifically salmon farmers, requested MAT to develop a Freshwater Protein Skimmer able to perform in fresh and brackish water conditions and installed in salmon pre-smolt stage tanks.

Our equipment is designed from scratch and delivers the best quality of protein removal from any other equivalent foam fractionator in the market. Better water quality results to more fish and feed in the same pool. The protein skimmer can perform as an add-on to the existing filtration setup.

By adding a protein skimmer to the hatchery filtration RAS, the farm aims for 20% or more enhancement of water quality and significant improvement in biomass capacity per tank, by better mechanical filtration and higher oxygen levels. The protein skimmer / fractionator produces fine and thick constant air bubbles in order to generate sufficient skimming. It is designed to be installed in pre-smolt stage freshwater tanks. This is the stage that farms seek to optimize water parameters to achieve maximum salmon growth.

Protein Skimmers for Pre-Smolt Salmon

The problem is that these pre-smolt tanks run on fresh water and traditional protein skimmers designed for salt water could not achieve significant foam fractionation, thus a thick and rich protein slime removal from the water basin.

MAT-KULING spent over 12 months testing different venturi injectors on skimmer bodies while feeding tank water with special venturi pumps to obtain the needed pressure, velocity, flow and achieve high levels of air infusion into the water cyclone within the skimmer body. After many trials and FEA studies our fresh water protein skimming is now achieving equal, if not better to salt water viscous results. The new freshwater protein skimmer has an upgraded body, high efficiency protein cap collector, higher head pump, new specially designed Venturi and optionally, we offer foam level automated controllers. The new automation is a must have addition for those farms that seek to operate under controlled fresh water conditions.