Canada & Private Industry Invest in Saltworks' Innovative AirBreather Technology

April 17th, 2019

The AirBreather is a first-of-its kind, waste heat driven evaporator-crystallizer that safely and reliably reduces the cost and environmental impact of produced water disposal from shale gas extraction. With investment from Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC), the AirBreather will be demonstrated in industry and scaled up for commercial roll out, where it can improve the competitiveness and sustainability of Canadian natural gas.

The Honourable Harjit Sajjan, Minister of National Defence and Member of Parliament for Vancouver South, and Joe Peschisolido, Member of Parliament for Steveston-Richmond East, on behalf of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, announced the SDTC investment today at Saltworks’ headquarters and manufacturing facility in Richmond, BC.

Saltworks was also honoured to host representatives from SDTC, the National Research Council’s Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP), Innovate BC, Global Affairs Canada, and the City of Richmond.

Saltworks is readying a breakthrough solution to treat produced water in the natural gas industry. The new product—called the “AirBreather”—will be deployed at commercial scale with investment from SDTC. This innovation leverages earlier support from British Columbia’s Innovative Clean Energy (BC ICE) fund, which facilitated technology now used in the AirBreather.   

“Our government’s investment in this revolutionary clean innovation, developed right here in Canada, builds on our plan to strengthen Canada’s economy though innovation,” said Minister Sajjan. “This investment will not only help the oil and gas industry reduce wastewater and greenhouse gas emissions, it also will reduce costs for the industry, helping to maintain jobs and create new ones. Innovative companies like Saltworks demonstrate how a strong economy and a clean environment go hand-in-hand.”

Saltworks Team poses with Airbreather Plant
The Saltworks Team and the Honorable Harjit Sajjan in front of the AirBreather Plant

Joshua Zoshi, Saltworks’ Chief Operating Officer, commented, “Saltworks is proud to be the recipient of commercialization support for the AirBreather demonstration project. We look forward to establishing this developed-in-Canada technology as the leading solution for economic and sustainable treatment of produced water in Canada’s natural gas sector.”

The AirBreather is a descendant of Saltworks’ commercial SaltMaker MultiEffect—a low-energy technology for zero-liquid-discharge brine management. After completing SaltMaker trials in shale, the Saltworks team realized there was a better way. Hence, the AirBreather was born.

SDTC, IRAP, and the BC ICE fund have all been an important part of Saltworks’ growth, helping the company create high-skill jobs, win major international and competitive orders, develop two new BC-based production facilities, and become a world leader in environmentally focused industrial water treatment.

About Saltworks

Saltworks Technologies is a leader in the development and delivery of solutions for industrial wastewater treatment and lithium refining. By working with customers to understand their unique challenges and focusing on continuous innovation, Saltworks’ solutions provide best-in-class performance and reliability. From its headquarters in Richmond, BC, Canada, Saltworks’ team designs, builds, and operates full-scale plants, and offers comprehensive onsite and offsite testing services with its fleet of mobile pilots.

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A photo of a SaltMaker evaporator crystallizer at Saltworks HQ
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SaltMaker Evaporators & Crystallizers

Our SaltMaker modular evaporators and crystallizers turn almost any wastewater into clean water, minimal liquid discharge (MLD) brines or zero liquid discharge (ZLD) solids.

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