AQPS plasma advanced oxidation sterilizer for real-time chemical-free water treatment

Overview

AQPS is a real-time sterilization system that uses underwater plasma advanced oxidation to eliminate more than 99% of bacteria from water without the addition of chemical disinfectants. The technology harnesses the strong oxidizing power generated when plasma reacts with water, producing oxidation by-products such as ozone, hydroxyl radicals, and ultraviolet light. By concentrating these reactions in a dedicated plasma reaction chamber and combining them with microbubble mixing, AQPS delivers highly efficient oxidation treatment in a single pass. The system has been validated through extended field testing, including a year-long evaluation at the National Fisheries Research and Development Institute and independent testing with KOLAS-accredited laboratories, confirming consistent real-time sterilization performance and the safety of treated water for aquatic life.

Technical specifications

• Plasma advanced oxidation: Underwater plasma generation produces ozone, radicals, and UV light that together destroy microbial cells on contact
• Integrated microbubble mixing: Microbubbles formed within the reaction chamber enhance contact between oxidizing species and target pathogens
• Chemical-free operation: No dosing of chlorine, ozone generators, or other chemical disinfectants is required
• Validated performance: Long-term seawater trials showed reductions from general bacteria at 9.85x10² CFU/mL and E. coli at 3.06x10² CFU/mL to 0 CFU/mL; freshwater field tests recorded reductions from 870 CFU/mL general bacteria and 7,067 CFU/mL E. coli to 0 CFU/mL
• Cross-contamination prevention: Evaluated in collaboration with Korea Aquatic Biosecurity Technology, demonstrating reduced cumulative mortality in infected fish populations
• Dual-environment capability: Proven effective in both seawater and freshwater operating conditions

Technology readiness level

AQPS has completed extended real-world validation, including approximately one year of continuous operation in a seawater aquaculture environment and independent KOLAS-accredited field testing in freshwater, both confirming sustained real-time sterilization above 99%. The next development phase focuses on scaling manufacturing, adapting the platform to specific use cases such as aquaculture, agricultural water, hydroponic cultivation, and fish farms, expanding into harmful chemical cleaning applications such as pesticide removal, and adding remote management, self-diagnosis, and predictive maintenance capabilities. The core sterilization technology is ready for pilot and commercial deployment, with productization and field-specific variants in active development.