Cyclor® Turbo is an improved aerobic granular sludge (AGS) biological treatment process developed by SUEZ, implemented in a constant level sequencing batch reactor (SBR) configuration. Designed for biological intensification, the technology enables flexibility in both new and retrofit installations across a wide range of basin depths and tank shapes. 

Nexom is the North American licensing partner for Cyclor® Turbo, a technology that strongly complements its established portfolio of nutrient removal and treatmentintensification solutions. Working in partnership with SUEZ, Nexom is advancing regional deployment of technology, and this sixpart blog series documents the journey of establishing a local reference project—from initial concept through execution and early performance validation. 

The series aims to provide a transparent view into the technical, operational, and practical considerations that shape the evaluation and adoption of new biological treatment approaches in North America. 

Part 1: Why Local Validation Matters for Cyclor® Turbo in North America 

Established Learning Beyond Borders 

In September 2025, Nexom and SUEZ formalized a partnership to bring Cyclor® Turbo to the North American market. This marked a crucial step in the regional deployment of a biological treatment process developed through pilot work, early operational experience, and initial reference applications outside North America. 

Cyclor® Turbo builds on SUEZ’s work in fixed‑level SBR operation and granular sludge behavior, demonstrating strong settling performance, operational stability, and compatibility with compact and shallow basin configurations. These developments provide a strong technical foundation — but they do not replace the need for validation under North American conditions. 

Proven Globally, Validated Locally 

North America presents a distinct set of engineering and regulatory realities that directly influence biological treatment performance. Higher per‑capita wastewater flow rates, variation in basin geometry, and increasingly stringent nutrient limits across seasons all shape process design expectations. In many regions, cold‑weather operation — where influent temperatures regularly drop below 50°F (10°C) — adds another layer of complexity. 

In practice, these conditions require biological systems to perform reliably across wider operating ranges, often within existing infrastructure not originally designed for intensification. Variability in flow, temperature, and loading — combined with limited flexibility for structural modifications — places a premium on process stability and adaptability. 

For Nexom, establishing a North American demonstration site was therefore a deliberate and necessary step. The objective is not simply to confirm performance, but to generate locally relevant data that reflects real operating conditions, regulatory frameworks, and infrastructure constraints in a full-scale application. 

To achieve that, selecting the right municipality — one that meaningfully represents North American realities while enabling close collaboration — becomes critical.

Stay Tuned for Part 2 of this series, coming soon!