In the U.S. most municipal waste is treated only by primary and secondary processes which do not remove any of the nitrogen compounds. Increasingly, regulation is forcing tertiary processes that first convert ammonia into nitrate and then denitrify the nitrate. The conversion of ammonia to nitrate is called nitrification, and it uses different bacteria from the denitrification step. In addition it requires heavily aerated water.

EcoMat's reactor and media can handle both of these processes and accomplish them much faster than typical activated sludge systems currently in use in the industry.

EcoMat has successfully tested its denitrification step on a pilot scale at the Groveland Municipal Waste Facility in California.