Building the Bioreactor

"The blueprints?"

"Yes. If you look at this and still aren't interested, I'll walk away."

I reached into my bag and pulled out the blueprints.

It was an enlarged version of the sketch I had drawn in my notebook, laid out on a much larger sheet of paper. I had also added a few detailed explanations.

"Hmm... Let's have a look, then."

Curious, the owner took the sheet and examined it for a moment.

"It's not overly complex... but it requires some highly precise machining. Especially this part here. This is going to cost a pretty penny."

"Still, it should be under a million won, right?"

"Well, for a prototype of this size, yes. But this is just a scale model. If you were to build this for its actual intended purpose, the cost would be astronomical. And I doubt this is even the whole system."

An expert was indeed an expert. He had already estimated the rough cost just by glancing at it.

However, he didn't seem to have any idea what this device actually did or what kind of technology it utilized.

Of course he wouldn't.

After all, no company in Korea manufactured anything like this yet. The technology hadn't even been developed here.

Any Korean engineer looking at this eco-friendly bioreactor would be seeing it for the very first time.

Even so, he quickly picked ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠up on the elements relevant to his field.

He also seemed to grasp, at least vaguely, the sheer brilliance of the design.

"Hmm... This section will definitely require CNC molding. And over here, we'll need PID control technology... Honestly, it's amazing that a student even knows about these things, let alone designed them."

He shook his head and continued.

"But that's one thing, and this is another. I don't know why you're making this... Ah, did you say it was some kind of purification facility? Anyway, looking at this doesn't change my mind. It's just too difficult for us to take on. Especially a job this precise."

Right. I hadn't expected a single blueprint to instantly change his mind.

He didn't even understand how revolutionary this technology was yet.

That was why I brought out the next card ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I had prepared.

"Are you familiar with microbial cultivation?"

"Microbial cultivation? Right, I think you mentioned that over the phone."

"Yes, this device is for that. It cultivates microorganisms to purify wastewater in an eco-friendly way."

Mr. Park pursed his lips, then let out a forced chuckle.

"Hmm, eco-friendly. That's nice. So you're a student who cares about the environment. Haha."

"Yes. But I'm not just thinking about the environment. I'm also thinking about the money."

Which was, in fact, my primary goal.

"I don't see how eco-friendly tech is going to make much money. The unit cost must be high."

"It is. Compared to the widely used pH adjustment method, at least."

"Ah, the pH method. Right. I actually manufactured some components for those systems in the past. I remember."

"Well, that method is about to be heavily regulated."

"Huh?"

I briefly explained the situation to the bewildered owner.

"As you know, the pH adjustment method has clear limits when it comes to preventing pollution. That's why new legislation was passed last year. Existing factories must replace their systems with eco-friendly facilities before next year, or face massive fines. Take a look at this."

I showed him a few news articles I had printed out.

Mr. Park skimmed through them and nodded.

"Hmm... I see. So this law is actually going into effect. The companies making these facilities are going to strike it rich."

"Foreign companies will, yes."

"Foreign companies?"

"Yes. Because there isn't a single domestic company with this technology yet. Look at this part."

I pointed to a specific section of the article.

Seeing that, Mr. Park looked down at ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the blueprints he had set aside with a look of surprise.

"Wait... then this is...?"

"Yes. It's Korea's very first eco-friendly wastewater treatment facility."

"Korea's first... Well, if it actually works, I suppose it could be?"

"It will work. Absolutely."

But after a moment of thought, Mr. Park shook his head, his expression turning grim.

"Even so, I doubt domestic companies will buy it."

"Because a student made it?"

"Well, that's part of it... Yes, it boils down to trust. Since you're still a student, they won't trust the reliability."

He was right. It was an unavoidable hurdle.

No matter how many patents I registered or endorsements I secured from industry experts, the skepticism would remain.

Compared to established foreign giants, a new domestic startup would naturally lack credibility.

But.

"What if it's significantly cheaper?"

"By how much?"

"It will cost about thirty percent of the market price. If a foreign system costs three billion won, ours will cost one billion."

The exact numbers would vary depending on the scale.

But it was a fact that our system would cost roughly a third of the German competitor's price.

"Wow... That is a massive price cut."

Mr. Park muttered to himself, his stance clearly softening.

"Seeing how detailed these blueprints are... you clearly aren't bluffing. And a difference of two billion won... any company would seriously consider that. Hmm... it's not entirely impossible..."

I fanned the flames of his imagination.

"Exactly. We only need to land one or two clients first. Once the technology is proven in the field, other companies will naturally follow suit."

"Hmm!"

And then, the clincher.

"And when those orders start rolling in, I plan to outsource the manufacturing to you. There's no reason for me to look elsewhere."

"Mmm..."

Mr. Park pursed his lips, his eyes darting back and forth. He was still hesitating, but I could tell he was right on the edge.

"What do you say?"

"Give me... a moment to think."

"Sure. But I won't wait long."

I had other options if he declined.

In reality, this was a massive opportunity for him.

Though he doesn't fully realize it yet.

After a brief silence, Mr. Park looked up.

"What... did you say your name was again?"

"Ji Hyunwoo. And yours, President?"

"Ah, right, I haven't introduced myself. I'm Park Jang. And..."

Mr. Park paused, then broke into a wide grin. His voice returned to the warm, friendly tone from our phone call.

"We'll take the job. Heh, I look forward to working with you, valued customer."

"Here, I brought it."

A few days later, my father handed me a large bottle.

Inside was a dark, murky liquid. It was wastewater from his factory, brought home at my request.

"Thanks, Dad."

This wastewater was essential for cultivating the Actiflo. I also needed it to test if the purification process worked properly.

That was why I had asked him to bring some home.

Yet, my father still looked deeply skeptical about the whole thing.

"I brought it because you sounded so confident, but... seriously, is it really possible to purify this with that device you're building?"

"Yes."

My mother, who had been watching us, chimed in with her own doubts.

"Wait... didn't you say that kind of purification technology only exists in advanced European countries?"

"For now, yes."

"Then how could you build it when even the top scientists in our country couldn't? I still don't understand."

Strictly speaking, it wasn't that they couldn't, but rather that there had been no demand to drive the development.

Until now, South Korea hadn't taken environmental issues very seriously, and few companies felt the need to install expensive eco-friendly purification facilities.

"That's exactly why I could do it. The fundamental principles are already public knowledge on the internet. All I had to do was implement them."

It was a half-truth.

While the basic concepts were public, what I was building wasn't a simple replication.

It's a next-generation technology that goes one step further.

After a moment of thought, my mother asked.

"I'm curious... can you explain how it works?"

"Of course."

I briefly explained the Actiflo cultivation technology.

I told them that we cultivate a microorganism called Actiflo, which feeds on the pollutants in the wastewater. The contaminants are essentially their food.

"Hmm... It certainly sounds eco-friendly... Honey, didn't you say the German system your company is looking at works the same way?"

"Ah, yes, it does."

"Exactly. They both rely on microbial cultivation."

"Hmm..."

My mother wore a complicated expression.

Meanwhile, my father, still skeptical, asked another question.

"And you can really build something like that?"

"Yes."

"Hmm... Will it actually work?"

"What if it does? And what if your company adopts it?"

My father gave a vague, hesitant reply.

"Well... if the company actually adopts it... I suppose the president would treat me with a lot more respect."

It's going to be much bigger than just "respect."

In any case, neither of them seemed intent on stopping me.

They were just worried because their son was suddenly doing something far beyond their understanding.

Well, now ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠that I have the wastewater.

Only one thing remained.

The completion of the bioreactor.

Some time passed.

While at school, I received a call informing me that the test bioreactor was complete.

After school.

"It's here."

A large shipping box sat in front of the door.

It was from Jangin Steel.

"Finally."

I opened the box and inspected the contents.

Three separate components were nestled inside.

The Actiflo reactor, the air supply system, and the microbial retention and mixing unit.

I examined each part meticulously, checking the quality of the build.

From the stainless steel finish to the seamless joints connecting the components, everything was crafted to perfection. I was highly satisfied.

"Alright, let's begin..."

I assembled the components one by one and powered the system on.

Whirrrrr—

The machine began to run with a low, steady hum.

I poured a portion of the wastewater into the Actiflo reactor.

Now, all that was left was to wait for the Actiflo inside to multiply.

The starter culture of Actiflo is already inside.

The device I built was designed to provide the absolute optimal environment for the Actiflo to multiply.

If the system functioned correctly, the population of Actiflo—a type 1 anaerobic bacterium—would explode.

The multiplying microorganisms would consume the pollutants in the wastewater.

And the water will run clear.

However, it would take some time for the bacteria to multiply to sufficient levels.

Roughly twenty-four hours.

"I should see the results by tomorrow."