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| The PHIX acidic wastewater treatment system as set up at the Green Turtle Technologies R&D facilities. |
By Paul Chapple, Green Turtle Technologies
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| The PHIX acidic wastewater treatment system as set up at the Green Turtle Technologies R&D facilities. |
Industrial wastewater with a low pH is acidic wastewater, a common problem for many industries. Increasingly stringent environmental regulations require that pH, among other contaminants, be controlled to certain levels before they are discharged to a natural body of water or municipal sewer system. Unlike contaminants that can be surcharged, such as Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), total suspended solids (TSS), or solvent extractable matter of animal or vegetable origin (grease and oil), pH cannot be surcharged, and, therefore, must be treated before it is released.
The ranges in acceptable pH discharge levels are usually from 5.5 to 10.5, but the actual levels are given in each region or city sewer discharge by-law. For example, the Region of Peel, Ontario, by-law for discharges to sanitary sewers gives the pH limit range as 5.5 to 9.5. Any corporation that is found to have pH discharge levels below 5.5 or above 9.5 can be charged $50,000 for the first offence, and $100,000 for any subsequent conviction.
The treatment of acidic wastewater has traditionally been done with multiple large collection tanks, mixers, injectors, pH controllers, and the addition of one of many caustic chemicals. This traditional system, though effective, has many problems associated with its use, including size of equipment, large footprint, complicated PLC configurations, maintenance issues, probe calibration, employee time, and the need for and storage of hazardous caustic chemicals.
A new technology has been developed to treat acidic wastewater that combats the problems associated with current treatment systems. Known as PHIX, it is designed to treat acidic wastewater in process and/or prior to discharge into a water body or municipal sewer system. The pH is effectively and efficiently adjusted to within by-law limits, or specific levels if required, resulting in by-law compliant sewer discharges.
The PHIX System is unique in many ways, including its flow-through design, small footprint, low maintenance, no requirement of control devices, and its environmentally friendly, self-regulating PHIX Media. The system has been designed to allow better control over the effluent pH, and to do so with the use of an all-natural and safe media that eliminates the need for special storage or handling required by traditional caustic chemicals.
The operation of the PHIX System and Media is unique and innovative. They have been designed to work together as a flow-through system where the wastewater enters through an inlet connection at the bottom of the specially designed vertical cone-shaped reactor column. Upon entering the column, the wastewater makes contact with the PHIX Media, creating a fluidized bed. When the wastewater reaches the top of the reactor column, its pH has been adjusted to within the required range or value, and it is ready to be discharged.
This media has been designed to have a higher neutralizing capacity compared to traditional caustic chemicals, without the inherent problems. Some of the traditional chemicals now used include soda ash, lime, and caustic soda, all very effective, but they are also considered hazardous chemicals and require special storage and handling. As a point of reference the following is a chart that compares consumption levels, or efficiency of the traditional caustic medias to PHIX Media.
This technology represents the next generation of wastewater treatment solutions. Companies that have never had the ability to safely and effectively treat acidic wastewater flows can now do so simply and with confidence. For companies currently treating acidic wastewater with traditional technologies, PHIX makes retrofitting inexpensive, showing payoff periods of less then two years based on lower operating costs.
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