Wastewater Treatment

reduction in the concentration of heavy metals is an important part of the wastewater treatment process. Many countries place limits on the concentration of various metals that may be discharged either directly to the environment or to a local treatment works. Further, the regulatory direction taken in the last five years has been much more restrictive in what metals and concentrations are permissible for water discharge into the environment.

Waste treatment antifoams are used to eliminate or control foam primarily in secondary treatment and final effluent areas in a waste treatment plant. Industries often in need of waste treatment antifoams include food processing plants, paper mills, refineries, municipalities, and petrochemical plants, among others.

Coagulation and flocculation involves the removal of suspended solids and turbidity from water. The process of coagulation, along with flocculation, is used whenever the natural settling rate of suspended material is too slow to provide effective clarification. Coagulants are used to neutralize the charge of the suspended solids, bringing the particles together to create a small flocs. To generate larger flocs for faster settling, a high molecular weight, organic flocculant is generally used in combination with a coagulant.

Odor problems are a concern to your waste plant personnel. Wastewater odors range from musty smells to hazardous gases. Most of the odor producing compounds in domestic wastewater result from the anaerobic biological decomposition of organic materials. Industrial waste treatment systems also have specific odor sources and encounter unique problems in dealing with the odors. Understanding the source and nature of wastewater odors is a major step toward controlling problems,