INDUSTRIAL WASTEWATER AND ITS PROCESSES

Wastewater from industrial processes originates from two sources: from the residues which are eliminated from raw process material flows and from the cleaning of process equipment. The waste carried by the water can be both organic and inorganic in nature.

We treat industrial wastewater through three procedures, both individually and in various combinations:

• Anaerobic Process
• Aerobic Process
• Physical-Chemical Process

When the water's contaminants are organic, the most appropriate procedures are the biological ones, due to their high decontaminating efficiency. Of course, depending on particular circumstances, a complete physical-chemical solution might be more desirable. A physical-chemical procedure can also be used as a pre-treatment for a biological procedure. However, when the contamination is inorganic, the only appropriate alternative is provided by physical-chemical or purely physical processes.

In the case of biological processes, to guarantee the maximum operational efficiency, decontaminating efficiency, and visual quality of the effluent, the most convenient procedure is an anaerobic-aerobic one, where 60- 70% of the work occurs at the anaerobic stage, while the rest occurs in the aerobic one. Thus, the operational costs of the aerobic fraction are reduced, while obtaining the benefits mentioned. This sort of arrangement provides great flexibility concerning the amount of organic matter and volume of water that can be treated.

By applying our technology, contamination levels are reduced below the accepted maximum values established by the norms of a country, regarding organic-mineral pollution, microbial contamination, suspended solid quantity, and other parameters.

Anaerobic processes are well suited to treat organic contamination under the following circumstances:

• Tropical climates
• Permanent influents with a high organic matter concentration
• To take advantage of the biogas generated for energetic purposes

Amongst their fundamental characteristics the following are included:

• Non-mechanized hermetic procedures
• Low operative cost
• Sensitive to extraneous substances
• Their routine operation does not require technified personnel

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Aerobic processes are appropriate for treating organic contamination under the following circumstances:

• Any climate
• Permanent influents with a relatively low contaminant concentration
• To achieve a greater quality of the treated water
• To reach the maximum decontaminating efficiency in a short time span

Amongst their fundamental characteristics the following are included:

• Open air procedure; can be mechanized
• Their routine operation requires more technified personnel
• They require an energy source and maintenance of their components
• More robustness when exposed to extraneous substances
• No appreciable foul smells are generated

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Physical-chemical processes are appropriate for the following circumstances:

• Any climate
• Permanent and discontinuous influents
• Relatively small volumes of contaminated water
• Bio-degradable and non-bio-degradable organic matter
• Inorganic contamination
• As a pre-treatment for the influent of a biological procedure
• Whenever a biological procedure is inapplicable

Amongst their fundamental characteristics the following are included:

• Mechanized procedure
• Requires the least technified personnel for operation
• Requires the consumption of chemical substances
• Short process time
• Residual slurries must be dehydrated

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