Are you in compliance?: A checklist to prepare for changing environmental regulations Wastewater treatment is often necessary to protect the environment, human health, and ensure consistent quality in a facility’s process or products. Without a proper treatment strategy, a facility risks running afoul of state and federal environmental regulations, potentially resulting in heavy fines … » Read More
PFAS substances have been getting lots of attention lately, largely due to a growing body of evidence demonstrating their toxicity, as well as a resulting flurry of regulatory activity. With restrictions around the manufacture, importation, use, and disposal of PFAS substances set to tighten in coming years, it’s worthwhile to take a closer look at … » Read More
Now more than ever, those in the power industry, manufacturers, oil and gas producers, and others are looking for ways to make operations more environmentally sustainable. One area that has increasingly caught the interest of researchers, regulators, and those in industry is carbon capture technology. Here, we offer a simple explanation of how carbon capture … » Read More
Along with maximizing petroleum yields, oil producers are challenged to make effective use of resources in order to keep costs down and stay in compliance with discharge regulations. While conventional separation and water treatment trains are effective, they are often large and heavy, can consume a lot of chemicals, and may create large volumes … » Read More
Unplanned downtime has always been a costly issue for industrial facilities, but current supply chain disruptions threaten to make the problem worse. In an era of uncertainty stemming from extended lead times and limited supply, manufacturers will need additional foresight to maintain their spare parts and supply inventories. Here, we’ll take a look at the … » Read More
Emerging technologies that enhance the sustainability or cost-effectiveness of current wastewater treatment technologies often grab their fair share of headlines—and for good reason. For those of us concerned with wastewater treatment, the need to make more efficient use of water and energy resources is quickly becoming a top priority. One of such promising innovations is … » Read More
Mercury (Hg) is a well-known heavy metal that both occurs naturally and can be introduced to air and water through human activity. With its high toxicity, mercury has been the subject of stringent restrictions surrounding its use and disposal since the 1960s. Industrial facilities that deal with mercury, such as those within the chlor-alkali and … » Read More
You’ve no doubt heard of Bitcoin, the digital currency ecosystem that’s recently been getting attention for its steeply ascendant price, as well as for its impacts on the energy industry and the environment. While it was initially slow to take hold, adoption of Bitcoin is growing fast, prompting questions about its impact on the power … » Read More
With a history stretching back well over 100 years, trickling filters are a well-known type of biological wastewater treatment technology that is still used widely over the world. Biological trickling filters have a reputation for reliability and efficiency in secondary wastewater treatment applications, and is particularly well-suited for small to mid-sized municipalities. In this article, … » Read More
Can a membrane bioreactor be right for your wastewater treatment facility? Membrane bioreactors (MBRs) are a type of secondary wastewater treatment technology that combines membrane filtration with biological treatment. Newer and generally more expensive than conventional biological treatment options, MBRs have traditionally been reserved for smaller scale wastewater treatment applications. Since the late 1990’s, however, … » Read More
On April 29, the United States Senate passed the Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act of 2021. If eventually signed into law, it would be the most significant federal investment in the nation’s water infrastructure in decades. So what is the Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act of 2021 exactly? This article will summarize the … » Read More
Zinc plays an important role in the manufacture of products and materials across a number of industries, including mining and metals, automotive, construction, paints and pigments, cosmetics, paper, and others. While trace amounts of zinc are necessary to support human, plant, and animal life, excess levels of zinc can pose a risk both to the … » Read More
Cyanide can be found in industrial wastewater streams generated by the production of a broad range of goods and materials, including refined metals and alloys, leather, paints, pigments, wood preservatives, electronics, and chemicals, among others. Given that cyanide is both highly toxic and highly regulated, however, you may be wondering what to do if you … » Read More
Contrary to what most people think when they hear the word “cyanide,” the term doesn’t just point to a single substance, but instead represents a number of compounds that share in one key detail: they all include a cyano group somewhere in their chemical structure. This cyano group, which consists of a carbon-nitrogen anion, imparts … » Read More
As water flows naturally underground, it picks up some of the minerals it dissolves from the surrounding soil and rocks. These minerals typically include sulfates, which are present in almost every type of water found in nature, including groundwater, oceanwater, and rainwater, and even crude oil and brines. They are also present in many industrial … » Read More
Lead (Pb) is a heavy metal that is well-known for its high toxicity and the hazards it presents to human, plant, and animal life. Given the risks posed by lead entering waterways and drinking water supplies, discharge of lead-contaminated wastewater streams is heavily regulated across most regions of the world. In this article, we’ll take a … » Read More
Lead (Pb) is perhaps one of the most well-known and closely monitored contaminants found in drinking water, but it is also an area of concern for industrial facilities. These facilities typically pursue lead-removal technologies in order to comply with regulatory wastewater contaminant limitations, though many of the same technologies can be used to help meet … » Read More
Chromium (Cr) is a heavy metal that is used extensively within the mining and metals, leather tanning, paint and pigments, electronics, and chemical industries, among others, and it can exist in various forms and compounds—some of which are toxic to plant and animal life. As such, it is sometimes necessary for industrial facilities to invest … » Read More
Chromium (Cr) is a chemical element that is used in the production of a broad range of goods and materials, including refined metals and alloys, leathers, paints, pigments, wood preservatives, electronics, and chemicals. Because of its anticorrosive properties, it’s also the main additive in stainless steel. Wastewater resulting from these and other industrial activities can … » Read More
As an industrial facility draws in water for its processes, a host of undesirable contaminants that need to be removed will come in along with it. One of the most difficult-to-treat contaminants is also one of the most abundant: silica. Removing silica, which is the dioxide of silicon (SiO2), can be difficult; is found in … » Read More
Copper can show up in waste streams generated by nearly any industry, including the mining and metals, electronics, power, construction, and pulp and paper industries, among others. While copper is fairly innocuous at very low levels, high quantities such as that found in some industrial wastewater streams can pose a hazard to human health and … » Read More
Copper (Cu) is a heavy metal that is mined for and used in a variety of industrial processes, including metals plating and printing as well as the manufacturing of electronic components, circuit boards, paints, pigments, paper, pulp, and fertilizer. Like other heavy metals, copper is a valuable yet potentially hazardous material that when present in … » Read More
It’s important to know which industrial water treatment companies are ideal for removing silica since silica removal can be a challenge for a number of reasons—ranging from common applications, such as preventing scale in boilers, cooling towers, or other equipment, to more specialized applications, such as treating water for painting, coating, and car wash applications … » Read More
As populations rise and continue to tax waterways alongside the effects of climate change, increasing water-access fees and ever-tightening effluent regulations can all seem to create a losing battle for industrial facilities that are looking to keep ahead of the water-shortage curve. If your facility, however, does a little preparation now in order to reduce … » Read More
If your chemical manufacturing facility needs better water-saving solutions for its business, you might be wondering, What are the best ways manufacturing facilities in the chemical industry can reduce water usage? Here, we’ll examine some of the methods you’ll need to consider as a water-tight industrial future ushers in stronger regulations and steeper water-usage fees, … » Read More
Steelmaking on an industrial scale dates back well over 100 years. Throughout its history, the steel industry has generated products that not only meet a variety of consumer needs but also play a critical role in manufacturing, construction, and transportation industries, among others. Whether produced from iron ore or recycled from scrap, steel production is … » Read More
Without water—and lots of it—manufacturing pulp and paper would be all but impossible. Water usage in the pulp and paper industry is needed in almost every part of the process, whether the facility is digesting wood chips, making fiber slurries, or washing the machinery and rollers. Despite there being great progress over the years, increasing … » Read More
If you’ve been investigating process water treatment and separation solutions, chances are that you may have run across DOWEX UPCORE™ and ADVANCED AMBERPACK™. Indeed, these technologies are used across a number of industries, and remain popular solutions for various ion exchange applications. In this article, we’ll discuss the similarities and differences between DOWEX UPCORE™ vs. … » Read More
For industrial facilities looking to boost the efficiency of its source water treatment, AMBERPACK™ ion exchange might be the compact solution you’re looking for. With efficient water treatment capabilities and a small footprint, these systems are some of the best ion exchange technologies on the market. But while you’re exploring the different ion exchange systems … » Read More
For most facilities, DOWEX UPCORE™ technology offers a variety of benefits over other ion exchange technologies, such as greater flexibility in capacity, less chemical and water consumption, and reduced maintenance. UPCORE™ is in many ways a superior ion exchange technology for process water treatment, however, as with any ion exchange system, improper system design, use, … » Read More
As your facility navigates the various available process water treatment options, perhaps you’ve heard of ion exchange—or, even more specifically, DOWEX UPCORE™—throughout your pure-water solution research. Especially useful for industrial facilities that power their process with steam, these water filtration technologies can increase the efficiency of your process while increasing water demineralization capabilities, essentially providing higher … » Read More
Silica removal and reduction technologies are an important component of many raw water treatment and process water treatment trains. No matter what technology is used, it can pay to look out for some common problems removing silica from industrial water and how to avoid them. In this article, we’ll look at how issues such as silica fouling, … » Read More
Among all the contaminants that can pose operational challenges to your industrial facility, silica, in its many forms, can be one of the most difficult to remove, especially if that silica is colloidal (meaning the silica particles are so small that they can be widely dispersed). Since silica is commonly found in industrial source water, … » Read More
Silica is among the most common substances encountered on Earth, so it is no surprise that it is almost always present in source water, process water, and wastewater streams. For industrial facilities, proper management of silica levels is important to ensuring optimal function and performance life for equipment. But how do you remove silica from … » Read More
Ion exchange (IX) systems are an economical means of treating liquid waste and process streams across a range of industries. Although IX can be an excellent choice for many water softening, purification, and separation applications, its performance can be less than ideal when used to treat streams with high total dissolved solids (TDS) content. Whether … » Read More
While most sewage is treated by local municipalities, it is done so in various ways. In the United States, these local municipal facilities must follow both federal and local regulations in terms of the purity requirements for the treated effluent, and although they are treating roughly the same types of human waste, their methods for … » Read More
Biological vs. chemical wastewater treatment: are both used in the food and beverage industry? And if so, how are you supposed to know which is best your facility’s wastewater treatment needs? In the article below, we’ll explore the different ways these two technologies are used, and discuss how, in certain instances, you might need one, … » Read More
Biological wastewater treatment systems offer an economical means for removal of organic constituents, making them a popular choice within the food and beverage industry. Still, some aspects of food and beverage production present challenges for biological treatment, which can lead to unpredictability, inefficiency, and even damage to wastewater treatment systems if left unresolved. So, “what … » Read More
Biofiltration wastewater treatment systems can be efficient and economical technologies for breaking down and removing organic contaminants from wastes such as those produced in the food and beverage, chemical manufacturing, oil and gas, and municipal industries. These systems use bacteria and their naturally feeding and decay cycles occurring to break down and consume unwanted contaminants. Mostly used … » Read More
If your industrial or municipal facility generates volatile, odorous vapor waste, biological treatment might be an appropriate choice for your facility. These systems can be efficient and economical technologies for breaking down and removing organic contaminants from contaminated vapor such as those produced in the food and beverage, chemical manufacturing, oil and gas, and municipal industries. But “what is a … » Read More
Dealing as it does with products ultimately destined for human consumption, it’s tempting to assume that the food and beverage industry has little need for biological wastewater treatment compared to other industries. Still, food and beverage waste streams frequently contain excess biological material that can pose risks to the environment and to publicly owned treatment … » Read More
If your industrial or municipal facility generates organic-laden wastes, biological wastewater treatment might be an appropriate choice for your facility. These systems can be efficient and economical technologies for breaking down and removing organic contaminants from wastes such as those produced in the food and beverage, chemical manufacturing, oil and gas, and municipal industries. But “what … » Read More
There are several different types of anaerobic wastewater treatment technologies, but some commonly used include lagoons; anaerobic digestors like UASBs (upflow anaerobic sludge blankets) and EGSBs (expanded granular sludge beds); and packed bed anaerobic filters. They tend to exhibit the same common anaerobic bacteria-managing issues. Below, we break down what these issues are including ways … » Read More
Typically used as a secondary wastewater treatment method after the initial larger contaminants have been settled and/or filtered out, biological wastewater treatment systems can be efficient and economical technologies for breaking down and removing organic contaminants from heavily organic-laden wastes, such as those produced in the food and beverage, chemical manufacturing, oil and gas, and … » Read More
Anaerobic wastewater treatment is a type of biological treatment that is typically used for treating waste streams with high concentrations of organic contaminants. If you are exploring wastewater treatment options for your facility, you may be wondering “how much do anaerobic wastewater treatment systems cost?” The short answer is that the cost of anaerobic treatment … » Read More
When engineering, designing, installing, and running an aerobic wastewater treatment system for your industrial facility, issues most commonly arise during the engineer/design and operational phases. We break down some of the more frequently occurring mishaps during these two parts of the process below. BOD- and COD-overloaded system The problem When aerobic wastewater treatment systems are designed, … » Read More
Anaerobic wastewater treatment has a well-deserved reputation for efficient, low-odor treatment of streams with high concentrations of organic contaminants. If you’re investigating biological treatment processes, you’ve no doubt asked questions like “What is anaerobic wastewater treatment?” and “How does anaerobic wastewater treatment work?” This article will provide an approachable introduction to anaerobic treatment, and help … » Read More
Biological wastewater treatment systems can be a big investment for your facility. When implemented correctly, these systems will provide your process with a long list of benefits, but there can be some challenges with purchasing these systems, too. If your facility is considering biological wastewater treatment, you might be wondering if there are common problems … » Read More
Aerobic wastewater treatment is a type of biological treatment that can be efficiently leveraged for a variety of organics removal applications. If you are exploring biological treatment options for your facility, you may be wondering “how much do aerobic wastewater treatment systems cost?” Since aerobic wastewater treatment systems come in a variety of forms, cost … » Read More
Anaerobic and aerobic systems are two types of biological wastewater treatment. While they are similar in many ways, they also differ substantially, inviting questions like “Are both anaerobic and aerobic systems used in wastewater treatment?” and “What is the difference?” Indeed, anaerobic and aerobic wastewater treatment technologies can be used independently or in combination with … » Read More
Biological wastewater treatment systems can be efficient and economical technologies for breaking down and removing organic contaminants from heavily organic-laden wastes, such as those produced in the food and beverage and municipal industries. Since this type of treatment can be made up of an extremely complex set of technologies that use natural processes to break … » Read More
Biological wastewater treatment systems are commonly deployed for industrial streams with high concentrations of organic contaminants, such as waste streams produced by food, beverage, chemical manufacturing, refining and petrochemical, mining and leachates, textile and industrial laundering, and municipal waste treatment industries. Biological wastewater treatment can be an efficient and cost-effective choice over surcharge payments to … » Read More
When comparing biological and chemical wastewater treatment strategies, how do you know which technologies will best suit your facility’s treatment needs? Fundamentally, biological treatment uses living bacteria to do the bulk of the purification while chemical treatment uses chemical reactants to accomplish the work, and at first glance, the comparisons seem straightforward—but what contaminants do … » Read More
For an industrial company producing waste as part of its process, some type of wastewater treatment system is usually necessary to ensure safety precautions and discharge regulations are met. The most appropriate wastewater treatment system will help a facility avoid harming the environment, human health, and a facility’s process or products (especially if the wastewater is being reused). … » Read More
Electrical generation plants are among the heaviest water users industrially, second only to agriculture. As public concern for water scarcity continues to grow, power plants can expect to see new regulations targeting their use of water, as well as increasing costs for sourcing and discharging water. To stay viable in the long term, electrical generation … » Read More
If you’re up to speed on water treatment industry news, you likely already know water shortages are increasingly the topic of conversation. According to the world water development report released by the United Nations in 2018,“more than 2 billion people lack access to safe drinking water and . . . with a rapidly growing global … » Read More
When it comes to membrane filtration systems, particularly with microfiltration (MF), ultrafiltration (UF), reverse osmosis (RO), and nanofiltration (NF), fouling can decrease production levels, increase energy consumption, and damage equipment, which can all add unnecessary expenses to your facility’s bottom line. Even the slightest change to operating procedures, stream composition, pH, and temperature, among other factors, … » Read More
As water accessibility continues to shift and industry water shortages increase, most industrial facilities will need to adapt in some way. Water-intensive industries, in particular—such as the agriculture, food and beverage, and energy industries—will need to be the most resourceful, but the likelihood continues to increase that any industry could be affected. In areas where … » Read More
When it comes to membrane filtration and fouling—specifically for microfiltration (MF), ultrafiltration (UF), reverse osmosis (RO), and nanofiltration (NF)—diagnosing system performance issues can be complicated. Even the slightest change to operating procedures, stream composition, pH, temperature, etc., can alter the corrective measures needed to keep membranes working properly. But it’s also important to stay ahead of fouling … » Read More
Environmental and water scarcity issues are expected to impact industrial facilities increasingly in the coming years, driving up both sourcing and discharge costs. To conserve water and prepare for these future challenges, many industrial facilities are beginning to look at water conservation strategies. In this post, we’ll explore “Five Ways Your Industrial Facility Can Conserve … » Read More
Historically, water has been widely available for industrial use at a low cost. But that’s changing. As global demand increases, so, too, has the looming issue of water scarcity. Whether spurred by rising costs, consumer demand for environmental responsibility, or by increasingly restrictive water use limits and regulations, many industrial facilities are beginning to adopt … » Read More
When it comes to membrane filtration and fouling—specifically for microfiltration (MF), ultrafiltration (UF), reverse osmosis (RO), and nanofiltration (NF)—diagnosing system performance issues can be complicated. Even the slightest change to operating procedures, stream composition, pH, temperature, etc., can alter the corrective measures needed to keep membranes working properly. But it’s also important to stay ahead of … » Read More
Membrane fouling is the most common issue affecting pressure-driven membrane filtration systems, including microfiltration (MF), ultrafiltration (UF), reverse osmosis (RO) and nanofiltration (NF) units alike. While it is not always possible to prevent membrane fouling altogether, there are usually ways to minimize its impact. In this post we’ll answer the question “how can you reduce … » Read More
Among the most common problems impacting microfiltration (MF) and ultrafiltration (UF) or nanofiltration (NF) and reverse osmosis (RO) is the issue of membrane fouling. Addressing difficulties with fouling starts with addressing the question “what are the different types of membrane fouling and what causes them?” Understanding how and why membrane fouling occurs is key to … » Read More
Extracting lithium from geothermal brines and crushed ore requires a complex family of technologies and systems. If your facility has been exploring new ways to extract this valuable metal, you’re probably wondering, “How much does it cost to extract lithium from geothermal brine and crushed ore?” Estimating the cost of a lithium separation and polishing system is … » Read More
Membrane filtration systems are used for a variety of applications across many industries and verticals. If you’re considering a membrane filtration system for your own facility, you may be asking “What is membrane fouling and how can it be avoided?” While membrane filter units tend to require relatively little maintenance compared to other treatment and … » Read More
Methods for extracting and processing lithium can depend heavily upon the source, as lithium exists in different concentrations and states alongside other valuable metals and minerals, which will vary depending on where the lithium is found. If you are considering the various options for removing and concentrating lithium at your facility, you’ll likely want to know, what … » Read More
An essential component of lightweight batteries, pharmaceuticals, and other products, lithium is a valuable material that is projected to see increasing demand in the coming years. Yet existing lithium recovery processes can take years to discover and build facilities to recover and can’t be quickly scaled to meet rapid rises in market demand. There are … » Read More
Geothermal brines, the naturally heated fluids found within the earth’s crust, have been utilized for thousands of years. Ancient civilizations used them for bathing and heating small rooms, and today they heat entire homes, pools, and greenhouses; are used agriculturally; and even produce electricity. As technologies advance and more is learned about the potential value … » Read More
As cell phone and electric car markets grow, and they are expected to grow substantially, so will the demand for lithium, a highly reactive alkali metal that offers excellent heat and electrical conductivity. This metal is also used to manufacture glass, high-temperature lubricants, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals. However, because of its high reactivity, pure elemental … » Read More
