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
The world’s demand for lithium extraction is growing every day and is especially driven by an increased lithium use in new consumer electronic battery technologies and electric cars. While you’ve likely heard of lithium batteries, you might still want to know where all that lithium comes from and how it’s produced. If so, you … » Read More
Brine mining is by far the most common method of lithium recovery used today. But what is it, and how is brine mining used for lithium recovery? In this article, we’ll look at how and why brine mining relates to lithium production and explore how the principles of brine mining are leveraged to develop new … » Read More
When it comes to managing wastes and byproducts of industry, brines can be some of the most challenging and costly to handle. Certain brine treatment methods, such as desalination or zero liquid discharge (ZLD), generate a smaller volume of brine waste with even higher concentrations of salts and solids, and discharging brine without a permit or … » Read More
While used in a number of industrial processes, brines can be difficult to treat and discharge once they’ve reached the end of their useable life. If your plant is looking for more economical ways to manage brine waste, you might be wondering “How can a facility reuse brine waste?” Today there are more instances than … » Read More
Although brines are sometimes used in manufacturing (for example, during chlor-alkali processes that uses the electrolysis of sodium chloride to create chlorine and sodium hydroxide), they are also created as an industrial byproduct or waste that can be challenging to treat and dispose of (such as flowback water from fracking natural gas wells). Filtering and … » Read More
If you’re exploring options for industrial demineralization, you might be asking “How much does a water demineralization system cost for your plant?” The following article offers a simple explanation of what’s included in an average demineralization system, what those systems typically cost, and the factors that drive these costs up and down, focusing on ion … » Read More
Brine waste treatment is a form of wastewater treatment designed to reduce the volume of spent brine prior to discharge, and/or to recover valuable resources such as water, salts, and metals from the stream. Brine waste treatment systems can also reduce energy and chemical consumption and overall footprint when employed as part of a larger … » Read More
Brine waste treatment is becoming increasingly common, not only as a means of achieving compliance with rigorous discharge regulations, but also for the cost benefits that waste minimization strategies can provide. But “is it necessary to treat brine waste before discharge or disposal?” In many cases, treating brine effluent is necessary, though the reasons for … » Read More
If you’re new to handling brine waste and are looking for more information about properly treating it for recycling or discharging, you might be wondering “what is brine waste, and how can it be treated or disposed of?” This article provides a general overview of what brine waste is, how it occurs or is … » Read More
Demineralization, or the removal of virtually all ionic mineral contaminants from water, is crucial for producing water of sufficient purity for a variety of industrial applications. Demineralized process water is used to ensure the quality and consistency of various products, as well as to ensure consistent and predictable function of sensitive equipment. While it’s … » Read More
Demineralization, the process of removing nearly all dissolved salt and mineral ions from water, can prove ideal for facilities requiring ultrapure water for a variety of applications. If you have an overall understanding of demineralization but still have questions regarding the possible advantages of using it at your facility, you might be wondering “what … » Read More
Ion exchange and resin technologies are used widely for demineralization and deionization applications. If you are considering ion exchange (IX) technology to meet demineralization needs at your facility, an important question to consider is “What Are the Best Demineralization System Equipment and Supply Companies?” At SAMCO, we are confident that our custom-engineered ion exchange solutions are … » Read More
When an industrial facility requires ion exchange technology as part of its process, it’s important to not only know how much the ion exchange resins cost but also to factor in expenses associated with maintaining and disposing of them. These costs can be difficult to narrow down because of the many types of resins available on … » Read More
Purified feed water and process streams can be a critical aspect of ensuring consistency in production and equipment performance. While it’s easy to imagine why purified water is essential to so many industries—including cosmetics, food and beverage, power, pharmaceutical, and microelectronics, among others—you may still be wondering “What is the difference between demineralized, deionized, and … » Read More
In industrial water treatment, demineralization refers to the removal of dissolved solids from feed water and process streams. If you’re investigating options for water treatment and purification, you might be asking “What is water demineralization and how does it work?” The following article offers a simple explanation of how demineralization works, what you can … » Read More
Ion exchange resins are useful for many industrial water treatment and separation needs when utilized for suitable applications. In these cases, the technology can be highly efficient with relatively low cost and energy requirements. If they are properly maintained, resin beds can last years before requiring replacement, and for highly selective removal needs in process … » Read More
When thoughtfully applied within a water treatment system, IX offers cost-effective and efficient separation, with systems generally running for several years without major maintenance costs. Still, one must be mindful that IX resins degrade over time and must be replaced periodically to maintain system performance. If you’re wondering what happens when an IX resin reaches … » Read More
Using ion exchange resins for industrial water purification and separation can be complex, especially for those unfamiliar with what ion exchange resins are and how they work. If you are looking for a general explanation of “what the differences are between cation and anion exchange resins,” the two most-used resins in ion exchange technology, this … » Read More
Ion exchange (IX) is an incredibly versatile technology often utilized in industrial water treatment and selective separation. While all resins generally function on the same basic principles, there is a seemingly endless variety of IX resins available on the market today. Once you understand the basic resin types and their functions, it might be easier … » Read More
Ion exchange (IX) resins are often highly effective for removing hardness, alkalinity, chloride, mercury, and organics, among other contaminants. While they can offer some efficiencies over other treatment technologies, they also call for specific maintenance processes. With proper care, IX resins can deliver consistent results and have a long service life, making them well worth … » Read More
Here at SAMCO Technologies, we understand that proper, economical industrial water treatment is essential to the efficiency and overall success of your facility’s everyday process. While we are confident that our ion exchange resin technologies are some of the most innovative and effective in the industry, we also realize they might not be the best … » Read More
Treatability studies are useful in the wastewater treatment process to help determine how wastewater might be properly managed, ensuring effective treatments are considered and/or implemented. These studies pinpoint which contaminants need to be removed in addition to narrowing down the ideal technological solutions. By using treatability studies as one of the first steps toward finding a … » Read More
While many of us have heard of ion exchange (IX) resins, few of us have a grasp on how the technology actually works. Whether you’re weighing potential treatment strategies, looking for ways to get the most out of your existing IX resins, or simply curious about IX chemistry, you may be asking “What is ion … » Read More
When industrial facilities require wastewater treatment, there are often steps preceding treatment to ensure the technologies recommended are the best fit for the facility’s particular issue. Since industrial wastewater treatment presents innumerable combinations of challenges and possible solutions, water treatment companies often suggest conducting treatability studies and/or pilot studies prior to building custom industrial wastewater … » Read More
With new water treatment technologies emerging all the time, it can be difficult to identify the ideal solution for your needs. Well-designed industrial water treatment systems can help you meet your production objectives and gain efficiencies along the way. The key is simply taking the time to understand the major factors that determine the … » Read More
Here at SAMCO Technologies, we understand that proper, economical industrial water treatment is essential to the efficiency and overall success of your everyday process. Improper treatment can lead to system upset, valuable process water going down the drain, and costly violations of local POTW (publicly owned treatment works) and environmental regulations, to name a few. … » Read More
The results from treatability studies help determine how wastewaters might be properly managed, ensuring effective treatments are considered and/or implemented. These studies are especially useful for pinpointing exactly what contaminants need to be removed in addition to helping narrow down the ideal solutions. If your facility needs a wastewater treatability study and it’s an unfamiliar process, … » Read More
If your facility relies on some form of industrial water treatment, or if you are planning to install a new system, it makes sense to consider the problems that might affect your industrial water treatment system, as well as steps you can take to mitigate or prevent these issues. While industrial water treatment can … » Read More
While industrial water treatment systems are not always necessary, they can provide a dramatic return on investment for your facility. Well-designed water treatment systems can help trim energy costs, maintenance costs, lost dollars due to wasted products/byproducts, discharge fees, and even regulatory fines. If you’re wondering how to add efficiency to your process, you … » Read More
Industrial water treatment systems meet a variety of purification and separation needs. They can range from relatively compact and straightforward to complex, multiunit processes that serve a variety of applications. If you’re new to water treatment, you might be asking “What is an industrial water treatment system and how does it work?” Since industrial … » Read More
Many of our customers often require some type of treatability study when they look to us for wastewater treatment solutions. This type of study or testing determines how wastewater might be treated, helping ensure proper treatments are considered. These tests can be useful—especially when there are several variables in wastewater streams and resolutions/technologies—at pinpointing exactly … » Read More
Industrial water treatment is a complex family of technologies and systems, serving a wide range of industries and applications. Whether your needs include water treatment, process purification and separation, wastewater treatment, or a combination of these, you’re probably wondering “How much does an industrial water treatment system cost?” As you’ve likely found, estimating the … » Read More
