Physical Wastewater Treatment

The idea behind physical wastewater treatment is to either offer a complete solution for a variety of wastewaters (meeting regulatory requirements) or to prepare the water in such a manner that it could be recycled back as per client’s needs.
We work closely with AWAS in Germany to design combination treatment processes.

For coarse separation, we rely on vortex separators available in various forms. In addition and as the need dictates, emulsion breaking, fat separation and other suitable operations can be integrated.

One unique operation downstream of the pre-clarification is “Nanofloatation”. Out of the storage basin the wastewater is pumped into the pressurized air-water dispersant system where the necessary air for the flotation diffuses into the water. Because of pressure, atmospheric oxygen (approx. 1 – 2 % of the water flow) passes at “nano-scale” to the water molecular structures of the liquid medium.

Process automation automatically adjusts the required air corresponding to the flow. More than 25 mg/l air saturated water (bubble-free) is fed to the lower region of a decompression system. Pressure reduction is done in the decompression section (optimized by Somicon and AWAS) before the flotation tank, where solute air in the form of micro-bubbles (10 – 20 μm) is released in the water. This “cavitation process” can be so strong to dissolve even metal (if improperly done). During the Nanoflotation process different dissolved species implode. The system uses this energy to partly eliminate, collect and float pollutants, suspended solids, emulsion as well as solute solids, like calcium carbonate or heavy metal and dissolved hydrocarbons. An EU-funded project in 2007 proved, that even germs and bacteria can be reduced to 99.999 %. A reduction of suspended solids by 98 %, BOD5 -90% as well as COD by more than 80% is achieved.

The floating solids on the surface flow to a scraper into the sludge outlet shaft where the slurry can be collected in a container for drying or recycling. A unit for sludge drying, like centrifuge or chamber filter press is not always necessary.

Amongst many others, applications were developed and materialized for:

• Motorways and Roads
• Airports (workshops and cleaning)
• Slaughterhouses
• Petro-chemical Industry
• Railways
• Cleaning of garbage trucks and tanks
• Cleaning of oil tanks
• Wastewaters from food industry
• Oil mills
• Military bases