The Power of Green Chemistry For Water and Wastewater Treatment

Sustainability and environmental concerns are now primary considerations for businesses, especially those with water or wastewater treatment requirements. Here,  Pushpakumara Kitulagodage, our WTC Technical Manager looks at how green chemistry solutions can help businesses achieve their aims.

While traditional water treatment chemicals, such as metal based coagulants, inorganic polymers and chemical biocides can be effective, there are also important disadvantages. Our green chemistry products, which include coagulants, flocculants, emulsion breakers and biocides made from organic ingredients, offer a solution to a range of issues with inorganic products.

Firstly, conventional chemical treatment solutions can involve the handling of dangerous substances. For example, metal-based coagulants, such as those that contain ferrous or aluminium salts, must be dissolved in acid. This reduces the pH of the effluent and means that an industrial alkali such as sodium hydroxide must then be added to the effluent to raise the pH to ensure effective coagulation. This means that operators must store and handle both industrial acids and alkalis during the process. 

With organic coagulants, such as our Hydrex™ 6861, this is not necessary as they operate effectively within a wider pH range and do not cause significant changes to the pH or conductivity of the effluent. This in turn reduces or eliminates the need to handle hazardous pH correction chemicals. Read more about Hydrex, here.

Another key issue with conventional solutions is that the chemicals can create harmful by-products that must be managed carefully to prevent harm to humans and the environment. This is particularly true of many biocides, which can be toxic to plant, animal and human health if discharged into the environment.

Similarly, the use of inorganic coagulants can make the disposal of sludge challenging. For example, the metal-based coagulants, and the sodium hydroxide that must be used alongside them, produce a sludge that is highly corrosive. It is often necessary to store the sludge to then be removed by vacuum tanker for transportation to a specialist treatment facility. This is not only costly and inconvenient but increases the number of vehicles travelling to the site, increasing in-direct operational carbon emissions.

In contrast, green chemistry products can offer a more environmentally conscious option that allows for simpler management processes. For example, our EcoChem Biocides, which are suitable for a wide range of applications including cooling water and process water, are highly effective but ultimately break down into water and oxygen with no harmful by-products.

Also, organic coagulants, such as Hydrex™ 6861 produce a sludge that is biodegradable. Hydrex™ 6861 is a renewably sourced plant-based option that is produced from Black Acacia tree bark. The organic nature of the product means there are no pollutants that must be removed or treated and allows more options for disposal, including composting and land injection. The added benefit of Hydrex™ 6861 is that it also produces a lower volume of sludge – up to 50% less – which further reduces the costs of disposal. 

The sustainable and environmentally conscious options outlined here are just a small part of the wide range of green chemistry solutions available. Our Hydrex and EcoChem ranges also feature products with reduced carbon footprint, zero hydrocarbons and low or zero toxicity, alongside many other environmental benefits.

Click here to find out more about the water treatment solutions we offer, or here to contact a member of our expert team to discuss your site’s requirements.