Succeed at Removing Metals and Other Contaminants from Water

Transcription

1 Succeed at Removing Metals and Other Contaminants from Water The MAR Systems Vision Cleaner Water to Benefit the World s Present and Future Generations What We Do Manufacturer of comprehensive adsorbent medias and media systems that permanently remove toxic metals and other contaminants from industrial water at fractions of pennies per gallon treated Sorbster medias are used to provide solutions to process water applications that perform versus competing technologies Sorbster medias enable compliance with regulatory discharge mandates for wastewater streams at low total cost of implementation Sorbster products are engineered with optimum porosity, surface area and chemical functionality for soluble cationic and anionic trace contaminant removal Sorbster products covalently bond contaminants throughout each particle. They have strong proficiency for mercury, hexavalent chromium, copper, lead, arsenic, fluoride, selenium, silica, zinc, and more Medias are deployed in pump and treat applications in industry standard tanks with no chemical feed adjustments or ancillary waste streams Water flow, which drives the water-to-media contact time, is a primary control parameter Used Sorbster medias pass TCLP and WET tests for non-hazardous disposal options Through our Send Us Your Water Program (SUYW), field pilot units and commercial installations, MAR Systems has demonstrated success with Sorbster in a variety of water applications. MAR Systems Inc. 15 All Rights Reserved 1

2 Water Treatment Benefits Sorbster engineered adsorbents have high capture and chemical bonding capabilities to provide cost effective solutions for removing metals such as mercury, selenium, hexavalent chromium, arsenic, tin, lead, and copper from water. There are also specialized Sorbster medias for reducing water soluble reactive silica and fluoride concentrations. Benefits are low capital cost installations and performance that achieves low contaminant levels. Sorbster media can be applied to polish effluent from other treatment systems or be utilized alone. It is easy to deploy in existing tank systems without complicated control systems or intensive operator involvement. Performance information on selected contaminants of concern in water systems are highlighted here but many contaminants can be addressed by Sorbster products, just ask us! Mercury Removal Sorbster removal of soluble mercury is strong at both high and low levels of mercury with removal rates typically 95% and greater. Mercury capture occurs through the formation of mercury sulfide complexes within the entire pore structure of each Sorbster pellet. Applications demonstrate the heavy lifting capability of the media in reducing mercury from 27,100 ppb to 3.6 ppb at a chemical plant and the low level polishing ability to meet a Great Lakes Initiative limit of 1.3 ppt. High Mercury Levels were Reduced by 99% Utilizing the Sorbster Hg-1 Product to Treat This Midwestern Chemical Plant Wastewater Hg, ppt 27,100 ppt Influent Hg 70 ppt (92% Removal) at 24 min Contact Time 3.6 ppt (99.9% Removal) at 45 min Contact Time MAR Systems Inc. 15 All Rights Reserved 2

3 Mercury Removal Using Sorbster At A 10 Minute Contact Time to Achieve a Composite Average of <1.3 ppt Mercury and Meet the Great Lakes New Mercury Discharge Limit Incoming Hg (ppt) Treated Hg (ppt) The capacity of Sorbster for mercury removal is very high. Up to 75 weight % has been measured, providing an expected adsorbent life of up to several years depending upon the mercury concentration and water quality factors. Typical mercury removal occurs within a 10 to 30 minute contact time. The number of competing cations in the water will play a role in contact time conditions and capacity performance. Our pre-screening flow-through column testing is recommended to identify the optimum contact time for your water system. MAR Systems can provide flow-through column testing services (SUYW) upon receipt of a sample of the water to be treated. A key to mercury removal by Sorbster media is the solubility of the mercury. The presence of mercury in a soluble form ensures that the mercury ions are free to react and bond with sites on the media. When the mercury is present as partial or totally insoluble particulate, Sorbster acts as a filter for the insoluble particulates and removal maybe less consistent as the mercury is not permanently bonded to the media surface. When high levels of insoluble mercury are present, an oxidation pretreatment step is recommended to cleave mercury from its counter ion and provide free soluble ionic mercury capable of bonding with Sorbster. Common oxidants like bleach, ozone, hydrogen peroxide and bromine typically provide adequate pretreatment of insoluble mercury. MAR Systems Inc. 15 All Rights Reserved 3

4 Selenium, µg/l (ppb) Selenium Removal Selenium concentrates in plant tissue and is especially an issue for industrial wastewaters connected with the mining and use of fossil fuels. It can also be a naturally occurring contaminant in ground waters. The majority of selenium in industrial water is normally present in the ionic oxyanion forms of selenite and selenate. In the refining industry, it enters the refinery as the organic selenocyanate coupled with sulfur in sour crude oils but the refining process provides sufficient oxidation and dilution to convert it to the oxyanion forms by the time it reaches the wastewater stream. In coal fired power plants, selenium becomes oxidized in FGD scrubbers to a high level of selenate. Coal mining waters also contain significant levels of selenite and selenate. Sorbster media contains both cationic and anionic adsorption sites and the anionic sites create the capability to bond both of the selenite and selenate oxyanions to its surface. Removal is accomplished by the formation of various selenite and selenate complexes such as aluminum and iron selenite, aluminum selenate and others. The removal by Sorbster of both oxyanions has been demonstrated to be strong and equivalent. Sorbster Removal of Selenite and Selenate 10 Minute Contact Time, Speciation Confirmed Selenite, SeO₃ Selenate, SeO₄ Before Treatment Treated by Sorbster Before Treatment Treated by Sorbster MAR Systems Inc. 15 All Rights Reserved 4

5 Selenium removal by Sorbster is accomplished in coal mine pond water and in refinery effluent waters. Sorbster Se-1 Media Removed Selenium from Mining Pond Water at A Minute Contact Time Inlet to Sorbster 1 Liter 2 Liters 3 Liters Sorbster Selenium Removal to Below Target of ppb in Refinery Effluent Water - 90% Average Removal Inlet to 2 BV 4 BV 6 BV 8 BV 10 BV 12.5 BV 14.5 BV MAR Systems Inc. 15 All Rights Reserved 5

6 % Selenium Removal The water chemistry and presence of high levels of certain competing anions influence selenium removal when it is present in the selenate form. In selenate applications, contact time, silica concentration and alkalinity can play a role in removal rates. The use of Sorbster Si-1 silica removal media and ph adjustment to minimize alkalinity as pretreatments prior to Sorbster Se-1 or MM-1 for selenium removal can be beneficial in increasing selenate removal rates. Combination of ph Reduction (Low ph) and Competing Anion Removal (Silica Removed) Produces Sustained Selenium Removal with Sorbster Media a 99% Removal Rate Bed Volumes Treated ph 6 ph 3 Sorbster is one of only a very limited number of technologies that are effective for selenate. The technology is increasingly recognized as an effective non-biological approach for selenium removal. It can also be applied in conjunction with other treatments to further polish selenium to lower levels and maximize compliance margins. Fluoride Removal Historically, activated alumina has been known to adsorb fluoride from water and is optimally applied at a ph of 5.5 to 6. The engineered activated alumina substrate of Sorbster F-1 media provides the primary mechanism for fluoride removal but is boosted by the presence of other fluoride reactive chemistries contained on the media. The chemistry of Sorbster F-1 has enabled applications outside the old ph 5.5 to 6 range for plain activated alumina. At both high and low levels of fluoride, Sorbster has demonstrated sustained fluoride removal in refinery, FGD and general industrial wastewaters, as well as in chlor-alkali plant high temperature process brines. In a 3.5 million gallon effluent holding tank, a fluoride concentration of 70 mg/l was removed by Sorbster consistently to < 1 mg/l making the water acceptable for discharge to the sewer. Time for processing 3.5 million gallons was 35 days preventing expensive disposal as hazardous waste and providing a rapid turnaround of the tank for other uses to keep the plant operational. MAR Systems Inc. 15 All Rights Reserved 6

7 Fluoride by ISE, mg/l Sorbster F-1 Fluoride Removal from a Refinery Wastewater Tank Fluoride, ppm % Fluoride Removed Contact Time of Sorbster & Water ph Inlet Tank Water Outlet Sorbster F Treatment % 75 minutes Commercial applications involving a fluoride laden brine process water have been successfully treated that demonstrate the proficiency of the Sorbster F-1 product at high temperature in a brine solution. In this application, removal of the fluoride extended the life of key process equipment, saving the plant $2 million annually in equipment replacement costs and reduced their turnaround costs Sorbster F-1 Fluoride Removal Curve for Salt Water Solution at 174 F with Minute Water-to-Media Contact Time, Inlet ph % Average Fluoride Removal Inlet Empty Bed Volumes Treated Silica Removal Silica has the ability to polymerize and scale as its concentration increases. It is often a limit in process applications. In desalination of brackish water it is a major membrane foulant that limits recovery. In cooling systems, silica limits cycles of concentration and water reuse. The removal of soluble silica can allow an increase in the cycles thereby reducing makeup water and chemical treatment costs. The removal of dissolved or soluble silica can be achieved by adsorption on Sorbster Si-1 media. The activated alumina substrate of Sorbster provides the primary mechanism for removal through the formation of aluminum silicate. Silica MAR Systems Inc. 15 All Rights Reserved 7

8 Silica Concentration, mg/l Silica as SiO2, mg/l removal rates of > 90% are typical. A silica concentration of 146 mg/l in a high temperature water was reduced to single digit silica levels when a 40 minute contact time was utilized. Similar silica removal rates have been demonstrated in other commercial applications. Silica Removal by Sorbster Si-1 40 Minute Contact Time, 104 F, ph 7.8, 146 mg/l Soluble Silica % Average Silica Removal Bed Volumes of Water Treated % Silica Removal from Various Industrial Waters by Sorbster Si-1 Media Ambient Temperature, 30 Minute Contact Time 16 Midwestern FGD Effluent Eastern Coal Mine Pond Water 83 Western Power Plant Effluent Inlet Silica Concentration Sorbster Treated Silica Level MAR Systems Inc. 15 All Rights Reserved 8

9 Arsenic Removal The functionalized activated alumina composition of Sorbster media provides a strong adsorbent for the reduction of arsenic from industrial wastewaters. Building on the proficiency of plain activated alumina to adsorb arsenic that was identified in the 1980 s, MAR Systems has further enhanced activated alumina by reacting additional proprietary functional chemistry groups including iron throughout the alumina pore structure. This reacted additional chemistry provides arsenic removal with greatly reduced competition from competing anions such as fluoride. As a result, Sorbster can simultaneously remove arsenic, fluoride and selenium anions and also mercury, copper and other cations from wastewater streams. The media is proficient for both arsenite (III) and arsenate (V). Typical expected removal rates of arsenic (V) are 90 99% and 70-90% for arsenic (III) with an expected % weight capacity if the arsenic is in a soluble form. Sorbster is recommended for both heavy lifting removal of ppm arsenic levels and polishing removal to reduce trace levels. Polishing of already installed treatments can be done. Removal is a function of water-tomedia contact time, arsenic solubility and the total contaminant loading. Sorbster Arsenic Removal for Various Industrial Waters Typical Application Conditions: Minute Contact Time, Ambient Temperature Water Type Initial Arsenic Arsenic After Sorbster % Removal FGD Scrubber Wastewater 6 µg/l Not detected >90% FGD Landfill Leachate 4.8 µg/l Not detected >90% FGD Landfill Leachate 2800 µg/l 430 µg/l 85% California Groundwater µg/l to not detected 96% Western USA Refinery Effluent 8.2 µg/l Not detected >90% Mining Process Water 72 µg/l Not detected >95% Other Contaminants Sorbster media has a proficiency for both cationic and anionic metals. Typically, high levels of removal of other contaminants maybe observed during Sorbster treatment. The removal of additional contaminants is a function of water quality and varies by water stream. Competing ions in the water will play a role in what and how much of these other contaminants are adsorbed for a particular stream. In a refinery wastewater application that focused on selenium removal, significant amounts of vanadium, zinc, boron, barium, mercury and arsenic were simultaneously removed. MAR Systems Inc. 15 All Rights Reserved 9

10 Typical Simultaneous Removal by Sorbster of Refinery Wastewater Contaminants Contaminant Typical Sorbster % Removal Selenium High, up to 95% Mercury High, up to 99% Arsenic High, up to 90% Vanadium High, up to 90% Zinc Moderate, up to 70% Boron Moderate, up to 50% Barium Moderate up to 60% In a power plant FGD wastewater targeting selenium and mercury, a reduction in additional metals and fluoride was observed. Typical Additional Contaminant Removal by Sorbster MM-1 from Power Plant FGD Waters Contaminant Inlet to Sorbster Vessel Sorbster Treated Effluent % Removal Arsenic 6 ppb Not detected >95% Barium 285 ppb 175 ppb 39% Boron 225 ppm 112 ppm 50% Copper 27 ppb Not detected >95% Cadmium 3 ppb Not detected >95% Fluoride 12 ppm 4 ppm 67% Nickel 6 ppb 4 ppb 33% Thallium 25 ppb Not detected >95% Vanadium 7 ppb Not detected >95% Zinc 4 ppb 22 ppb 95% Achieve Metals Reduction Success Sorbster medias can work for you: Ease of use, requiring only water flow. Cost effective - often with limited capital equipment costs, and has lengthy operating cycles before replacement. Applicable across a wide range of operating and water conditions. Packaging suitable for all system sizes - large and small Deployable in tanks, filter socks, cartridges, impoundments and overflow weirs MAR Systems Inc. 15 All Rights Reserved 10

11 Spent media is suitable for disposal as a non-hazardous waste metals do not leach back (passes TCLP and California WET leachability tests) Removal continues to be demonstrated for new contaminants. Successes for cyanide, molybdenum and antimony removal have recently been achieved. References Adsorbent Technology for Removal of Soluble Mercury at the Trace Contaminant Level, Sacco, Soltis-Muth, IWC 11 Selenite and Selenate Removal by a Functionalized Alumina Adsorption Media, Sherwood, Hayes, Unkefer, Sacco, IWC 12 Removal of Selenium in Refinery Effluent with Adsorption Media, Hayes, Sherwood, WEFTech 12 Investigating the Performance of Active Material Amended to Clay Minerals for Sequestering Sediment Contaminants, Gruden, Battelle Sediment Conference 11. MAR Systems Inc. 15 All Rights Reserved 11