Water and Effluent Treatment Magazine
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Pharmaceutical effluent concentrations after treatment with C-ION 18 | INNOVATION 2018 T he presence of anthro- pogenic trace sub- stances in natural water sources is gaining increased focus in both the water indus- try and the general media. Aer human consumption, pharmaceuticals, personal care products, hormones, and other endocrine disruptive substances typically enter wastewater treatment plants aer incomplete metaboliza- tion in the human body. With traditional treatment process being unable to removal or degrade such contaminants, there has been high levels measured in natural water courses as indicated by the Chemical Investigation Programme (CIP) stage 1. Whilst it has been generally inconclusive as to whether trace substances at the levels measured raise a risk to hu- man health aer consumption of drinking water, there is evidence to support the idea that they harm the aquatic environment. It is therefore imperative that trace sub- stance removal efficiency at wastewater treatment works is significantly improved to stop these harmful contain- ments entering natural water courses. The primary advanced technologies used for the treatment of these trace substances are either an advanced oxidation pro- cess such as UV/peroxide or photocatalysis, or a PAC (Powdered Activated Carbon) adsorption system, both of which typically come with high operational costs. The C-ION advanced oxidation process developed by SFC Umwelttechnik with Innsbruck University, and delivered by Trant Engineer- ing is an innovative alterna- tive that is able to provide the same level, if not better trace-substance removal but at a fraction of the opera- tional costs. The system is based on the dispersion of a non-thermal plasma that is generated from ambient air within the ionisation cell of a submerged plasma-turbine unit. The plasma generated then reacts with the sur- rounding water and generates highly reactive radicals that degrade the trace-substances, as is typical of an advanced oxidation process. Thus, no costly chemicals are required, and the only operational costs are for the turbine and the ionization cell. As an example of the ca- pability of the C-ION, a recent study of using non-thermal plasma for the removal of Di- clofenac, Carbamazepine, and Sulfamethoxazole was carried out, with results showing that removal efficiencies of up to 95% of the three tested pharmaceuticals could be achieved with residence times up to 40 minutes. As well as for the treat- ment of trace substances, the C-ION process has a variety of other applications, including; the suppression of bulking sludge, hardly degradable COD removal, and membrane cleaning, among others. Further work is ongoing in collaboration with water companies to assess the C- ION processes' capability to remove the same and other trace substances on a larger pilot scale as well as for the many other applications. For more information, please visit www.trant.co.uk INNOVATION 2018 Contact: Trant Engineering, Rushington House, Rushington, Southampton, United Kingdom, SO40 9LT Tel: +44 (0) 2380 665544 Web: www.trant.co.uk C-ION: The Chemical Free Advanced Oxidation Process C-ION submerged plasma-turbine unit