Water and Effluent Treatment Magazine
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20 WET NEWS APRIL 2018 | wwtonline.co.uk Soneco boom P hosphorus (P) is a natural but limited element that is used by all living organ- isms and is essential to food security due to its effect as a growth promoter. However, when levels of P are excessive, it overstimulates the growth of algae in our lakes and rivers and leads to a gradual depletion of oxygen, which can ultimately render the waterway lifeless (eutrophication). Traditional sources of P (rock phosphate) are deplet- ing. Sewage, including farm- yard manures, is a rich and renewable source, but its re-use as a fertiliser is com- monly the cause of excessive P-loads being released into our water courses, increasing the problems associated with water treatment. These excess levels of P can be efficiently removed by adsorption, whereby contami- nants are captured onto a 'sur- face'. Historically, metal salts in the form of liquid chemicals have been used but the disad- vantages of this (H&S issues with transport, handling, stor- age, overdosing, need for clean water supply, etc) are legion, so new, more effective The humus settlement tank The percolating filter at East Meon WTW treatment measures are con- stantly being sought in order to consistently achieve dis- charge targets. KP2M Ltd, trading as Power & Water (P&W), has developed such a method using • INSIGHT PHOSPHORUS REMOVAL Amid the clamour for effective new means of phosphorus removal, Power & Water CEO Gareth Morgan discusses his company's Soneco system, which combines electrolysis with ultrasound for an eco-friendly solution electricity, whereby metal ions coagulate and flocculate to cre- ate three-dimensional metal hydroxide networks that adsorb colloids, fines, clays, metals and nutrients. The resultant floc particles are then separated downstream in pro- prietary downstream solid-liq- uid separation processes. Ultrasound applied during electrolysis increases the num- ber of nucleation sites to improve flocculation. P&W's patented Soneco process is an economic and technically optimised alterna- tive to liquid-chemical dosing. It combines electrolysis with ultrasound, ensuring safe and efficient water treatment by