Process Technology Assessments

Commonly targeted constituents include:

Valorized Product
Organic Load (Total and Soluble BOD or COD)
Total Suspended Solids (TSS)
Fats, Oils, and Grease (FOG)
Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPH)

Nutrients (Nitrogen and Phosphorus)
Metals
Organics (BTEX, VOCs, TTOs, Semi-volatiles, Others)
Categorically Regulated Compounds

The ProcessTechnology Assessment (PTA) is a service that determines the most appropriate unit process or processes required to meet industrial wastewater treatment or water reuse objectives. Typical objectives include achieving consistent compliance with discharge parameters or enhancing product recovery efficiency or reuse water quality.

The PTA service is performed in discrete Phases which allow incremental analysis and assessment of findings from bench scale, to pilot scale, to full scale trials.

Phase I:

Review of existing data, existing process equipment, and plant operations coupled with bench scale evaluation of conventional primary treatment processes, typically:

Gravity Clarification (Settling)
Flotation Clarification (Dissolved Air Flotation, DAF)
Filtration (1 to 5 micron synthetic or granular media filtration - when required)
Residuals Dewaterability

This Phase also assesses the need for upstream equipment such as gross particulate screening, grease/grit interception, and flow equalization. In most cases completion of Phase I is sufficient for making an appropriate and cost effective Process Technology selection.

Phase II:

Implement recommendations based on findings from initial work. Phase II work could include:

Additional bench work to evaluate secondary “polishing” treatment technologies required to achieve specific constituent compliance.
Pilot Scale Trials
Preliminary Full Scale System Design and Budgeting

On-site assessments are recommended to assure that tests are conducted on representative and fresh waste stream or process water samples collected as required to account for variations due to product or process changes, sanitation operations, etc.

Bench work is conducted in accordance with established procedures coupling conventional jar testing techniques with highly developed bench scale liquid/solid separation techniques. Bench scale simulation of Gravity Clarification, Dissolved Air Flotation and Filtration are employed as required. These techniques generate treated water samples that provide valid predictions of:

Effluent water quality - constituent removal relative to discharge limits
Full scale system performance (treatment efficiency)
Rate of residuals generation
Required system size

Phase III:

Full scale trials or direct full-scale implementation.

The Process Technology Assessment results in recommendations that can be applied directly to treatment system design.

The Scope of Work offered in a PTA is tailored to meet specific facility objectives. Additional time may be required.

Cost:

In addition to prevailing consulting labor and expenses, the client also arranges and pays directly for analytical services using its normal environmental monitoring lab.

Reporting:

A concise Report of Findings will be compiled which will include conclusions and recommendations for meeting the client’s objective. The Phase I report is usually issued within two weeks of receiving analytical results.