InfraCorpPhysical
Separation technologies
Industrial wastewater treatmentis a series of treatment processes of removing organic and inorganic contaminantsfrom effluent generated by industrial sites.
InfraCorpoffers a range of tailored industrial wastewater treatment systems for all major industries, such as food & beverage, automotive, mining, pharmaceutical, petrochemical and power. Technologies include:
- Anaerobic wastewater treatment: breaks down organic contaminants using anaerobic microorganisms
• Aerobic wastewater treatment: breaks down organic contaminants using oxygen and aerobic microorganisms
• Clarification: removes suspended solids and flocs (particles) by allowing them to settle
• Evaporation: separates contaminants to produce concentrated steam
• Filtration: removes impurities using a semi-permeable membrane
• Dissolved Air Flotation (DAF): separates suspended solids, oils and grease from wastewater
Wastewater Recycle and Reuse
The main of the industrial wastewater treatment process involved in the separation of contaminants include six stages
Pre-treatment, this is a mechanical operation involving the coarse screening stage, the equalization stage and the oil separation stage
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- Primary treatment, consists of chemical or physical operations to remove materials that could create problems in subsequent stages.
- Secondary treatment, involves the removal of biodegradable organic substances.
- Tertiary treatment, serves to remove non-biodegradable organic substances, ions, macromolecules, nutrients and odors.
- Disinfection, serves to remove microorganisms and bacteria.
Physical Separation:
Physical separation in water pretreatment refers to methods that physically remove suspended solids, debris, and other particulate matter from water without changing the chemical composition. These processes are essential first steps to protect downstream equipment and improve treatment efficiency. Common Physical Separation Methods in Water Pretreatmentare , . Screening, Sedimentation / Gravity Settling, Filtration, Flotation (e.g., Dissolved Air Flotation – DAF), Membrane Separation (microfiltration (MF) and ultrafiltration (UF) ) , Centrifugation (less common in pretreatment)
|
Method |
Mechanism |
Removes |
Key Applications |
|
Screening |
Size exclusion |
Large debris |
Water intakes, WWTPs |
|
Sedimentation |
Gravity |
Heavy particles (grit, silt) |
Clarifiers, settling tanks |
|
Filtration |
Porous media |
Fine particles, turbidity |
Pretreatment, RO, drinking water |
|
Flotation (DAF) |
Buoyancy (air bubbles) |
Fats, oils, suspended solids |
Industrial wastewater |
|
Centrifugation |
Density differences |
Solids, oil, sludge |
Sludge dewatering, oil-water separation |
|
Membrane filtration |
Pore size |
Bacteria, colloids, viruses |
Water reuse, desalination |
|
WHY pH is IMPORTANT |
|
|
Purpose |
Target pH Range |
|
Protect RO membranes from scaling/fouling |
6.0–7.0 |
|
Optimize coagulation/flocculation |
6.5–7.5 |
|
Enhance disinfection (e.g., chlorine) |
6.5–7.5 |
|
Meet discharge regulations |
6.0–9.0 |
|
Prevent corrosion or scaling in pipes |
6.5–8.5 |
|
Support biological treatment (e.g., MBBR) |
6.5–8.5 |
pH Adjustment:
pH adjustmentis a critical step in water pretreatment used to control the acidity or alkalinity of water to protect treatment equipment, optimize chemical reactions, and improve water quality.
Chemical treatment
In water pretreatment involves adding chemicals to remove contaminants, enhance separation processes, protect downstream systems (like membranes or boilers), and improve overall water quality.
|
Purpose of chemical Treatment |
Result |
|
Coagulation & Flocculation |
Remove suspended solids and turbidity |
|
Disinfection |
Kill or inactivate pathogens (bacteria, viruses, protozoa) |
|
pH Adjustment & Neutralization |
Balance acidity/alkalinity for process efficiency |
|
Oxidation/Reduction |
Remove iron, manganese, hydrogen sulfide, or organics |
|
Precipitation |
Remove hardness (Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺), heavy metals |
|
Scaling & Corrosion Control |
Protect pipelines, membranes, and equipment |
|
Odor& Taste Control |
Improve water palatability and aesthetics |
|
Purpose of chemical Treatment |
Result |
|
Coagulation & Flocculation |
Remove suspended solids and turbidity |
|
Disinfection |
Kill or inactivate pathogens (bacteria, viruses, protozoa) |
|
pH Adjustment & Neutralization |
Balance acidity/alkalinity for process efficiency |
|
Oxidation/Reduction |
Remove iron, manganese, hydrogen sulfide, or organics |
|
Precipitation |
Remove hardness (Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺), heavy metals |
|
Scaling & Corrosion Control |
Protect pipelines, membranes, and equipment |
|
Odor& Taste Control |
Improve water palatability and aesthetics |
Oil and Grease Removal
Oil and grease removal is a critical pretreatment step, especially in industrial wastewater (e.g., food processing, petrochemical, metalworking, etc.) and stormwater systems, to prevent fouling of downstream equipment, protect biological processes, and comply with discharge regulations, Oil & Grease Removal Methods, Gravity Separation (API Separator, CPI), Oil Skimmers, Dissolved Air Flotation (DAF) , Chemical Emulsion Breaking, Membrane Separation (Advanced),InfraCorp offers a complete range of pretreatment solutions
Clarifiers -ClariPro™
ClariPro™ are essential components in water and wastewater treatment systems used toseparate suspended solidsfrom water throughgravity settling. They are commonly used in both primaryand secondary treatment stages.
Primary clarification, also known as sedimentation, is the first step in the water treatment process for removing suspended solids (TSS), oil and grease. During this step, solids floating at the surface and other large particles from the water or wastewater flow are removed before biological treatment.
Sludge is settled to the bottom of the clarifier basins and collected by a rake and removed by a sludge removal system. Meanwhile, oil and grease float to the surface and is skimmed off.
A typical primary clarifier removes 60 percent of suspended solids and 30 to 40 percent of Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD)
Lamella Clarifiers - NanoSettler™
NanoSettler™,can be alsoinclined plate , are compact sedimentation units designed to remove suspended solids from water or wastewater by enhancing gravity settling through the use ofinclined plates or tubes.
They offer a high surface area-to-footprint ratio, making them ideal for applications where space is limited or where high settling efficiency is required.
Lamella clarifiers serve to remove heavy particles by settling into inclined plates. This separation method requires prior flocculation and coagulation steps.This process is suitable for removing/treating Turbidity and TSS.
Clarifiers -ClariPro™
ClariPro™ are essential components in water and wastewater treatment systems used toseparate suspended solidsfrom water throughgravity settling. They are commonly used in both primaryand secondary treatment stages.
Primary clarification, also known as sedimentation, is the first step in the water treatment process for removing suspended solids (TSS), oil and grease. During this step, solids floating at the surface and other large particles from the water or wastewater flow are removed before biological treatment.
Sludge is settled to the bottom of the clarifier basins and collected by a rake and removed by a sludge removal system. Meanwhile, oil and grease float to the surface and is skimmed off.
A typical primary clarifier removes 60 percent of suspended solids and 30 to 40 percent of Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD)
Ultrafiltration (UF)-HiSep™
HiSep™is a membrane filtration process used to remove suspended solids, bacteria, viruses, and macromoleculesphysical barrier from water or wastewater. It serves as a that separates contaminants based on molecular size and pore size, typically in the range of 0.01to 0.1 microns.HiSep™ uses asemi-permeable membrane through which water is forced under low-to-moderate pressure. Particles larger than the membrane pores are retained (rejected), while water and smaller solutes pass through as permeate