"Why not prevent trace substances from entering wastewater in the first place?"

"In principle, medicines and chemicals should not be disposed of down the toilet. But even if everyone followed this rule, these substances would still end up in the sewage system and thus in the wastewater treatment plants. All medicines that we take leave the body with our excretions and are therefore automatically in the sewage.\r\nMany objects that are exposed to rain, weathering or mechanical wear can release harmful substances, which are then flushed into the sewage system with the rainwater.\r\nSince the input of trace substances cannot be prevented in practice, the elimination of trace substances at the wastewater treatment plant is an effective way to remove the unwanted substances."

Elimination of Trace Substances

Q: "What are anthropogenic micropollutants?"

"Anthropogenic micropollutants are man-made chemicals that enter water bodies via wastewater and have negative effects even in low concentrations.\r\nTypical trace substances of this kind are, for example, medicines, cosmetics, cleaning agents or plasticisers in plastics. Industrial chemicals, corrosion protection agents, pesticides and biocides also belong to this category of substances."

Q: "Why should trace substances be removed from wastewater?"

"Although trace substances are only present in wastewater in very low concentrations, they can still have an environmentally harmful effect. Not only active substances of the contraceptive pill but also many other substances such as bisphenol A can negatively influence the hormone balance of aquatic organisms.\r\nOther trace substances can damage the gills and internal organs of fish. In addition, trace substances can accumulate in aquatic animals and ultimately reach humans via the food chain."

Solutions for the elimination of trace substances and micro pollutants from wastewater

PAC process ("Ulm process") with downstream HUBER Pile Cloth Media Filter RotaFilt® as polishing filter

Adsorption process with powdered activated carbon (PAC)

Elimination and reduction of micropollutants from wastewater: Adsorptively removal of trace substances with powdered activated carbon, which is added to the wastewater and then separated again by means of a polishing filter (before the treated wastewater is added to the receiving water.)

Design sketch/Variant 1: Combination of ozonisation with subsequent activated carbon filtration (GAK), upstream cloth filtration (police filter) and downstream UV disinfection

Adsorption process with granulated activated carbon (GAC)

Elimination and reduction of micropollutants from wastewater: The removal of trace substances is carried out adsorptively with granulated activated carbon, whereby ozone can be additionally used.

It has been proven that wastewater treatment plant effluents are significant input pathways for anthropogenic trace substances (especially pharmaceutical residues) into our water bodies. In the aquatic environment, these micropollutants have negative impacts and in conventional wastewater treatment plants, these substances are only insufficiently degraded. In order to achieve a more extensive elimination of micropollutants in municipal wastewater treatment, special processes of advanced wastewater treatment are necessary. Elimination of micropollutants is also referred to as the fourth purification stage or quaternary treatment.

There are different processes for the elimination of micropollutants, for each of which HUBER has different machinery and plant technology in its product range.

Adsorption process with powdered activated carbon:

In the process with powdered activated carbon (PAC), the trace substances are adsorbed on powdered activated carbon.

Adsorption process with granulated activated carbon:

In the process with granulated activated carbon, the GAC process, the micropollutants are adsorbed on granulated activated carbon.

Note:

When considering the elimination of micropollutants, it is highly recommended to keep the synergy effects of solids reduction and phosphorus elimination in mind, as these can skilfully be exploited, taking into account all individual boundary conditions.

FAQ

Frequently Askes Questions

Anthropogenic micropollutants are man-made chemicals that enter water bodies via wastewater and have negative effects even in low concentrations.

Typical trace substances of this kind are, for example, medicines, cosmetics, cleaning agents or plasticisers in plastics. Industrial chemicals, corrosion protection agents, pesticides and biocides also belong to this category of substances.

Although trace substances are only present in wastewater in very low concentrations, they can still have an environmentally harmful effect. Not only active substances of the contraceptive pill but also many other substances such as bisphenol A can negatively influence the hormone balance of aquatic organisms.

Other trace substances can damage the gills and internal organs of fish. In addition, trace substances can accumulate in aquatic animals and ultimately reach humans via the food chain.

In principle, medicines and chemicals should not be disposed of down the toilet. But even if everyone followed this rule, these substances would still end up in the sewage system and thus in the wastewater treatment plants. All medicines that we take leave the body with our excretions and are therefore automatically in the sewage.

Many objects that are exposed to rain, weathering or mechanical wear can release harmful substances, which are then flushed into the sewage system with the rainwater.

Since the input of trace substances cannot be prevented in practice, the elimination of trace substances at the wastewater treatment plant is an effective way to remove the unwanted substances.

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If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us!

We welcome your enquiries and want to offer you the best possible support for your projects.

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sales@huber.co.uk

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