Advanced EnviroChemie Aquarius wastewater treatment plant opens in the Netherlands

Rossdorf, Germany: –A leading edge wastewater treatment plant that removes per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances constructed by advanced water treatment specialist EnviroChemie GmbH (EnviroChemie) has opened near Dordrecht in The Netherlands.

The Aquarius Plant for the Chemours company is designed and configured with multiple steps to remove more than 99 per cent of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and, in particular, GenX chemicals from the wastewater generated by an industrial facility producing Teflon™ and Viton™ fluoropolymer plastics that are vital in advanced applications as well as for Green technologies.

Challenging schedule

At the opening ceremony on March 31, 2023, Ms. An Lemaire, Plant Manager Dordrecht Works and Chemours Netherlands Director, highlighted the importance of the plant before the ribbon was cut to mark its official inauguration, some three months after it actually came on line.

The contract for the Aquarius project to deliver the wastewater treatment plant was granted in June 2020 at a particularly difficult time.

Sicco Hilarius, EnviroChemie Sales Manager for the Benelux region commented: “The COVID-19 crisis meant that the construction and communication between all involved companies was a huge challenge.”

“None of us had ever encountered something like this before and we had quite a few headaches getting the plant ready on time for January 1, 2023,” Mr. Hilarius recalled.

“As a result, there was a lot of pressure on this project. We are pleased that the plant could be completed on time,” he added.

Multi step filtration

The Aquarius plant flows wastewater from production at an average of 60 m3/h and a maximum of 120 m3/h and is deposited in settling vessels, where the substances that settle can be separated from the water directly. Next, a polyelectrolyte is dosed into the water flow and the flakes that form are separated from the water by allowing them to flow into flotation plants. The pretreated water is then guided through sand and active carbon filters. Following this, the PFAS-free water can be discharged to surface water. The sludge that is transported from all tanks to the sludge storage is dewatered using a decanter.

“The special thing about this plant is the fact that all tanks have a funnel as the bottom and a screw conveyor to remove the settled sludge. Chemours decided to use that because sludge containing PFAS can be sticky and therefore very difficult to remove. By using these screw conveyors, the system has been further automated and operators rarely come into contact with the sludge, if at all,” Hilarius explained.

About EnviroChemie

EnviroChemie GmbH has established a reputation for reliable and innovative technology for water and wastewater treatment and water recycling, specializing in developing and implementing customized solutions for customers in the pharmaceutical industry and life sciences.

This engineering company was founded in 1976 and offers a holistic range of “Made in Germany” branded products and services based on chemical-physical, biological and membrane filtration processes, whose pedigree relies on its long list of research achievements and patents.

EnviroChemie adopts a partnership approach in which client specialized needs and characteristics form the basis for individual design, planning, engineering, building and commissioning of pharmaceutical wastewater treatment plants. In terms of plant operation, EnviroChemie offers comprehensive services, operation management, contracting and water treatment chemicals.

With more than 30,000 plants sold worldwide, EnviroChemie can apply unrivalled experience to continuous development of innovative and reliable industrial water and wastewater technologies.

EnviroChemie is a member of the EnviroWater Group, a network of companies with specialists in the solution of a broad range of requirements for sustainable water treatment.

Further information at: www.envirochemie.com.

Resources

Click on Opening of the Aquarius wastewater treatment plant at Chemours in Dordrecht to access original release (PDF download).