Treatment of Heavy Metals and reuse of Industrial Effluent
Our client, a Printed Circuit Board manufacturer, was generating contaminated water from their washing process lines. The existing treatment systems were unable to cope with the metal loading in the effluent which ranged between 3 - 5 ppm Copper and 1 - 3 ppm Nickel. The levels of copper and nickel in the discharge stream were likely to result in legal action being taken against them unless they reduced levels.
Scope
Brimac Environmental Services carried out a site audit to review the existing processes along with laboratory analysis and characterisation of the effluent streams. From these we were able to propose modifications and additional equipment that would not only allow the system to comply with the legal discharge limits but would produce water of such a quality that it could be recycled, further reducing costs.
Program
Brimac Environmental Services were commissioned to project manage, detail design, build, install and commission an automated treatment line including pH correction, feed pumps, filtration vessels and control panel. The system included a treated water tank with pump for re-use of treated water. This was all carried out while maintaining the site’s production.
Outcome
Copper and Nickel levels in the treated streams were reduced to below <1ppm and 1.5ppm respectively. These were well below discharge consent levels thus avoiding expensive fines. The project also enabled 80% of process water to be recycled, generating a saving of 43% per year.
