Industrial manufacturing typically requires a source of clean, contaminant-free process water.The initial water source may be municipal water, surface water, groundwater or recycled plant water. Organic species are typically present and require removal prior to process use (water processing).
The characteristics of feed water have a great influence on the character of the finished product. Even when the incoming process water is from a municipal drinking water source, the water may contain residual tastes, odours, disinfection by-products, and free- and combined-chlorine. Molecules with carbon-sulphur bonds often smell and taste bad, but these are often preferentially adsorbed on carbon. The same is true of molecules with aromatic rings. Carbon's dechlorinating capability results from its ability to act as a reducing agent that reacts with strong oxidising agents such as hypochlorous acid or chlorine dioxide.
Activated carbons such as Filtrasorb® 200 (coal) and Aquacarb 607C (acid washed coconut), which meet the Food Chemicals Codex testing protocols (US 8th edition, 2012), are an effective treatment to ensure water that is contaminant-, taste- and odour-free.
Even when the incoming process water is from a municipal drinking water source, the water may contain unwanted contaminants or compounds.
Industrial manufacturing, along with the food and pharmaceutical industry, may require process water that meets stringent purity and quality specifications.
Ultrapure water is a commonly used term in power generation, electrical production, and food and pharmaceutical manufacturing to emphasize the fact that the water is treated to the highest levels of purity for all contaminant types. Some contaminants include organic and inorganic compounds, dissolved and particulate matter, and dissolved gases.
Activated carbons (granular and powdered) can be used to remove chlorine and chloramines along with other organic contaminants and particles to help ensure water meets process requirements. Catalytic activated carbons provide faster reaction rates than conventional carbons, requiring smaller adsorption equipment and less carbon in use.
Chemviron can offer safe and economical spent carbon handling and thermal reactivation in conjunction with fresh carbon supply and provide personnel and equipment to perform the carbon exchange on a turnkey basis.
Chemviron can bundle the performance advantages of activated carbon with equipment (service or purchase) and related services, to provide full turnkey solutions. Many times the equipment will be customized to fit the requirements of the application and customer site requirements.