HUBER MeChem® Solution for Most Cost-Effective Mechanical-Chemical Wastewater Treatment and Reuse
The first step in the right direction is most important!
Budge 2000 ts for environmental projects are notoriously tight, particularly in developing and emerging countries. For this reason, it is imperative to achieve maximum value with limited investment.
Since costs rise exponentially with treatment efficiency, low-cost basic treatment of all wastewater flows must have priority over excellent, but expensive treatment of only some wastewater.
Our MeChem® solution is a modular system for centralized wastewater treatment. The first stage of mechanical pre-treatment with fine screens is least expensive and provides the best cost/value ratio. The following mechanical, chemical and finally biological stages further improve the treatment efficiency, but are increasingly expensive.
Systems concept
Systems concept
- Click on the image to get a detailed, interactive view with additional information and links.
Process
Process
System Description
- Step 1 is removal of debris and solids with a HUBER ROTAMAT® Fine Screen (e.g. with 3 mm spacing).
- Step 2 is removal of fine solids with a HUBER Micro-Screen (e.g. with 0.5 mm mesh size).
- Step 3 is additional chemical pre-treatment by addition of precipitants, coagulants and/or flocculants to permit removal of dissolved and colloidal matter and of phosphorus nutrients by micro-screening.
- Step 4 is polishing with a HUBER ROTAMAT® Micro-Strainer (e.g. with 0.05 mm mesh size).
- Step 5 is disinfection (e.g. by UV-radiation) for inactivation of pathogens.
- Step 6 is biological treatment (e.g. with a trickling filter) for removal of dissolved BOD and COD and ammonium. Our micro-strainers are now used for removal of biomass generated during biological treatment.
How far one should proceed, depends on the available finances, but also on local conditions and requirements. Where wastewater is discharged into the sea or a large river, steps 1, 2 or 3 are normally sufficient. Where receiving waters are less resilient, one should proceed to step 4 or 5. Where the effluent is discharged into sensitive waters, step 6 should finally be added.
Interesting is our MeChem® Solution in combination with urine separation, because most of the nutrients N and P are contained in the urine that can be used as fertilizer. Biological treatment with nutrient removal (Step 6) is not required.
Removed screenings are washed, dewatered and compacted in our HUBER Screenings Wash Press, and can be disposed of as solid waste. Separated sludge is dewatered in our ROTAMAT® Screw Press, composted and reused as fertilizer and for soil improvement.
