Tuesday 29 April 2014

Industrial Water Disinfection Gradually Gaining Importance With High Grade Effects

Whenever the topic of waste water is brought up among the industrialists, it is obvious to think about the industrial wastes getting into the drains or into the rivers. Some might argue that the wastewater from households is much more than industrial output. But, in most cases of house waste, the water usually seeps into the ground due to the lower flow rate, but in industries, the waste is ejected into the rivers or sea directly. This results in major contamination of the water flowing in the river. Most of the industries are therefore found in areas with abundant water supply and suitability of removing the waste into these waters. Unchecked proliferation of industries in such belts has been responsible for pollution of the water since long years.
In most of the industrialized nations of the world, the concept of waste water is being associated with industries, because at this level, significant steps can be undertaken to procure purer water, which can then be recycled for supply. The idea would be to disinfect the water, so that the microorganisms are destroyed and hence, industrial waterdisinfection is currently being researched in different stages, all across the globe. It is a problem that concerns the entire world, since industrialization is sought by every country for growth. So, waste water reuse should be serious thought about and steps taken for their quick implementations.
Need to get the waste water from industries back into use:
  • Wastage – It goes without saying that water bodies in most parts of the world are drying up due to climatic changes. Shortage of water would be seen in the coming two or three decades, so much so that people will not be able to get home supplies, if the water bodies keep on drying in this particular rate. Wasting water is also rife in the society, as well as in industries. This is apart from the fact that industries are spewing gallons and gallons of waste water into the water bodies in and around the city.
  • Drying resources – Groundwater sources are decreasing and rivers are drying up. Ocean and sea levels are decreasing with every passing year and therefore, in the coming years, the shortage of water supply will be felt by the common man as well as the industries.
Lost water from industries with plenty of organic and organism components:
Most of the industries are dependent on water supplies in sufficient quantities for one or the other purpose. They need it for cleaning, as raw materials or for washing of the byproducts. As a result, much of the water flows through drains as wastewater and is disposed into the water bodies. Lots of sludge, organic materials, minerals, microorganisms and some toxic materials are discharged into the water, so that the receiving water body gets polluted. In many cases, these pollutants are of organic nature or rather full of microorganisms. Although there are many other materials which need to be cleared from this wasted water, if it is to be reused, removing the bacterial or organic materials is an important consideration. Since these are able to grow in the polluted environment of the water, a small amount of the microorganism can be quite dangerous, especially for consumption. So, with this background, it is necessary to consider that the industrial waste disinfection be done for the best resources of water supply to the communities or to the industry itself.
The trend of installing water purification systems in many industries is a reflection of the growing realization of reusing the wastewater. Companies are seriously considering the proper reuse of the water and their active participation is surely going to change the scenario of water disinfection. Such steps are also being propagated by many environmentalists and government authorities. It is therefore common to find that industrial water disinfection steps are being carried out and adopted by many industries, being enforced and ensured by government and the environmentally aware masses.
Various methods of disinfection
Diseases causing microorganisms are the primary concern for most of the water utilized for public use. If there are methods adopted to disinfect the industrial water, then a large part of the water scarcity can be handled. But, this is easier said than done because of the proper processes to be implemented. These might require large spaces or the infrastructure costs can be excessive. Even though the capital required may be huge, the ability of various industries, local water authorities and private companies to handle so much of waste water treatment should be considered. If there is development of large scale disinfection procedures, then plenty of water can be derived in cleaner forms to supply the populations.
Various disinfectants found in common use in industrial set ups:
Proactive role from different fronts – In most of the developing countries, industrial water disinfection is being looked at as a viable option to deliver the supply for commercial public and industrial use. Requisites for carrying out these processes are cheaper methods of disinfection, quick processes, adequate retrieval and assistance at different levels. Even though the industries are ready to put up disinfection methods, the local authorities should work with them to meet the demands of the population. Working in public private partnership will be extremely helpful in removing the problem of water scarcity.
  • Chlorine is the commonest – One of the most economical and effective means of water disinfection has been the use of chlorine. This chemical compound can destroy variety of bacteria and viruses and other organisms from the water. There are different other modalities of treatment for the industrial water, but for disinfecting purposes, chlorine or bleaching powder seems to be the most economical option. Chlorine gas or liquid sodium hypochlorite can be injected into the water, so that it kills majority of the germs. In order to make this biocide effect, continue for certain period of time, the residual chlorine should be high. For chlorine, the residual limit allowed is usually 0.2 to 0.5 ppm.
  • Alternatives for Chlorine Required – On the other hand, chlorine is not always safe for disinfection purposes. Industrial waste usually carries organic materials. This is true for most of the industries, related to rubber, pharmaceutical, petroleum and few others. Invariably, these industries give out organic materials in their waste, which adds to the growth of organisms. But, there are other problems of having such materials also. When organic material is present in the industrial waste water and it is treated with chlorine, the chemical tends to form chloramines or trihalomethanes. These compounds are considered to be carcinogenic.
In some other cases, chlorine gets dissipated and no residual form remains to allow for disinfection. To some extent, this problem can be handled by adding ammonia or some form of nitrogenous compounds, so that chloramines are formed in large amounts, which allow the residual chlorine to stay and the trihalomethanes are not formed. Many countries are using this procedure to derive fresh water from the industrial waste.
  • Oxidizing Agents – Adding sufficient amounts of oxidizing agents is one good way to handle the flux of microorganisms in the industrial waste water. Oxidizing agents are used to neutralize the membranes of the organisms and also act to kill these organisms. Potassium permanganate is a good agent in industrial use. Higher concentration of the compound can be used in industrial waste disinfection, so that the resulting water has much of the organism destroyed. This chemical can also be used in bleaching procedures.
  • Micron Filters - Micron filters are also good for preventing the bacteria from flowing into the cleaning units. So, industrial waste can be passed through these filters, so as to allow the bacteria of about 0.1 to 0.005 microns to remain back during the filtration process. The downside of such filters is that they cannot be used as industrial waste disinfectants in a large scale, due to their problem of being choked or destroyed by the chemicals present in the waste water.
Chemical disinfections better than mechanical industrial waste disinfection:
Having been well established that chlorine is one of the best ways undertaken for disinfection, it doesn’t remain as the top priority these days. After various independent researches revealed the presence of carcinogenic and potential toxic compounds by treating water with chlorine, chlorine dioxide has been put forth as a good alternative.
  • Chlorine dioxide disinfection advantages – Use of chlorine dioxide has been associated with many advantages over chlorine, such benefits extending also to the overall safety profiles and disinfectant actions. Most of the microorganisms and spores of bacteria are removed and lysed by their actions. Rapid chlorate and chlorite formations are responsible for the oxidizing actions and this compound also doesn’t have serious toxicity profile. In some countries, there are certain permissible levels of the compound, which should be present in drinking water or reused water. So, with stringent following of these rules, industries and local authorities can very well ensure that the chlorine dioxide be used as a great disinfectant in industrial water.

  • Chloramine – Another chemical that has garnered attention in recent years as an effective antioxidant is that of chloramine. Even though the oxidizing potential is less than chlorine dioxide, its long lasting effects go in favor of making it a popular disinfecting agent. Chlorine can be converted into chlormaine, by adding ammonia to the water, after chlorine has been added. Industrial water disinfection by this mechanism is gaining popularity in many circles these days.
  • Ozone disinfection – Although, ozone is not a chemical compound like those of chlorine or related materials, it is also one of the ways of disinfecting industrial water for reuse purposes mostly. Ozonization has become quite popular in the present day scenario. Ozone, being an unstable molecule, leads to the release of free radicals, which can easily disintegrate the water organisms. These are quite effective in destroying most of the microorganisms and even spores, so that a better disinfection is possible. The procedure for ozonization is done in such a manner that ozone requires to be manufactured on site, which on the other hand is a problem for mass scale disinfection. But, it produces almost negligible amounts of byproducts and no problems in taste or appearance. Even the USFDA approves of ozone as a good means of purification of water and disinfection of industrial waste water. Such procedures have been known to many countries since the beginning of the 20th century, the first ozone use in mass scale being done in France.
  • UV Radiation – In many parts of United States, Ultraviolet radiation has come up as an important ingredient for industrial waste disinfection. Even in low turbid water, UV rays can be quite effective. Like the process of ozonization, this form of water treatment doesn’t leave behind any residual effect, besides having its effective action with one time exposure. This is possibly sufficient enough to make the water free from microorganisms. For highly turbid waste water, this kind of radiation is not effective as the light rays can be scattered by the presence of high particulate concentration. Many plants in US are being established in large areas, where UV treatment of the waste water is done along with an adjunctive mix of chlorine or chloramine, so that the effect of disinfection lasts quite long.
  • Solar disinfection – Another newer method, with cost effective benefits, is that of solar water disinfection. Due to sufficient amounts of solar light available in many countries, communities are coming up with these plans to clean the water in their pumps or storage tanks. For small communities also, this kind of solar power is effective. Many bacterial species, causing harm to the body, can be destroyed by this simple method.
The concept of industrial water purification doesn’t get restricted to only disinfection. It can be considered only as a part of the water treatment procedures. There are many other particulate matters, sludge and factors, which are needed to be controlled. But, when industrial waste disinfection is being considered, the water supposed to be reused can be treated with suitable chemicals for effective cleaning of the microorganisms. Water disinfection has to be done properly, in order to provide disease free water supply.

According to their capacities to install purification and disinfectant methods in their industries or the ability of private companies to set up their in-house plants for purification, most industries are looking at viable options to go for industrial waste disinfection. This water can then be used in different places and for different purposes, after the other methods of purification have been conducted on these water collections.