Combining economy and
ecology
Post address P.O. Box 52
8560 AB Balk THE NETHERLANDS
Visiting address T. de Boerstraat 24
8561 EL Balk THE NETHERLANDS
t +31 514 · 60 85 00 f +31 514 · 60 33 42 e info@paques.nl
Paques Natural Solutions
Economic progress and the increase in the world’s population put ever increasing demands on our environment. To secure a sustainable future, it is important to manage raw materials and nature carefully. This is being expressed not only in a sharpening of laws concerning waste products, but also in society’s appre-ciation of companies that carry out a progressive environmental policy.
Paques is a major advocate of conducting business responsibly. Paques develops and builds high-quality purification systems for cleaning water, gases and air in order to ensure that industrial processes are as clean and cost-effective as possible. Examples include the re-use of water, energy savings, or the reclamation of valuable components from waste. These can be ‘end of pipe’ solutions or plants that are integrated into the production pro-cess.
Paques compares natural processes to those of a highly advan-ced recycling machine maintaining its own equilibrium. We make grateful use of these biological processes in our technology. Paques introduces natural recycling into production processes, creating structural solutions to environmental problems. In this way, Paques has been achieving cost-effective solutions for the environment and industry for more than fifteen years.
Natural
Solutions
The core business of Paques
Research and development process development, partnerships, fundamental research Laboratory services own expert laboratory and research facilities
Pilot testing on-site feasibility and application studies
Process design reactor design, branch-specific process designs and custom solutions Basic and detailed engineering various disciplines: hydraulic, mechanical, electrical, civil
Software development bio-control technology, remote controlling, data analysis
Project management project management, planning, cost engineering, logistical services Contracting turn-key plants
Construction own production of key equipment, assembly, etc.
Operational Services operational management and maintenance at various levels: local, remote, total outsourcing
Paques is the leader in the field or anaerobic purification plants. In the Biopaq®process, bac-teria convert organic pollutants in industrial waste water into biogas, which can be reused. For aerobic waste-water treatment, Paques has developed economically viable reactors. For example, the Circox® reactor ensures the aero-bic removal of organic pollutants in a fully enclosed system. The system takes up little space, produces almost no surplus sludge, odours or noise pollution and purifies so effecti-vely (including nitrogen and fosfate removal) that discharge into surface water is possible. Under the brand name Thiopaq®, Paques has brought innovative cleaning processes onto the market for removing inorganic compounds, such as sulfate, sulfur, nitrate and metals. Together with Shell and UOP, we have de-veloped a plant for an Egyptian refinery. Using biological techniques, this plant removes poisonous hydrogen sulfide from gas flows released during the refining of crude oil. This
Water
Purifying water on-site enables efficient (re-)use of process water and can produce considerable savings in discharge costs. Paques supplies purification plants for all kinds of water (ground water, sur-face water, process water, coolant water, drinking water and waste water). We have developed reactors to treat the various types of water under the most diverse conditions - at high or low tem-peratures, on a large or small scale, whether slightly or heavily polluted, whether for partial purification or for further processing. The combination of all these disciplines provides synergistic advantages, which results in the development of innovative, natural and efficient solutions.
Natural
Solutions
technology has also been applied to sulfide conversion in other industries such as paper, mining, synthetic fibres and to the reclamation of spent caustics from scrubbers. Under the brand name Astrasand®, we treat water on the basis of physical chemical separa-tion technology. In this case we make use of membrane filtration and continuous sand filtra-tion. These techniques can also be used in combination with biological techniques for the removal of nitrogen, and both inorganic and organic compounds.
...in the field of high-quality
purification systems...
Paques has built up an extensive international network. In more than twenty countries, pro-fessional partners and licensees are ensuring that our knowledge and technology are avai-lable internationally. Paques has become an established name in the field of biological industrial purification. In fact, Paques purifica-tion technology is being applied in hundreds of plants world-wide. Our network of licen-sees is supported from our Dutch headquar-ters in Balk, which employs approximately 200 professionals. We regard the further development of this network as one of our highest priorities.
Paques wants to be a world-class player...
Complete nitrogen elimination from waste water
A denitrifying Circox®reactor at a potato processing company treats waste water that has been pre-purified in a Biopaq®IC reactor. The nitrogen and the COD are completely eliminated from the water. Following this purification, the effluent is so clean that, in principle, it could be discharged directly to the surface water. Re-use as process water is also possible. In this way, discharge costs have been reduced considerably.For us, growth and profitability go hand in
hand with inspiration and drive.
Gases and air
In addition to biological water purification, Paques’ skills also extend to flue gas scrubbing. For example, our biological scrubbers purify biogas released in the anaerobic purification of waste water. Paques supplies purification techniques for reclaiming sulfur from natural gas without giving rise to waste. With our techno-logy, it is cost-effective to remove sulfur dioxide or nitrogen compounds from gas flows biologically.
Natural
Solutions
...for water, gases and air.
As an environmental technology company, Paques wishes to constantly inspire. Research is an important part of our company. We regard it as our priority to explore the limits of sus-tainable development and, if possible, to extend them. One of the characteristics of Paques is that, in developing new technology,
we constantly take on new challenges. We persevere in this and we are prepared to make the necessary investments. In this way we strive towards creation of an innovative leading edge in all areas. We have been recognised for our innovative work on several occasions.
In 1999, Paques received the plaque ‘Koning Willem I Plaquette voor Milieu en Energie’ (King William I Plaque for Environment and Energy) from His Royal Highness Prince Claus, personally. This is a biennial prize awarded by the Foundation Koning Willem I for those who have achieved an exceptional performance in their market. We also received the prize ‘Milieuprijs voor de Industrie 1999’ (1999 Environment Prize for Industry) for applying our technology to a distillery in India. This prize was awarded by the Ministry for Housing, Regional Development and the Environment in the category ‘international joint venture for sustainable development’.
The water-recycle purification system developed for the paper industry in co-operation with our partners and customers, provides significantly lower water consumption and reduces the energy requirement. Thanks to this recycling process, polluted process water can be returned to the production process after purification without heat loss. The energy released during purification can also be re-used in the production process.
Paques sets trends in developing
natural and sustainable solutions...
Recycling in the food industry
At a Belgian vegetable processing company, the waste water purification plant ensures that the process water can be re-used in the process. This follows aerobic purification, polishing filtration, membrane filtration and UV disinfection. This permits a considerable saving on both the intake of ground water, and on discharge costs.
Removing metals from
ground water
The purification plant at a Dutch zinc factory purifies ground water that is polluted with sulfate and fluoride, and with zinc and other metals. The purification plant first neu-tralises the waste water, after which the fluoride is immediately removed. Bacteria then convert the sulfate to sulfide. This reacts with the metals to produce metal sulfides, which precipitate and are then re-used in the zinc process, resulting in no discharge of chemical waste.
Paques is powered by the knowledge and experience of its employees. It is thanks to their enthusiasm and commitment, and co-operation with our customers and partners, that Paques has grown into such a versatile company. Our laboratory technicians, technologists, engineers and project managers have been able to trans-late small-scale research into large-scale purifi-cation plants. The profits are largely reinvested to enable the continuing development of new technology, which is carried out at our own research facilities and in close co-operation with
well-known companies, research institutes and customers. Paques works with companies and institutions such as Corus Consulting & Technical Services, Shell, UOP, Nuon and TNO. In addition to this, Paques also conducts research in joint projects with a number of uni-versities such as the Technical University at Delft, the University of Wageningen and the German Universität Erlangen-Nurnberg. As a result of this progressiveness we now enjoy world wide renown for our technology and our commitment to a sustainable society.
...thanks to a knowledge of
Paques’ technology is applied all over the world in the most diverse sectors, from the water industry, the mining and metals industry, to the chemical and petrochemical, fermentation and the pharmaceutical industries. Paques has a strong position in the beer brewing and food industries, and in the paper sector. Paques allows its clients to profit from the
Paques provides its customers...
results of years of research, both in the form of standardised plants and tailor-made solutions. As a partner, we want to make a measurable contribution to improving production processes. The best solutions come from combined expe-rience. Paques provides advice and implements industrial purification processes that satisfy the latest standards.
Purifying waste water in the
paper industry
Paques has recently implemented an anaerobic pro-cess in the existing water purification system of a German paper factory. In order to further improve the effluent quality of the water, two sand filters were supplied in 2000 for removing non-degradable COD from the purified waste water. The anaerobic water purification system treats 3,000m3of waste water per day with a pollution load of 9,520 kilos COD per day. As a result of installing this purification process, the paper factory has been able to double its production, whilst the pollution load in the effluent has not increased.
Biological nitrogen removal and waste-water polishing
The ‘compact plant’ for purifying domestic waste water treats 3,600m3/h of aerobically purified communal waste water. This is implemented by 48 sand filters, encased in a concrete housing. This is an excellent example of a combined biological denitrification and polishing which, apart from communal waste water, can also be applied to industrial waste water.
It is widely believed that economic progress and care for the environment are incom-patible. Our purification plants prove the opposite to be true. Reducing and re-using process water can provide considerable savings. While conventional systems often require extensive adjustments to the opera-tional processes, our biological technologies can be easily fitted into existing systems. The core business of our customers always takes
...with the possibility of bridging the
gap between economic progress and
environmental responsibility.
Natural
Solutions
priority. The introduction of a biotechnical purification installation can even lead to a more efficient production process. The use of sustainable biotechnology finally provides a two-fold advantage: a gain for the environment and economic progress.
Anaerobic / aerobic purification in urban areas
For many industries, limited space is a factor that means that purification of waste water on site cannot be achieved. A complete anaerobic/aerobic system was installed at a well known Dutch brewery, for the treatment of waste water, in a space of less than 200m2. In addition to a reduction in purification costs, this also provided the brewery with a source of energy which covers approximately 8% of its needs. The small space taken up by the plant gained both Paques and the brewery international recognition. Furthermore the maintenance costs of the town sewer system were reduced since corrosive materials were no longer discharged into the drains.
ANAMMOX
®
PROCESS
Characteristics of the
ANAMMOX
®process
SUSTAINABLE• no additional chemicals are required, such as methanol as electron donor
• CO2emission is reduced by 88% as compared
to conventional nitrification/denitrification • no emission of harmful compounds such as
nitrous oxide (N2O)
• high nitrogen removal efficiency makes re-use of treated effluents possible
• high-rate process requiring 50% less space than nitrification/denitrification
COST-EFFECTIVE
• power consumption is reduced by up to 60% as compared to conventional nitrification/denitrification • no methanol consumption
• operation under mild process conditions • no production of excess sludge
Technology
The ANAMMOX®bacteria combine one unit of nitrite with
one unit of ammonium to give dinitrogen gas. In order to produce nitrite, half of the ammonium has to be partially oxidized into nitrite by a partial nitrification process.
NH4++ 11/2O2 NO2-+ H2O + 2H+
Because ANAMMOX®bacteria convert ammonium and
nitrite into dinitrogen gas, full oxidation to nitrate has to be prevented. This can be done in several ways, e.g. by operating the process under oxygen-limiting conditions or by making use of the difference in growth rate between ammonium oxidizers and nitrite oxidizers. At temperatures above 20 ˚C ammonium oxidizers have a higher growth rate than nitrite oxidizers.
The ANAMMOX®process is based on energy
conservation from anoxic ammonium oxidation with nitrite as the electron acceptor:
NH4++ NO2- N2+ 2H2O
The process is carried out by a group of planctomycete bacteria of which Candidatus “Brocadia anammoxidans” was the first to be identified. The red-colored
ANAMMOX®bacteria have a relatively low growth rate
and biomass yield and also have excellent granulation capacity.
Paques’ experience of more than twenty years in the design, construction and operation of biological wastewater treatment plants was crucial during the scale-up of the ANAMMOX®process. This resulted in a
specially designed gas lift loop type ANAMMOX®reactor
that combines very good biomass retention and granule formation with excellent mixing. Therefore effective conversion and stable operation are guaranteed.
Applications
The ANAMMOX®process can be used for the removal of
ammonium from all types of effluents with a relatively high ammonium concentration (NH4+-N > 200 mg/l) and a relatively
low COD concentration.
PROCESSES AND INDUSTRIES WHERE THESE EFFLUENTS ARE FOUND:
• municipal waste water treatment (rejection water from a sludge digester)
• organic solid waste treatment (landfills, composting, digestion) • food industries
• manure processing industries • fertilizer industries
• (petro)chemical industries • metallurgical industries • mining industries
Cost-effective and sustainable
nitrogen removal
The ANAMMOX®(Anaerobic Ammonium Oxidation) process is a new biological process representing a major breakthrough in nitrogen removal.
When preceded by partial nitrification, the ANAMMOX®process is
a very cost-effective and sustainable way of removing ammonium from effluents and ammonia from waste gas. Compared to conventional nitrification/denitrification the operational costs are reduced by up to 90%, while CO2emission is reduced by 88%.
Furthermore the plant requires only half the space taken up by nitrification/denitrification.
The ANAMMOX®conversion is an elegant shortcut in the natural
nitrogen cycle. ANAMMOX®bacteria convert ammonium (NH 4
+)
and nitrite (NO2
-) into dinitrogen gas.
In close collaboration with the Delft University of Technology and the University of Nijmegen, Paques has developed this process for commercial purposes. In the summer of 2002 the first full-scale ANAMMOX®plant was started up in the Netherlands. This plant,
with a capacity of 500 kg N per day, treats the rejection water of the sludge digestion of a municipal wastewater treatment plant. Methanol
Micrographs by: J.F. and R.W., University of Queensland, Australia M.S., University of Nijmegen, The Netherlands
Many industrial and other processes emit nitrogen compounds into the environment, thereby disturbing the nitrogen balance. This can lead to environmental problems such as eutrophica-tion, acidification and the greenhouse effect. To reduce these problems nitrogen compounds such as ammonium and ammonia have to be removed from effluents and waste gases respectively. Up till now physical/chemical processes like stripping and precipitation and conventional biological nitrification/denitrification have been the processes most commonly applied for the removal of ammonium.
ANAMMOX
®
PROCESS
For more information
Paques bv P.O. Box 52
8560 AB Balk THE NETHERLANDS
t +31 514 · 60 85 00
f +31 514 · 60 33 42
e info@paques.nl
i www.paques.nl
Since the early 1980’s, Paques has been developing and producing high-quality, cost-effective purification systems for water, gas and air, using innovative biotechnology. Our aim is to provide solutions to industrial and municipal problems with our extensive range of purification techniques. Most important are the added value factors of the treatment process, such as the re-use of water, the generation of energy by conversion of polluted components, and the reclamation of valuable substances from the waste water. In this way we bridge the gap between
environmental responsibility and economic progress.
Cost-effective and sustainable
nitrogen removal
ASTRASAND
®
Operation
WATERThe polluted water is transported into the filter by means of the feed pipeline (1). Water enters the filter bed (4)through the supply pipe (2)and the distributors (3). This water is purified as it flows through the filter in an upward direction. The filtrate is discharged from the upper part of the filter (5).
SAND
The filter bed moves downward as the water flows up. Dirty sand (6)is continuously extracted from the sand bed and washed, after which it is released back on top of the sand bed (7).
AIR
The sand circulation is based on the airlift principle, forcing a mixture of dirty sand and water upward through a central pipeline (8). Intensive scouring movements separate the impurities from the sand particles. At the top of the pipeline the air is released, and the dirty water is discharged (9). The sand then settles in the washer.
SAND WASHER
The sand washer (10)at the top of the filtration tank washes the sand with a small amount of clean filtrate. This removes the final traces of pollutant from the sand. Flow is achieved through a difference in level between the filtrate (11)and the rinse water (9).
Process monitoring and regulation
The plant can be equipped with a universal monitoring system to monitor the uniformity of sand circulation, and thus the smooth operation of the process: ASTRAMETER®.
The process can be fully optimised for specific applications by applying an advanced regulation system: ASTRACONTROL®.
Process characteristics
• Suitable for physical-chemical as well as biological treatment or a combination of both.
• Continuous cleaning allows for continous operation; high filtrate efficiency under varying process conditions. • Easily built into larger treatment systems; compact
installation with small footprint.
• High efficiency because of uniformity of the sand circulation rate.
• High availability; low maintenance due to lack of moving parts. • Low operational costs.
Trial plants
Astraco offers a wide choice of water treatment plants that can be deployed on a temporary basis. These can quickly show the suitability of the technology and allow the specific process conditions to be established.
Continuous purification of water
ASTRASAND®is a new and improved continuous sandfilter,
developed for physical-chemical and/or biological treatment of different types of water, such as process, waste, surface, cooling and ground water. ASTRASAND®
works as a continuous-process, in which the filter bed is cleaned during the filtration operation, and as a result process interruptions are eliminated. ASTRASAND®is self
cleansing.
Applications
ASTRASAND®filtration can be utilised for many types of
application, with unit capacity varying from only a few, to several thousands m3/hour.
Examples include:
• Biological (de)nitrification and polishing of communal and industrial waste water.
• Recovery of waste water, when combined with polishing, membrane filtration and disinfection with UV light. • Aerobic biological purification of ground water for MAC
and PAC degradation.
• Filtration of flocculated contaminants in surface water as a pretreatment for demineralised water production. • Wash water treatment in fresh and process water
production.
• Biological filtration of cooling water.
of water
For more information
Astraco Water Engineering bv P.O. Box 52
8560 AB Balk THE NETHERLANDS
t +31 514 · 60 87 65
f +31 514 · 60 87 66
e astraco@paques.nl
i www.paques.nl
For more than fifteen years, Astraco has been aiming specifically at the water treatment market. It is a member of the Paques group, which develops and produces high-quality, cost-effective purification systems for water, gas and air, using innovative biotechnology. Astraco devotes a lot of energy to the development of new purification technologies and to the improvement of existing technologies. A large network of agents and licencees are in place, and as a result Astraco products are now in use all over the world. Astraco bridges the gap between environmental responsibility and economic progress by, for example, combining biological processes with separation technologies.
ASTRASEPARATOR
®
Operation
WATERThe water containing suspended solids is fed (1)into the inlet compartment (2)of the ASTRASEPARATOR®.
It flows downwards into the tank and enters the plate pack at both sides through the inlet slots (3). The plate pack (4)consists of a number of flat plates, which are positioned at an angle. The total settling area and the plate distance are determined by the sludge settling characteristics.
During the upward (laminar) transport of water (6), the sludge settles on the plates (5)and the clean water leaves the ASTRASEPARATOR®through the outlet
duct (7)and outlet nozzle (8). The special design of this duct promotes high settling efficiencies.
SLUDGE
The sludge on the plates flows downwards (5)as countercurrent to the water flow (6). The water inlet at the sides of the plate pack promotes unhindered sludge flow, preventing the accumulation of sludge and possible plugging between the plates. The sludge is collected in the sludge hopper (9), where further thickening takes place. The configuration of the sludge hopper enables a homogeneous sludge discharge (10).
Design
The selection of the correct ASTRASEPARATOR®is
determined by the feed water characteristics. Experience, (standard) settling tests and/or pilot scale tests with one of our test units enables us to provide process guarantees on most applications.
ASTRASEPARATOR®s are used for treating a wide range
of flowrates. They are available as free standing units or as plate packs in (concrete) tanks. Optionally ASTRASEPARATOR®s can be equipped with integrated
mixing/flocculation chambers, an additional sludge thickener, mechanical sludge removers and/or automatic sludge discharge systems.
Characteristics
• Compact installation • Small footprint • High efficiency
• Process integrated mixing and flocculation (if necessary) • Standardized components for all necessary capacities
Trial plants
Paques Astraco offers a wide choice of units in our ‘rental fleet’ which can be quickly deployed on a trial basis. These prove the suitability of the technology and allow the specific process conditions to be established.
Separation of suspended solids
and water
Many wastewater streams contain suspended solids that cannot be disposed of or that cause problems in ‘downstream’ wastewater treatment systems. To separate these solids from the wastewater Paques Astraco developed a compact settling system, the ASTRASEPARATOR®. The settling system combines
compactness with troublefree operation and minimum maintenance. It can remove all settleable suspended solids, in a simple and effective way.
Applications
The ASTRASEPARATOR®can be used in all sorts of
industrial and municipal wastewater treatment plants, but also by Municipal Water Boards for washwater treatment produced from the drinking water production process.
Some examples are:
• Presettlement in biological wastewater treatment systems
• Post settlement of activated sludge
• Settlement in physical/chemical plants
• Washwater treatment 4 1 2 3 9 10 8 6 5 7
For more information
Paques bv P.O. Box 52
8560 AB Balk THE NETHERLANDS t +31 514 · 60 87 65
f +31 514 · 60 87 66
e astraco@paques.nl
i www.paques.nl
For more than fifteen years, Paques Astraco has been aiming specifically at the water treatment market. It is a member of the Paques group, which develops and produces high-quality, cost-effective purification systems for water, gas and air, using innovative biotechnology. Paques Astraco devotes a lot of energy to the development of new purification technologies and to the improvement of existing technologies. A large network of agents and licencees are in place, and as a result Paques Astraco products are now in use all over the world. Paques Astraco bridges the gap between environmental responsibility and economic progress by, for example, combining biological processes with separation technologies.
For compact settling
Characteristics of the BIOPAQ
®IC
• production of ‘green’energy-rich biogas • production of consistant effluent qualities
• compact, small, self regulating and highly efficient • little biomass volume
• fast, with a short hydraulic retention time • capable of dealing with high loading rates • use of biological alkalinity decreases customary
neutralisation costs
• meets stringent requirements for odour emission, sludge production and purification grades
• a complete range of models from standardized concepts • tailor made options for indoor as well as outdoor applications • wide-ranging application
• short system start-up time
• worldwide availability through network of Licensees • an innovative concept with the reliable track record of
a proven technology
BIOPAQ
®
IC
BIOPAQ
®IC, a proven technology
The development of the IC reactor started in the late ‘80’s. Working together with customers, universities and research institutes, applied and fundamental research into biological and physical aspects has resulted in the wide range of capacities and standardized designs available today. These allow Paques to provide tailor made plants that can accommodate the needs of each client.
The IC reactor is a vertical tank, varying in height between 16 and 25 meters and in width between 1.5 and 12 meters. The influent is pumped into the bottom of the reactor using an efficient distribution system, and is mixed with the granular anaerobic biomass (1).
In the lower reactor compartment (2)most of the organic components are converted into methane and carbon dioxide. This gas mixture, or ‘biogas’, is collected in the lower level phase separator (3). This generates a ‘gas lift’, which forces the water upwards through the riser (4)into the liquid/gas separator on the top of the reactor (5). The biogas leaves the reactor through this separator, and the water returns through the downer (6)back to the
bottom of the system: hence the name, Internal Circulation.
In the second, upper compartment the effluent is polished (7). The biogas formed here emerges from the polishing step and from the liquid phase. It is collected in the upper phase separator (8)while the effluent leaves the reactor from the top.
The self-regulating internal circulation offers considerable advantages in the operation of the system, leading towards reduced operational costs, increased productivity and reliability.
An in-house solution
In many industries, process water usage is a major element of production processes. The process waste water, or effluent, which is generated as a result, is of increasing concern and importance, due to increased water costs, taxes, and ever tighter discharge limits.
Whereas in the past, most investments for effluent treatment have focused on ‘end-of-pipe’ solutions, the tendency within industry today is to turn towards ‘inhouse’ measures. Proactive water management prevents inefficiencies and losses of raw materials, process water and final product, and allows for opportunities for the installation of closed water loops wherever practicable.
Industrial effluent treatment is considered an effective way to control costs, improve efficiencies and to comply with industry standards and effluent discharge limits. Restrictions related to lack of space or to other factors, do however, prevent the treatment of effluent on site for many companies.
With the development of high rate Internal Circulation (IC) reactors, Paques has created the opportunity for industries with limited available space to treat their effluent, and in addition, both noise and odour issues have been addressed. Efficiently designed industrial IC effluent treatment, built to suit existing circumstances, has now
become a proven technology, with hundreds of examples worldwide in various industrial sectors.
1 3 6 8 2 4 Biogas Effluent Influent 7 5
For more information
Paques P.O. Box 52
8560 AB Balk THE NETHERLANDS t +31 514 · 60 85 00
f +31 514 · 60 33 42
e info@paques.nl
i www.paques.nl
For more than fifteen years, Paques has developed and produced high-quality, cost-effective purification systems for water, gases and air, using innovative biotechnology. Our aim is to provide solutions to industrial problems with our extensive range of purification techniques. The added value of the treatment process is most important, such as the re-use of water, the generation of energy by the conversion of residual organic compounds, and the reclamation of valuable substances from the waste water. This way, we bridge the gap between environ-mental responsibility and economic progress.
Anaerobic effluent treatment
BIOPAQ
®
Advantages of the BIOPAQ
®UASB reactor:
• Modular system
• Worldwide availability
• Corrosion-free design
• Ten-year guarantee
• Fully accessible for inspection and cleaning
• Closed system
• No odor emissions
• Limited reactor height
The Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (UASB) process is the most widely applied method for the biological treatment of industrial effluents. Paques has been applying the BIOPAQ®UASB technology for more than twenty years and has standardized the reactor into a modular system. Nearly four thousand BIOPAQ®modules are operating world-wide, treating 1,760,000 m3of effluent per day. One module has a capacity equivalent to about 1 ton COD/d e.g. 15-20 m3/hr and can be used to configure any UASB reactor size to meet specific layout and capacity requirements.
Modules for UASB reactors
For more information
Paques bv P.O. Box 52
8560 AB Balk THE NETHERLANDS
t +31 514 · 60 85 00
f +31 514 · 60 33 42
e info@paques.nl
i www.paques.nl
F O O D I N D U S T R Y B E V E R A G E A L C O H O L D I S T I L L E R Y P U L P & P A P E R M I S C E L L A N E O U S
Sugar Cannery Beer brewing Sugar cane juice Recycled paper Chemical
Potatoes Confectionery Malting Sugar cane molasses Mechanical pulp Pharmaceuticals
Starch Fruit Soft drinks Sugar beet molasses NSSC Sludge liquor
Yeast Vegetables Fruit juice Grape wine Sulfite pulp Municipal sewage
Pectine Dairy products Wine Grains Straw Landfill leachate
Citric acid Bakery Coffee Fruit Bagasse Acid mine water
BIOPAQ®
UASB technology is used to treat a large variety of industrial effluents
The success of the BIOPAQ®UASB reactor is based on the
so-called three-phase separator, which enables the reactor to separate gas, water and sludge mixtures under high turbulence conditions. This allows for compact, cheaper designs. The patented BIOPAQ®UASB design has multiple gas hoods for the
separation of biogas. As a result the extremely large gas/water interfaces greatly reduce turbulence, making relatively high loading rates of 10 - 15 kg/m3.d possible. Separation in the
BIOPAQ®UASB requires only 1.0 meter of height, which prevents
BIOPAQ
®
XS
tions has been used to great effect in the BIOPAQ®XS.
Advantages of the BIOPAQ
®XS
The compact biological water treatment installation:
• is suitable for various types of waste water • offers a high degree of operational certainty • takes up very little space
• has a long working life
• is simple to operate (remote control possible) • increases insight into the production process • is fully enclosed
• can be made operational within the space of a few months
Water management as a management
instrument
Water management has developed in recent years into an essential aspect of business management. This is because industry is faced with high and incre-asing process water and waste water costs. In addi-tion, consumers are paying greater attention to the way in which companies address their responsibility towards the environment. These developments make the in-house treatment of waste water a worthwhile activity.
An additional advantage of an in-house water treat-ment plant is that changes in the effluent composition caused by changes in the production process are
made immediately visible. This information can be used as an extra management tool to assess the production efficiency.
To achieve the best possible result from a compact water treatment installation, it is advisable for water flows in your factory to be analysed beforehand. This can be achieved by:
• listing areas in the production process where water consumption may possibly be reduced,
• analysing the water composition and deciding whether steps can be taken to control a balanced quantity of organic substances in the water,
• determining whether water re-use is a possibility.
A company frequently finds that it can already make appreciable savings if water economy in the factory is optimised. Accurate waste water data also ens-ure that the necessary treatment capacity can be effectively determined. So, you never opt for a too large or too small BIOPAQ®XS. Naturally, we shall be
pleased to advise and assist you in evaluating the water economy of your business.
Service possibilities
Minimum of maintenance and supervision
The BIOPAQ®XS is designed so that it requires a minimum of
maintenance and supervision. The installation can be monitored and controlled remotely. If you want to outsource supervision, we can offer you various levels of service;
Distant Co-operation™
In this form, a Paques process engineer remotely monitors manage-ment of the installation. This can be done by on-line contact with the installation control unit and, of course, by telephone, fax and E-mail. The customer regularly submits data sheets with relevant data to Paques. We will provide an adequate follow up and feed back.
Local Co-operation™
With ‘on-site assistance’ one of our process engineers spends time on a regular basis monitoring the plant operation.
Total Outsourcing™
Under a total service, supervision management of the installation can be fully outsourced to Paques. Together with you we are responsible for an optimal operation of the waste water treatment plant.
Lucrative treatment on a small scale
The BIOPAQ®XS is suitable for factories with a
pro-cess water ranging between 5 to 50 cubic metres per hour and a COD loading of up to 2000 kg per day. The BIOPAQ®XS comprises standard
compo-nents available in various sizes. The treatment capa-city can therefore be accurately matched to suit the requirements of your company, so that investment is kept to a minimum.
This compact biological water treatment installation is based on advanced technology which we have applied successfully for many years on a large scale. Hundreds of Paques bio-technological water
treat-Areas of application for the BIOPAQ
®XS
• At companies with small volumes of waste water • To relieve an existing overloaded aerobic treatment plant • At companies which are considering in-process solutions
and closing the water loop
Process and waste water flows of several cubic metres per hour can be profitably treated with the BIOPAQ®XS (extra small). This
compact biological water treatment installation potentially genera-tes substantial savings on your effluent charges and enables you to comply with most of your effluent requirements. The BIOPAQ®XS
makes in-house treatment of water a cost-effective aspect of con-ducting a business.
Example of a BIOPAQ®XS solution for a factory with an existing
overloaded aerobic treatment plant 1 factory
2 effluent
3 COD-reduction 70-80%
4 no waste sludge production
5 biogas
Example of a BIOPAQ®XS at a factory
with a relatively small waste water flow 1 factory 2effluent 3biogas 4COD-reduction 70-80% 5sewer 6possible re-use 1 2 4 3 5 6 7 9 10 10 8 ment systems are in use world-wide. The
divers and intimate knowledge gained from these numerous and varied
applica-6 reduced energy input
7 aerobic waste water treatment plant
8 reduced excess sludge production
9 surface water 10 possible re-use 1 2 4 3 6 5
Make your
waste water pay!
For more information
Paques P.O. Box 52
8560 AB Balk THE NETHERLANDS
t +31 514 · 60 85 00
f +31 514 · 60 33 42
e info@paques.nl
i www.paques.nl
for profitable effluent treatment
BIOPAQ
®
XS
For more than fifteen years, Paques has developed and produced high-quality, cost-effective purification systems for water, gases and air, using innovative biotechnology. Our aim is to provide solutions to industrial problems with our extensive range of purification techniques. The added value of the treatment process is most important, such as the re-use of water, the generation of energy by the conversion of residual organic compounds, and the reclamation of valuable substances from the waste water. This way, we bridge the gap between environ-mental responsibility and economic progress.
CIRCOX
®
The granular biomass that develops in the CIRCOX®
reactor has a high density and a compact structure.
Schematic diagram of CIRCOX®technology with
integrated denitrification.
can successfully treat effluent from anaerobic plants, as well as raw waste water and process flows.
Characteristics of CIRCOX
®technology
• excellent effluent quality • compact and space-saving system • limited sludge production
• completely closed system • low operational costs
A cost-effective system
As a result of extensive applied research, Paques has developed the process of using biofilm on a carrier in an airlift reactor, into a cost-effective system for puri-fying waste water. This has resulted in the CIRCOX®
technology which is protected by various patents. The high volumetric conversion capacity and com-pact construction of the plant make the CIRCOX®a
powerful purification system. The CIRCOX®
technolo-gy development phase was completed with the introduction of the denitrifying CIRCOX®variant in
1995 (patent WO 93/255485).
Complete nitrogen elimination
Because of environmental legislation, nitrogen needs to be entirely eliminated from waste water.
Consequently, Paques has integrated the denitrifica-tion process into the CIRCOX® system. By extending
the system with an anoxic compartment, the de-nitrifying CIRCOX® was developed. Thanks to the long
sludge-age of granular sludge in the CIRCOX®
reac-tor, full nitrification is always achieved. In nitrification, organic nitrogen is oxidised to nitrate. This nitrate is reduced in the anoxic compartment and converted to nitrogen gas. The nitrogen is stripped from the water into the atmosphere. Re-use of the water and discharge directly to surface water become distinct possibilities (values lower than 10 mg N-total/dm3
can be achieved).
How the CIRCOX
®reactor works
The CIRCOX®reactor uses biofilm on a carrier material. The
granular sludge is suspended in the water by means of the airlift principle. The granular biomass that develops in the CIRCOX®
reactor has a high density and is compact in structure. The granular biomass has good settling characteristics and can easily be separated and returned to the reactor system with the aid of a small settler at the top of the reactor. A high biomass concentration of 20-40 g VSS/dm3can be achieved. As a result
of these high concentrations and the good mixing characteristics of the reactor system, conversion capacities of more than 5 kg COD/m3/day can be achieved. This capacity is much higher
than conventional purification systems, that can handle capacities in the region of 1 kg COD/m3/day.
Purification performance
The increasing price of water, combined with stricter legislation, is making thorough water treatment an economically viable activity. Producing good quality waste water means considerable savings on dis-charge costs, enables re-use as process water and reduces the pollution of the environment. When it comes to treating waste water, industrial companies and water boards are often pointed towards aerobic biological conversion, since both organic and inorganic pollution such as COD and nitrogen must be eliminated completely. However, there are disadvantages associated with using con-ventional aerobic waste-water treatment systems. Conventional systems take up a lot of space and involve the risk of noise and odours.
The Paques CIRCOX©technology provides an
alter-native. The compact CIRCOX®reactor is a fully
closed aerobic system whith outstanding purification performance. The system uses very little space, excludes noise and odours risks, and purifies the effluent in such a way that it can be directly dis-charged to the surface water. Re-use as process water is also a possibility. Many CIRCOX®plants
The compact answer to higher
CIRCOX
®
effluent quality
For more information
Paques P.O. Box 52
8560 AB Balk THE NETHERLANDS
t +31 514 · 60 85 00
f +31 514 · 60 33 42
e info@paques.nl
i www.paques.nl
For more than fifteen years, Paques has developed and produced high-quality, cost-effective purification systems for water, gases and air, using innovative biotechnology. Our aim is to provide solutions to industrial problems with our extensive range of purifi-cation techniques. The added value of the treatment process is most important, such as the re-use of water, the generation of energy by the conversion of residual organic compounds, and the reclamation of valuable substances from the waste water. This way, we bridge the gap between environmental responsi-bility and economic progress.
THIOPAQ
®
Metals
THIOPAQ
®metal technology
is characterized as:
SUSTAINABLE• Selective recovery of valuable metals as metal sulfides
• Low effluent concentrations: metals in the ppb range and sulfate below 200 ppm • Reusable and stable products with good
dewatering characteristics SAFE AND ROBUST
• No storage or transport of hazardous chemicals • Fluctuations in concentrations and flows have
virtually no impact on process performance • Process concept can be adapted for any
application
• H2S can be produced on demand COST EFFECTIVE
• Minimal disposal costs (if any)
• Simultaneous removal of dissolved organic compounds and nitrates is possible
• Operation at ambient pressure and temperature • Simple flow sheets, leading to low maintenance
and operational costs
Technology
The main technological principle of this technology is that sulfur compounds are biologically reduced to sulfide (H2S), which is then employed to precipitate metals. This is illustrated below by the following equations:
H2SO4+ 4 H2 H2S + 4 H2O (1)
H2S + Me2+ MeS (2)
The first reaction (1) is performed by sulfate reducing bacteria in a dedicated, high rate bioreactor. Besides
sulfate, practically all other oxidized sulfur compounds (SO2, thiosalts, elemental sulfur, etc) can be
bioreduced to sulfide. In order to reduce sulfur compounds, another compound needs to be oxidized. In the above example, hydrogen gas serves for this purpose. However, many other biodegradable organic compounds (ethanol, methanol, waste products) can be employed.
Reaction (2)is a physical precipitation reaction. The metal sulfide formed will crystallize into larger particles that are separated from the treated liquid stream by sedimentation. Several solid/liquid separation tech-nologies are available. The solubility of metal sulfides is low, especially when compared to metal hydroxides. This ensures very low free metal concentrations in the treated effluent. Based upon the principle that the solubility of each metal sulfide is determined by the pH value, metals can be selectively recovered. For instance, it is possible to separate copper, arsenic and zinc.
When more sulfide is produced than the stoichiometric requirement for the precipitation of metals, the excess sulfide can be converted biologically into elemental sulfur:
HS-+ 1/2O
2 S0+ OH-(3)
The sulfur formed can be reused for sulfuric acid production or marketed as fertilizer.
From equation (3), it follows that alkalinity is produced. If reactions (1)and (3)are combined, acid streams can be completely neutralized without using any alkaline chemicals, as depicted in the overall equation:
H2SO4+ 4 H2 + 1/2O2 S0+ 5 H2O
Applications
The above concept can be implemented for multiple applications in a variety of industries. Any aqueous stream containing metals and/or sulfur compounds can be treated using THIOPAQ®
technology. The most common applications are listed below:
• Selective metal recovery from weak acid streams, process water, acid mine drainage, smelter effluents, groundwater, tailings, bleed or leach streams, etc.
• Sulfate and thiosalts removal by conversion to elemental sulfur. • Production of gaseous H2S for metal recovery in metallurgical
and mining operations (the safe and cost effective alternative to liquid H2S and NaHS).
• Selenium and molybdenum removal. • SO2removal (producing sulfur or H2S).
• Simultaneous removal of metals, sulfates, nitrates and organic compounds.
Technological descriptions of THIOPAQ®metal references
are available on request.
Sustainable metal removal
Many industries produce aqueous process streams and waste streams containing metals and/or sulfur compounds. In order to economically recover metals, to reuse liquid streams in production processes, or to comply with environmental regulations, these compounds require removal.
Paques has developed a cost-effective and efficient alternative for the removal of metals and/or sulfur compounds. More than 10 commercial THIOPAQ®
bioreactors have been successfully operated since 1992. In all these installations, the metal concentrations are reduced to well below the desired levels and all guarantees are met. Both metals and sulfur compounds are recycled. Regardless the type of application, THIOPAQ®technology has proven to be
more cost-effective than its alternatives while featuring superior process characteristics.
Today, the most commonly applied technology to remove metals is neutralization with limestone or other alkaline compounds. This results in the precipitation of sulfates and metals as gypsum and metal hydroxides respectively, which are typically landfilled. The operating and disposal costs of this approach are high and ever increasing, while sulfate and metals effluent concentrations are relatively high (1500 mg/l for sulfate and 0.5-5 ppm for the metals). In addition, all valuable metals are lost in the sludge.
THIOPAQ
®
Sustainable Technology
Metals
For more information
Paques bv P.O. Box 52
8560 AB Balk THE NETHERLANDS
t +31 514 · 60 85 00 f +31 514 · 60 33 42 e info@paques.nl i www.paques.nl
Recovery
Metal
For more than fifteen years, Paques has developed and produced high-quality, cost-effective purification systems for water, gases and air, using innovative biotechnology. Our aim is to provide solutions to industrial problems with our extensive range of purification techniques. The added value of the treatment process is most important, such as the re-use of water, the generation of energy by the conversion of residual organic compounds, and the reclamation of valuable substances from the waste water. This way, we bridge the gap between environmental responsibility and economic progress.
THIOPAQ
®
scrubber
Characteristics of
THIOPAQ
®Scrubber technology
• extremely high removal efficiency for hydrogen sulfide from gas streams
• high biological activity; peak loads can be effectively handled
• odour components are converted
• short system start-up time
• robust process
• operation at ambient pressure and temperature
• very low operational costs (over 90% savings compared to caustic scrubbers)
• no sulfide containing waste streams requiring discharge
• no use of chelating compounds and no subsequent production of hazardous bleed streams
• production of elemental sulfur as re-usable product
THIOPAQ
®Scrubber operation principle
The THIOPAQ®Scrubber can be regarded as a
caus-tic scrubber in which the spent causcaus-tic solution is con-tinuously regenerated in a bioreactor. In the scrubber, the H2S containing gas is contacted with a scrubbing liquid in counter current mode. Absorption of H2S in the scrubber occurs under slightly alkaline conditions (pH 8-9) enabling a chemical reaction with hydroxide ions:
H2Sgas+ OH- HS-liquid+ H2O
The scrubbing liquid, containing sulfide, is directed to the bioreactor where the sulfide is oxidised into elemental sulfur by colourless sulfur bacteria:
HS-+ 1/
2O2 S0+ OH
-The hydroxide used in the scrubber is regenerated in the bioreactor. The liquid entering the scrubber at the top is sulfide free, resulting in a high concentra-tion difference between the gas and liquid phase. Consequently, very efficient H2S removal yields, exceeding 99%, can be obtained. The small bleed stream consisting of sodium salts is sulfide free and can be discharged without problems.
THIOPAQ
®Scrubber: various options
Skid mounted UnitsTHIOPAQ®Scrubbers are standarized skid mounted units. The units
are fully assembled and tested at Paques’ premises in Balk before shipment. These units are semi-mobile and can be resituated in case for example the waste water treatment facility is expanded.
Standarized sizes range from 50 to 600 kg sulfur/day.
Lease
THIOPAQ®Scrubber skid mounted units can be leased for a longer
period. In this way investment costs are reduced to a minimum and operational cost advantages of this biological gas desulfurization unit are available to you directly.
Services
Together with the THIOPAQ®Scrubber comes a wide variety of
servi-ces, from periodic inspections by one of Paques’ process engineers to close operator assistance by means of modem communication between Paques’ process department and the THIOPAQ®Scrubber.
Own and Operate
The ultimate option is transferring the full responsibility of cleaning the gas to Paques. Paques will install a THIOPAQ®Scrubber on site and will
operate and maintain the unit. No interference of the client is needed. The client supplies the H2S containing gas and it is returned in a desulfurised form. In this set up, Paques owns and operates the unit on the premises.
THIOPAQ
®Scrubber, the cost
effective alternative
In a lot of industries H2S containing gas and air streams are generated. Removal of H2S is required for reasons of health, safety and corrosion. Currently, there are various methods of treatment available to remove and convert H2S, but none are as economi-cally attractive as the THIOPAQ®Scrubber technology.
This bio-catalysed scrubber process is cost effective, operates at ambient temperatures and pressures, removes H2S highly efficient and does not require expensive catalysts and chemicals. As an example, the THIOPAQ®Scrubber already replaced
over fifteen caustic scrubbers resulting in at least 90% savings on caustic consumption whilst effec-tively removing H2S from gas. Also in comparison to iron based redox processes, the THIOPAQ®Scrubber
has proven to offer better economics and process performance.
Applications of the THIOPAQ
®Scrubber
The THIOPAQ®Scrubber can be applied for a wide
range of H2S containing gas streams. The process can for instance be integrated in all biological, anaerobic treatment systems. After treatment, the biogas can be very well used as fuel to generate electricity, steam or heat. Cases where the
THIOPAQ®Scrubber was succesfully applied are water
treatment plants of paper mills, distilleries, municipal sludge digestion and chemical industries treating
gas flows from 200 to 2500 Nm3/h all over
the world. The technology is capable of producing up to 50 tonnes of sulfur per day.
1 gas source
2gas with H2S
3scrubber
4clean gas ready for use
5bioreactor 6sulfur 1 3 5 2 6 4
scrubber
THIOPAQ
®
For more information
Paques P.O. Box 52
8560 AB Balk THE NETHERLANDS
t +31 514 · 60 85 00
f +31 514 · 60 33 42
e info@paques.nl
i www.paques.nl
For more than fifteen years, Paques has developed and produced high-quality, cost-effective purification systems for water, gas and air, using innovative bio-technology. Our aim is to provide solutions to industrial problems with our extensive range of purification tech-niques. The added value of the treament process is most important, like the re-use of water, the genera-tion of energy by conversion of polluted components, and the reclamation of valuable substances from the waste water. This way, we bridge the gap between environmental responsibility and economic progress.
