How Organoclay is Used in Water Treatment
Treatment Systems, Applications, and Removal of Common Contaiminants
Hydrosil's treatment system designs offer versatile solutions for various applications. In Free-Standing Mode, its media serves as an efficient filtration medium for tasks such as oil spill mitigation, stormwater management, and industrial processes. In Pre-Treatment Mode, the media enhances upstream filtration systems like reverse osmosis and activated carbon by reducing fouling from silica, oil, and heavy metals. Finally, in Post-Treatment Mode, it acts as a downstream cleaning and polishing agent, complementing oil-water separators or coalesce filters.
Treatment Applications
Condensate Treatment
Condensate treatment is part of every power plant, refinery, chemical manufacturer, and any facility that uses stream. Typically, the condensate is recycled back into the boiler feed water where it is routed through boiler tubes for continued boiler use. Recycling condensate is a common practice which decreases the amount of water disposal but can be costly if not designed correctly. By not treating the condensate that goes back into your boiler feed water you are introducing high concentrations of pollutants that came off leaking pumps, valves, and piping to your boiler tubes. When these pollutants (hydrocarbons and minerals) are introduced to the boiler tubes they will deposit on the surface which will reduce the heat transfer and overall reducing the boiler efficiency.
Hydrosil works with condensate treatment manufacturers and users on providing a specialty blend of filter material for treating the pollutants that are commonly found in condensate.
Related Case Studies:
Construction Site and Groundwater Treatment
Environmental contractors commonly use Hydrosil’s Organoclay Series in dewatering groundwater from construction sites. During construction, groundwater is removed from the site to ensure the safety and stability of the site and the future of the new build. Once the groundwater is contained in frac tanks or large vessels the water is treated with Hydrosil’s Organoclay. Below are case studies where Hydrosil has treated groundwater at a construction site.
Related Case Studies:
Emergency Response Treatment
Organoclay is commonly used in pump and treat (P&T) systems. Emergency response treatment projects that utilize organoclay include but are not limited to train derailments, pipeline ruptures, tanker oil spills, industrial facility spills, natural disasters, oil and gas incidents, and many other emergency incidents.
Related Case Studies:
Industrial Process Water Treatment
Industrial plants typically reuse and recycle cooling water or process water. This industrial water typically has trace concentrations of metals, hydrocarbons, or oily compounds. Treating process water or recirculation water with Organoclay is an economical option to reuse water to reduce operational and maintenance costs.
Related Case Studies:
Landfill Discharge Treatment
Industrial, municipal, hazardous, PCB landfills are all regulated by the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). The design, operation, and closure are important to maintaining a healthy environment. Most landfills will produce leachate which is a liquid waste that is produced when precipitation or water moves through the landfill. The leachate generated often contains concentrations of chemicals that cannot be discharged to the environment. Treatment of leachate is important to help protect nearby surface water, wildlife, and groundwater.
Hydrosil’s organoclay has been used to treat landfill leachate to meet discharge limits. Once the leachate is treated it can further be processed by a wastewater treatment facility.
Related Case Studies:
What are Advantages and Disadvantages of Using Organoclay in Water Treatment?
Advantages
- Cost Effective
- Extend the life of other medias (GAC, Resin, Ion-exchange Media)
- Does not swell upon exposure to water
- Works on wide range of pH values
- Resistant to Biological Growth
Disadvantages
- Specific Toward Compounds Removed
- Cannot be regenerated
What common contaminants can be removed from water using organoclay?
Antimony
Arsenic
Beryllium
Cadmium
Chromium
Copper
Cyanide
Lead
Mercury
Nickel
Silver
Sulfates
Thallium
Zinc
Fats, Oils, Greases
BTEX
Polychlorinated Biphenyl (PCBs)
Nitrate
PFAS
Fertilizers and Pesticides
Many more….
- Activated Carbon
- Organoclay
- Activated Alumina
