Water is used in many industries for many purposes, which include cooling, heating, cleaning, manufacturing, processing and many others. However, inadequate use of water will lead to many complications like corrosion, scaling, microbial growth, clogging of pipelines, poor performance of equipment, and many more. Thus, it is necessary to select the right chemicals for water.
Since there are different options in the market, it becomes difficult at times to select the right chemicals. With a good understanding of water quality, treatment methods and discharge standards, it will become easier for you to make a wise decision. Surfa Solutions offers practical water treatment methods which fulfill different industrial water treatment solutions.
Understand Your Facility’s Water Quality
The first step in a water treatment chemical solution is to determine the quality of water coming into and out of your plant. The quality of water differs from one plant to another depending on the source of water and its industrial usage.
Some of the parameters that must be checked include the pH, water hardness, alkalinity, total dissolved solids (TDS), suspended solids, biological activity, dissolved oxygen, chlorides, sulphates, iron content, and other impurities. In cases where the water is wastewater, you will have to check parameters like COD, BOD, oil and grease, colour, and heavy metal content.
The lab test of the water will give useful information regarding the type and amount of impurities.
Identification of the Main Water Treatment Problem
Each type of water problem requires different types of chemical solutions. Select the right product; find out the problem first.
For example, lime scale in boilers, cooling towers, and heat exchangers can be solved using scale inhibitors or water softeners. Corrosion problems will be addressed using corrosion inhibitors. Biocides will be used to control the bacterial growth, whereas solid particles will require the use of coagulants and flocculants.
In wastewater treatment, industrial wastewater chemicals are used to remove different impurities like suspended solids, organic matter, oil, metals, etc. The use of chemicals which suit the problem is more beneficial than generic chemicals.
Consider the Type of Treatment System
The treatment system also plays a vital role in selecting chemicals. A chemical which works well in one system will not be suitable for another.
Let us say you are working with a cooling water system. You will require things like corrosion inhibitors, scale inhibitors, biocides, and dispersants. Boilers are different; they different on oxygen scavengers, phosphate treatments, and chemicals are used to keep the alkalinity in check. Sometimes you require other, more specialised stuff too. If you are handling the septic plant, then you are likely to use coagulants, flocculants, chemicals to control pH, and antifoaming agents.
To be honest, it all boils down to being familiar with your tools and the procedure. It becomes much simpler to choose the appropriate products if you get that properly.
Select Chemicals Based on Water Chemistry
Water chemistry changes from site to site. Even two facilities that receive water from a source which appear similar will have varying water treatment requirements.
To carry out effective chemical water treatment, it is vital to take into account how the chemical used will interact with the existing water chemistry, like high hardness resulting in the increased chance of scaling and high chlorides resulting in corrosion.
Chemical interactions are also a vital factor, as some chemicals will react negatively with each other if not properly managed.
Check Chemical Compatibility With Equipment
The selected chemical will not damage your pipes, tanks, pumps, membranes, boilers, cooling towers, or other devices. Some chemicals will be aggressive towards specific materials if used at high concentration or under unsuitable conditions. This is particularly significant for facilities which use specialised devices or sensitive membranes.
Before using a new chemical programme, do check the technical information and compatibility from the manufacturer. A professional supplier like Surfa Solutions will help you to understand if a specific chemical is acceptable for your applications.
Focus on Safety and Handling
When you are picking industrial water treatment chemicals, safety will come first. Some of these chemicals are corrosive or toxic. If you do not store or handle them properly, they will be really dangerous. You need to always check the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) and technical info before making the decision. Make sure your team knows how to store these chemicals, what protective gear they require, what to do if there is a spill, and how to handle everything safely. Do not forget about the storage conditions. You have to pay attention to things like temperature, ventilation, the type of containers and keeping certain chemicals away from each other.
Consider Environmental Requirements
Environmental regulations are essential for modern water treatment. Chemicals which are used in the facility can affect the water and wastewater being treated. When selecting industrial wastewater chemicals, consider how the treatment chemicals will affect sludge generation, quality of wastewater, toxicity, and final discharge requirements.
A good treatment programme will help your facility to meet its required water quality standards without creating unwanted environmental impact. Where possible, consider products and procedures which provide treatments that will reduce chemical consumption and waste.
Work With an Experienced Water Treatment Partner
Selection of chemicals is becoming easier when you are working with an experienced supplier which understands industrial applications. A reliable partner will help analyse your water quality, identify treatment challenges, recommend suitable products, and development of the effective dosing programme.
Surfa Solution focuses on providing practical water treatment solutions for industrial requirements. Professional guidance will help facilities avoid unsuitable chemical combinations, unnecessary chemical consumption, and treatment failures.
Monitoring and Updating the Treatment Programme
Water treatment does not involve one-off treatment. The quality of water and operational parameters may change from time to time. Changes due to seasons, production, changes in equipment and even raw water quality affect the requirements for chemicals to be added.
Continuous monitoring of parameters like pH, conductivity, hardness, microbial activity, COD, among others will indicate whether the treatment programme is effective. Changes in results mean that the water treatment chemical choice might also require changes.
Conclusion
Proper choice of chemicals is key to effective industrial water management. This begins with testing your water, determining the issue that needs to be addressed, knowing your equipment and then selecting chemicals that work with your equipment. Safety, environment, dosing, efficacy and overall cost of treatment are also factors to consider.
An appropriate water treatment program using chemicals will ensure that issues such as scale formation, corrosion, bacterial growth and wastage are mitigated. It will lead to more dependable equipment. With the expertise of companies like Surfa Solutions, facilities can design effective water treatment programs.
FAQs
What are industrial water treatment chemicals?
Industrial water treatment chemicals are specific chemicals used for the control of contamination or water issues in an industrial process. Examples of such chemicals are corrosion inhibitors, scale inhibitors, biocides, coagulants, flocculants, antiscalants and pH chemicals.
How do I choose the right water treatment chemicals?
Selection of proper water treatment chemicals should be done by taking into account several factors such as water analysis, objective of water treatment, kind of equipment, operating conditions, chemical compatibility, dosing, safety and environmental regulation.
Which chemicals are common for industrial wastewater?
The most common industrial wastewater chemicals are coagulants, flocculants, pH adjuster chemicals, defoamers, oxidising chemicals and special chemicals for the removal of oil, metals, suspended solids and others.
Why is chemical dosing important in water treatment?
Right dosing will ensure that the chemical is added at the right concentration. Too much dosing will raise costs and environmental concerns, whereas too little dosing will lead to improper treatment results.