ECOLOGIX explains how to choose between DAF systems and clarifiers for industrial wastewater treatment – Tissue Online North America

Report on Industrial Wastewater Treatment Technologies and their Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Effective industrial wastewater treatment is a critical component of corporate environmental stewardship and a direct contributor to achieving several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This report analyzes two primary treatment technologies, Dissolved Air Flotation (DAF) and Clarifiers, evaluating their operational mechanisms, applications, and alignment with global sustainability targets. The selection of an appropriate system enables industries to meet regulatory requirements, improve operational performance, and advance key SDGs, including SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and SDG 14 (Life Below Water).

Comparative Analysis of Wastewater Treatment Systems

Dissolved Air Flotation (DAF) Systems

DAF technology utilizes microbubbles to float low-density contaminants such as oils, greases, and fine solids to the surface for removal. This method is highly effective for specific industrial effluents.

• Primary Applications: Food processing, petrochemical industries, and other sectors with wastewater high in oil or fine particulate content.
• Performance Characteristics: Offers rapid and highly efficient treatment, significantly improving water quality in a short timeframe.
• Resource Implications: Requires higher energy consumption and more intensive maintenance compared to sedimentation-based systems.
• SDG Alignment: The high efficiency of DAF systems directly supports SDG 6.3 by improving water quality through the reduction of pollution. It also enables industries to adopt cleaner production processes, contributing to SDG 12.

Clarifier Systems

Clarifiers operate on the principle of gravity sedimentation, allowing heavy solids to settle at the bottom of a tank for collection as sludge. This technology is a robust and widely used method for certain types of wastewater.

• Primary Applications: Mining, municipal wastewater treatment, and industries generating wastewater with high concentrations of settleable heavy solids.
• Performance Characteristics: Requires a larger physical footprint and longer processing times.
• Resource Implications: Characterized by lower operational costs and energy consumption, making it a cost-effective solution for suitable applications.
• SDG Alignment: The energy efficiency and cost-effectiveness of clarifiers contribute to building sustainable and resilient infrastructure (SDG 9) and support the development of sustainable municipal services (SDG 11).

Key Selection Factors for Aligning with SDG 12

The selection between a DAF system and a clarifier is a strategic decision that directly impacts an organization’s progress toward Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12). The optimal choice depends on a comprehensive evaluation of several factors:

• Primary Contaminants: DAF systems are superior for oils and fine solids, whereas clarifiers are more efficient for heavy, settleable solids.
• Treatment Speed: DAF systems provide rapid treatment, typically within minutes, while clarifiers require several hours.
• Infrastructure Footprint (SDG 9): DAF systems are compact, making them suitable for facilities with limited space. Clarifiers demand a significantly larger footprint.
• Economic and Resource Costs: DAF systems have higher initial capital and ongoing operational costs but deliver superior performance for specific contaminants. Clarifiers offer a lower-cost alternative for suitable waste streams.

Case Studies: Aligning Technology with SDG Targets

Food Processing Industry (DAF Application)

A food processing plant successfully implemented a DAF system, achieving a 95% removal rate for oil and grease. This outcome demonstrates a direct contribution to SDG 6 and SDG 12 by preventing harmful pollutants from entering aquatic ecosystems and enabling a cleaner production cycle.

Mining Sector (Clarifier Application)

A mining facility utilized a clarifier to achieve a 90% reduction in heavy solids from its wastewater at a low operational cost. This application supports SDG 14 by mitigating pollution from land-based activities and protecting life below water, while its cost-effectiveness aligns with the principles of sustainable industrial development under SDG 9.

Strategic Recommendations for Sustainable System Implementation

To ensure the selected wastewater treatment system effectively contributes to sustainability objectives, a strategic approach is required. The following steps are recommended:

1. Comprehensive Wastewater Analysis: Conduct a thorough analysis of wastewater composition to identify the specific nature and concentration of contaminants. This is fundamental to meeting the water quality improvement targets of SDG 6.3.
2. Evaluation of Facility and Financial Constraints: Assess available physical space and budgetary resources to ensure the chosen technology aligns with the principles of sustainable and resilient infrastructure as outlined in SDG 9.
3. Consultation with Experts for Tailored System Design: Engage with environmental systems specialists to design a customized solution that maximizes treatment efficiency and resource optimization, fostering innovation in line with SDG 9.
4. Consideration of Hybrid Systems: Evaluate the potential for hybrid systems that combine both DAF and clarifier technologies to achieve superior treatment outcomes, representing an innovative approach to fulfilling commitments under SDG 12.

Conclusion: Advancing Water Stewardship Through Informed Technological Choice

The decision between a DAF system and a clarifier is contingent upon specific wastewater characteristics, operational objectives, and sustainability goals. A well-informed choice, guided by expert analysis, empowers industries to not only achieve regulatory compliance but also to make significant contributions toward global sustainability targets. By optimizing their wastewater treatment processes, organizations can enhance water stewardship, reduce their environmental footprint, and advance SDG 6, SDG 9, SDG 12, and SDG 14.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

  The entire article focuses on technologies for industrial wastewater treatment (DAF systems and clarifiers). This directly relates to ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water by treating contaminated water from industrial sources before it is discharged back into the environment.

• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

  The article discusses innovative technologies (DAF systems) and established infrastructure (clarifiers) used by industries like food processing, petrochemicals, and mining. It highlights how choosing the right technology helps industries become more sustainable and efficient, which aligns with building resilient infrastructure and fostering innovation.

• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

  By treating industrial wastewater, companies are managing their waste in an environmentally sound manner. The article’s focus on helping industries “meet environmental regulations” and remove contaminants like oils, greases, and heavy solids is a direct contribution to sustainable production patterns and reducing the environmental footprint of industrial activities.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 6.3: Improve water quality by reducing pollution and halving the proportion of untreated wastewater.

  The article is centered on methods to treat industrial wastewater to remove pollutants. It describes how DAF systems and clarifiers are used to remove “oils, and greases” and “heavy solids,” thereby improving water quality by reducing pollution from industrial sources. The goal of these systems is to treat wastewater that would otherwise be released untreated.

• Target 9.4: Upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable and adopt clean and environmentally sound technologies.

  The article presents DAF systems and clarifiers as “sustainable industrial water treatment solutions.” By adopting these technologies, industries like food processing and mining are retrofitting their operations with environmentally sound processes to manage their wastewater, thereby making their infrastructure more sustainable.

• Target 12.4: Achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle.

  The core function of the technologies discussed is to manage industrial waste (wastewater containing contaminants). The article explains how these systems remove specific waste products (“oils, greases,” “fine solids,” “heavy solids”) from water, which is a key step in the environmentally sound management of industrial waste to prevent its release into the ecosystem.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Percentage of contaminant removal:

  The article provides specific, quantifiable data that can serve as a direct indicator of water treatment effectiveness. The text states that a food processing plant “achieved 95% oil and grease removal using a DAF system,” and a mining facility “reduced 90% of heavy solids” using a clarifier. These percentages are direct measures of pollution reduction (Target 6.3) and waste management efficiency (Target 12.4).

• Adoption of sustainable technologies by industries:

  The article implies this indicator by providing “Practical Examples” of a food processing plant and a mining facility implementing these advanced wastewater treatment systems. The adoption of such technologies by different industrial sectors serves as an indicator for progress towards upgrading industries to be more sustainable (Target 9.4).

• Compliance with environmental regulations:

  The article mentions that Ecologix’s solutions “help industries meet environmental regulations.” Achieving regulatory compliance is a key indicator that industries are successfully managing their environmental impact and contributing to broader sustainability goals.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: tissueonlinenorthamerica.com