Frequently Asked Questions

What is coagulation?

Coagulation is normally considered to be the destabilisation of charges around particles in a liquid so that they may agglomerate together producing a larger particle. Coagulants can either be inorganic based on aluminium or iron or organic e.g. polyamines or polydadmacs.

What is flocculation?

Flocculation as a process normally follows coagulation and may be interpreted in a number of ways but essentially the end result is the same; the formation of larger particles which may subsequently be removed by a solid-liquid separation system.

What is a metal precipitant?

Metal precipitants are  formulated to precitate metal ions from a wide variety of industrial process wastewaters and ground waters. Such wastewaters frequently contain chelants and other complexing agents that surround the metal ions and prevent the chemical reaction that converts the ions to insoluble particles. The metal precipitants from IES form a stronger chelating bond and hence break the original chelating/comlex, this is then precipitated as an insoluble complex.

What metals can be precipitated using a metal precipitant?

Ag+, As3+, Au3+, Cd2+, Co2+, Cr3+/6+, Cu2+, Fe3+, Hg2+, Mn2+ , Mo6+, Ni2+, Pb2+, Pd2+, Sb3+, Se4+, Sn2+/4+, Te4+/6+, Ti+/3+, U6+, V4+/5+, W6+, Zn2+

What pH range can they be used?

Typically pH2-14, although efficiency can be better for certain metals at a specific pH.

Are all metal precipitants supplied eco-toxic?

No, some of the longer chain products are not classified as eco-toxic.

We have an old effluent plant that is no longer meeting our consent, what can we do?

IES will carry out a review of the existing plant and chemistry and will write a proposal detailing what can be done where possible to enable the existing plant to meet consent.

We have changed our process chemistry and our effluent no longer meets consent?

IES will carry out a review of the chemistry and will recommend a chemistry/products which will meet consent to discharge. This is done by carrying out ‘jar’ trials in our lab.

What is IPPC?

Integrated Pollution Prevention and control.The regulatory bodies must set out permit conditions so  as to achieve a high level of environmental protection for all emissions to air, water (including discharges to sewer) and land, plus a range of other environmental effects, must be considered holistically.  This applies to certain industrial sectors such as the chemical industry, for more information see www.environment-agency.gov.uk/

What is BAT?

Best Available Techniques. Guidance on techniques applicable to an industrial sector can be found at www.environment-agency.gov.uk and at the European IPPC Bureau, http://eippcb.jrc.es/index.html.