Removing Chemicals in Sewage Water

Key Takeaways: Wastewater treatment has evolved significantly with stricter environmental regulations requiring advanced chemical and physical treatment processes. This comprehensive analysis examines common chemicals in sewage water, evaluates the effectiveness of various physical-chemical treatments, and highlights industry-leading solutions including Ferric Chloride from FIZA Technology. Understanding these contaminants and treatment technologies is essential for meeting discharge quality standards worldwide.

Introduction to Sewage Water Contaminants

Modern wastewater treatment facilities face the complex challenge of removing numerous chemical contaminants before discharge into natural waterways. These chemicals in sewage water originate from domestic, industrial, and agricultural sources, creating complex chemical cocktails that require sophisticated treatment approaches. The effective removal of these contaminants relies on both physical treatment of waste water and complementary chemical processes.

Primary Contaminants in Wastewater Streams

Chemical Category	Examples	Concentration Range (mg/L)	Primary Sources	Treatment Method
Organic Compounds	BPA, Pesticides, Pharmaceuticals	0.001-5.0	Household products, agricultural runoff	Activated carbon, advanced oxidation
Heavy Metals	Lead, Mercury, Arsenic, Cadmium	0.01-10.0	Industrial discharges, electronic waste	Chemical precipitation, ion exchange
Nutrients	Nitrogen, Phosphorus compounds	20-100	Human/animal waste, fertilizers	Biological removal, chemical precipitation
Pathogens	Bacteria, Viruses, Protozoa	Varies	Human/animal fecal matter	Disinfection, membrane filtration
Microplastics	Polyethylene, Polypropylene	0.1-100 particles/L	Synthetic clothing, cosmetic products	Advanced filtration, coagulation

Advanced Treatment Technologies

The physical chemical water treatment process typically integrates multiple stages for comprehensive contaminant removal:

Preliminary Treatment: Screens and grit removal for solid waste
Primary Treatment: Sedimentation and physical treatment of waste water
Secondary Treatment: Biological processes for organic matter degradation
Tertiary Treatment: Chemical processes for specialized contaminant removal
Disinfection: Pathogen elimination before discharge

Among chemical treatment approaches, coagulation-flocculation remains fundamental for addressing diverse chemicals in sewage water. This process destabilizes colloidal particles through coagulant addition, creating flocs that can be physically separated.

Chemical Treatment Efficiency Trends

Coagulant Technology Advancements

Coagulant development has progressed significantly to address increasingly complex chemicals in sewage water. While traditional aluminum-based coagulants remain in use, ferric-based alternatives offer distinct advantages:

Removing Chemicals in Sewage Water | Physical Treatment

Industry-Leading Wastewater Treatment Solution

HEBEI FIZA TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD. introduces Ferric Chloride Liquid 40% - a high-performance coagulant engineered for modern wastewater challenges.

Ferric Chloride Liquid is an aqueous solution containing Iron(III) Chloride (FeCl3). Produced through an oxidation process utilizing chlorine and a Ferrous Chloride solution, it provides exceptional removal efficiency for phosphorus, heavy metals, and suspended solids.

Key Applications:

Municipal wastewater phosphorus removal
Industrial wastewater heavy metal precipitation
Color and turbidity reduction
Sludge conditioning and dewatering

Explore technical specifications and application guidelines

Physical Treatment Methods Integration

The physical treatment of waste water forms the foundation upon which chemical processes build. Essential physical separation techniques include:

Membrane Filtration Technologies

Microfiltration (MF), ultrafiltration (UF), nanofiltration (NF) and reverse osmosis (RO) provide progressively finer separation capabilities. Recent studies demonstrate NF membranes achieve up to 98% removal efficiency for emerging contaminants like pharmaceutical residues (Water Research, 2023).

Advanced Sedimentation Systems

Modern lamella clarifiers increase settling efficiency by 300% compared to conventional designs, with chemical-assisted sedimentation achieving SS removal efficiencies >95% (WEFTEC Conference Proceedings).

Dissolved Air Flotation (DAF)

DAF systems with chemical pretreatment achieve oil and grease removal efficiencies exceeding 90%, making them particularly valuable for industrial wastewater applications (Journal of Environmental Engineering).

Advanced Oxidation Processes

AOPs using ozone, UV and hydrogen peroxide effectively degrade persistent organic pollutants that resist conventional treatment. Emerging techniques show synergistic effects when combined with catalytic technologies (Environmental Science & Technology).

Connect with Water Treatment Specialists

HEBEI FIZA TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD. delivers advanced solutions for chemicals in sewage water management worldwide.

📍 Address: Zhongyuan Building No.368 Youyi North Street Shijiazhuang China

📞 Phone: 0086-311-87718167 | Mobile: 0086-13832382079

✉️ Email: james@fizachem.com

🌐 Website: www.fizachem.com

Technical Expertise in Wastewater Treatment

Q: What are the key advantages of ferric chloride over aluminum-based coagulants?

A: Ferric chloride provides superior performance in several critical areas: wider effective pH range (5-11 vs 6-7 for alum), lower temperature sensitivity, higher removal efficiency for phosphorus (typically 95-99% vs 85-92%), and ability to form denser sludge. Additionally, it demonstrates better heavy metal coprecipitation capabilities, which is crucial when treating industrial discharges containing chemicals in sewage water.

Q: What are optimal dosing parameters for Ferric Chloride Liquid 40% in municipal treatment?

A: Dosing varies based on wastewater characteristics, but typical effective ranges are 20-100 ppm for phosphorous removal. Key operational parameters include: pH optimization between 5.5-7.0, rapid mix intensity (G-value >300 sec⁻¹), adequate flocculation time (15-30 minutes), and adjustment based on influent P-concentration using the molar ratio of Fe:TP (total phosphorus) around 1.5:1 to 2.5:1.

Q: How does coagulation fit into the overall physical treatment of waste water process?

A: Coagulation is a chemically-enhanced physical process that bridges primary and tertiary treatment. It functions by destabilizing colloidal particles through charge neutralization, allowing them to agglomerate during flocculation. The formed flocs are then removed through sedimentation or flotation. This integrated physical chemical water treatment is fundamental for eliminating substances resistant to biological treatment.

Q: What factors influence coagulant selection for industrial wastewater?

A: Key considerations include: wastewater composition (specific contaminants present), treatment objectives (discharge requirements), operating pH range, presence of interfering substances (chelating agents, oils), sludge handling requirements, operator safety considerations, and overall treatment economics (chemical costs vs performance). Jar testing remains essential for optimizing coagulant choice and dosage.

Q: What safety protocols are required for handling Ferric Chloride Liquid?

A: Ferric chloride solution requires PPE including chemical-resistant gloves (nitrile/neoprene), goggles, and face shields. Storage tanks should be corrosion-resistant (fiberglass-reinforced plastic recommended) with secondary containment. The chemical is acidic (pH

Q: What operational parameters affect chemical sludge production in coagulation?

A: Primary sludge generation factors include: coagulant dosage (sludge increases linearly with dosage), initial suspended solids concentration, wastewater characteristics (especially oil/grease content), coagulation efficiency, and flocculant usage. Ferric chloride typically generates 20-40% less sludge volume than alum per unit phosphorus removed due to denser floc formation. Sludge volume averages 0.7-1.0 m³ per kg ferric chloride applied.

Q: What compliance considerations apply to chemical discharge residuals?

A: Regulatory frameworks typically specify discharge limits for residual iron (often 1-3 mg/L), heavy metals, and phosphorus. Some jurisdictions restrict chloride discharge due to aquatic toxicity concerns. Operators must ensure the physical treatment of wastewater effectively removes excess coagulant. Additionally, some regions require Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure testing on chemical treatment sludges before disposal.

Research shows that integrated physical-chemical treatments achieve the highest removal efficiencies for complex contaminants in wastewater. According to recent findings published in Water Environment Research, "Combined physical filtration with optimized coagulation using ferric salts achieves >90% removal efficiency for multiple classes of emerging contaminants simultaneously." (Source: Water Environment Federation Technical Report Series, Vol. 127)

Industrial wastewater applications require specialized treatment approaches. As stated in a recent Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering article: "Modern wastewater treatment plants increasingly adopt multiple barrier approaches combining biological processes with coagulation-flocculation and advanced oxidation for comprehensive contaminant management."