Reliable Heavy Metal Removal for Direct Discharge
EnviroChemie is supplying an ion exchange system for the treatment of industrial wastewater as part of a new steel plant project in Sweden. The project forms part of a comprehensive transformation towards near fossil-free steel production and is considered one of the most significant decarbonisation initiatives in European industry.
By providing reliable wastewater treatment and ensuring compliance with stringent environmental requirements, EnviroChemie is helping to support the sustainable operation of next-generation steel production facilities.
Efficient Wastewater Treatment for the Steel Industry
The system is designed to ensure reliable compliance with direct discharge requirements for treated wastewater released into the receiving water body. With a treatment capacity of up to 30 m³ per hour, it provides a dependable solution for the targeted removal of dissolved heavy metals following the upstream wastewater treatment process.
This enables the customer to meet demanding environmental standards while maintaining efficient and reliable plant operation.
Heavy Metal Removal Using Selective Ion Exchange
The treatment concept is based on an Envochem® heavy metal-selective ion exchange process. Three ion exchange columns arranged in a lead-lag-lag configuration ensure the reliable removal of heavy metal ions from industrial wastewater.
The system achieves removal efficiencies of more than 99%, enabling the stringent requirements for direct discharge to be met consistently and safely. This high level of treatment performance contributes to both environmental protection and long-term operational reliability.
High Availability Through Redundancy and On-Site Regeneration
To ensure continuous heavy metal removal, the system can be regenerated and conditioned directly on site. The redundant system design further enhances operational reliability and availability, supporting uninterrupted plant operation and minimising downtime.
Automated Operation and Sustainable Process Integration
The ion exchange system is controlled via a PLC, enabling a high degree of automation and efficient operation. Regeneration of the ion exchange resins is carried out using acid and caustic supplied on site.
The resulting regeneration and conditioning wastewater streams are returned to the upstream wastewater treatment process. This integrated approach supports efficient resource utilisation and contributes to a more sustainable overall treatment concept.
Supporting the Sustainable Transformation of Steel Production
With this solution, EnviroChemie delivers a compact and reliable treatment stage for the removal of heavy metals from industrial wastewater.
Combining high treatment efficiency, operational reliability and sustainable process integration, the system supports the resource-efficient operation of modern steel production facilities. In doing so, it makes an important contribution to the sustainable transformation and decarbonisation of the steel industry.
