Chemical use is no exception in wastewater treatment plants. Wastewater treatment plant itself is a process of removing waste and dirts. This also works as a system to offer soluble and environmentally result of industrial waste. The contaminants in the sewage are removed and in turn produced safer wastewater for the environment.
In order to do so, this treatment needs some chemicals as listed in the list of chemicals used in wastewater treatment plants below.
- Aluminum Sulfate
The first chemical in wastewater treatment plant is aluminum sulfate. Aluminum sulfate in wastewater plant acts as purifier of the wastewater. The chemical itself is soluble and easily reacts to the chemicals in wastewater. As a result, it produces protein antigens that break insoluble and hazardous chemicals.
Moreover, it also helps to regulate the ph level of the chemical, making the wastewater less dangerous to environment. Despite the good functions of aluminum sulfate, excessive use of aluminum sulfate can also backfire. It will be a threat to environment when the level of aluminum sulfate is above the recommended one. Nevertheless, it is one of the most critical elements in water purification.
- Sodium Aluminate
The next chemical used in wastewater treatment plant is sodium aluminate. Sodium aluminate is a chemical belongs to inorganic compound. The liquid form of it works well as phosphorus remover. Wastewater often contains phosphorus that is a kind of phosporic calcium able to create hard substance on environment.
To avoid such thing to happen, sodium aluminate functions to remove phosphorus and elevate the ph level of wastewater with extremely low ph. However, sodium aluminate is inorganic insoluble chemical and it is only soluble with some chemicals. Thus, one has to be careful to only to use it in the right dosage to avoid misuse and damage to the environment..
- Polymer
Polymer is a well known chemical to have many function in industry especially those related to plastic. It is also beneficial in wastewater treatment plant. The function of polymer is to coagulate any solids dirts and work in diluted water in order to free these materials from suspension.
In order to use polymer in wastewater treatment, people need to dilute polymer with water with a concentration around 0,5 percent. After that, pour it along with mechanical tool to get rid of those suspended solid. By using polymer, any waste that has the potential to block water environment and more will have better treatment and the wastewater is cleaner than before.
- Sodium Hydroxide
Another chemical that works as a substance in wastewater treatment plant is sodium hydroxide. Sodium hydroxide belongs to inorganic compound with symbol NaOH. In wastewater treatment plant, sodium hydroxide has some functions such as ph stabilizer, metal precipitant and alkaline cleaner.
The combination of sodium, hydrogen,and dioxide makes this chemical works well for wastewater treatment especially for the critical waste and potentially pollutant one. By using sodium hydroxide, a more free wastewater as well as safer waste is possible.
- Ferric Chloride
A chemical that is also present in wastewater treatment plant is ferric chloride. Ferric chloride is a corrosive chemical used in water purification and sewage treatment. The function of ferric chloride is to remove metal substance from the waste that highly possible will harm environment as well as living being. It will dewater the metal works and make it a less dangerous substance.
After a use of it, there will be a slight color from the residue. This substance is very good for sewage treatment due to its effectiveness to deal with the heavy chemicals in most industry waste. To use ferric chloride, pour the liquid form of it in the dose mentioned on the label. Leave it until its corrosive effect wipes out the metal and heavy substance.
- Polyaluminum Chloride
In some products of wastewater treatment plant, they also use polyaluminum chloride. Polyaluminum choride is a chemical belongs to chloride class. The common function of polyaluminum cloride is as coagulant in waste management as well as water purification.
Moreover, it also helps reduce chemical sludge, higher ph and clearer water. This chemical itself is a derivation from some substances including polymer. Furthermore, expert claims PAC to be more stable and efficient as coagulent as its production itself is premeditated and intended for its very reason.
- Ferrous Chloride
Ferrous chloride is similar to ferric acid but they are not the same. While they belong in the same class of iron oxide, ferrous chloride has different funtion in wastewater treatment plant. The function of ferrous chloride in it is as solution to remove fabric dye and other insoluble dye.
Moreover, it also has the corrosiveness of its sibling ferric chloride. Therefore, it is also effective to get rid of metal chemical from wastewater. In wastewater product, ferrous choride often comes together with other chemicals in wastewater treatment plant such as alum and polymer.
- Hydrochloric Acid
While some chemicals work to elevate ph level, there are also chemicals to lower it. One of them is hydrochloric acid. While the chemical has many uses in industry, it also works for wastewater treatment. Its function is to lower the ph of the wastewater.
Since wastewater often includes many waste of industrial chemicals, the ph tend to be in extreme level either higher or lower than normal. If the ph is higher, people can use hydrochloric acid as one of the compounds to lower the ph in water. By using this chemical, the ph of the water will be more acceptable when company has to pour the wastewater in nature.
Other Chemicals Used in Wastwater Treatment Plants Include
- Sulfur Dioxide
- Magnesium Oxide
- Calcium Oxide
- Carbon Dioxide
In the production process there will always be waste. Those waste are not to be thrown recklessly and irresponsibly. Companies are responsible to make sure that the wastewater is friendly to nature. That is all about list of chemicals used in wastewater treatment plants.