Sustainability and Electrocoagulation
The search for solutions to address climate change has never been more urgent
Climate Change
In the month of July alone, the world has seen devastating floods emerge across the globe, from Germany to Turkey; across China and India. Carbon emissions remain a key factor contributing to global warming and the increasing occurrence of these events.
Challenges of Widespread Chemical-use in Water Treatment
Many processes are energy-intensive, but not all are easy to decarbonise. Water treatment processes are dependent on the use of chemicals and these have high emission factors contributing to the Greenhouse Gas effect. This is particularly true for coagulants such as Polyacrylamide (PAM) and Poly Aluminumchloride (PAC) – commonplace chemical coagulants used for water pretreatment. Furthermore, these chemicals need to be transported long distances from chemical manufacturing hubs such as China to reach their final destination.
Making Efforts to Decarbonise the Water Treatment Process
Hydroleap offers a sustainable solution to help customers achieve their performance outcomes, while also meeting green objectives. A comparative chart of the carbon emissions are listed here:
| Hydroleap Chemical-free Treatment |
Conventional Chemical Coagulation |
|
| Direct Energy Consumption (kWh/ m3) | 0.27 | 0.15 |
| Carbon Emissions from Direct Energy (CO2 kg/m3) | 0.11 | 0.06 |
| Chemical use (kg/m3) | 0 | 0.28 |
| Indirect emissions for chemical production[1] (CO2 kg/m3) | 0 | 0.10 |
| Indirect emissions for transport[2] (CO2 kg/m3) | 0 | 0.26 |
| Total Carbon Emissions[3] (CO2 kg / m3) | 0.11 | 0.42 |
| Lifetime Carbon Saving | 74% |
List of references:
Shipping emissions, International Chamber of Shipping[4]
Chemical consumption for dosing, Michigan Government[5]
Emission factors of chemical treatment[6]
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[1] Production of PAM and PAC, two of the main chemicals; source: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/7/3/918/pdf;%20doi:10.3390/w7030918
[2] Assumes shipment from China, the largest producer of chemical coagulants
[3] Using Singapore’s Carbon intensity – assumption will vary depending on country and use.
[4] https://www.ics-shipping.org/shipping-fact/environmental-performance-environmental-performance/
[5] https://www.michigan.gov/documents/deq/nps-polyacrylamide_332130_7.pdf
[6] https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/7/3/918
Image source: Getty Images
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