Project Details

Project Delivery

Project Results

Discussion

Situation

Canada is planning the biggest leap in PET recycling in the world over the next 20 years. The North American country recycles only about nine per cent of its total waste. Only a fraction of that is PET. By 2040, 100 per cent of all plastic products in Canada are expected to be either reused or recycled. For this reason, the country expects a huge increase in the recycling industry, which is why the need for PET wastewater solutions is also growing.

An existing recycling company in Canada expanded its production facilities. It expanded its production halls to accommodate the new PET wastewater solution. In advance, the recycling company sent wastewater samples to PPU. These were analysed by the research and development department in the company’s own laboratory. The aim was to return the treated wastewater to the recycling loop.

Problem

The challenge for this project was the high wastewater load, which is particularly irregular. Although the recycling plant operates around the clock, the recycling company can increase or decrease capacity depending on the number of plastics. As a result, different wastewater loads occur during the day. Despite this, compliance with the discharge values had top priority.

Solution

The customer preferred a ClearFox® PET wastewater solution because they can enjoy outstanding service despite the long distance. Both the customer and the ClearFox® team can access the settings of the system via a mobile radio-controlled control unit and adjust them if necessary. In addition, a 24/7 service team is available to assist the customer with any questions or concerns. This means that the customer can rely on the reliable cleaning performance of the ClearFox® wastewater treatment plant. By using the ClearFox® wastewater treatment plant, the customer can reuse their wastewater in the recycling process, saving huge costs.

After analysing the wastewater samples, PPU offered the customer a combination of ClearFox® FBBR and ClearFox® DAF. First, the flotation removes a large part of the dissolved and non-dissolved substances from the wastewater. Thanks to a finely adjusted polymer station, flocculation aids bind the suspended solids in the wastewater, which are then discharged as sludge via an aeration system.

The second treatment step is the ClearFox® FBBR, which cleans the wastewater biologically. The cascades of the fixed bed were customised by PPU to meet the customer’s requirements. The microorganisms in the wastewater reduce COD and BOD₅ and thus guarantee the wastewater quality for direct discharge. While the ClearFox® DAF is in the recycling hall, the containerized FBBR modules are located outside. Both systems can withstand the load fluctuations at any time. As the ClearFox® team took over the entire planning for the project, the customer now benefits from a reliable, low-maintenance and cost-effective wastewater treatment plant.