A refinery in Germany approached PPU Umwelttechnik GmbH for a solution to an additional wastewater flow. The company already had a biological treatment plant, but the additional flow of around 8 m³/h over approximately nine months required temporary expansion. The objective was to discharge wastewater directly into the nearby River.
The additional flow originated from a gas scrubber for exhaust gas neutralization. The pollutants dissolved in the wastewater amounted to a COD of around 900 mg/l and an ammonium content of around 50 mg/l.
Until the new plant was completed, the existing wastewater treatment plant was overloaded. To ensure that the limits for discharge into the river can still be met without any problems, the refinery is looking for a bridging solution.
The solution PPU provided for this project is a leased containerized wastewater treatment plant. This consists of one 40-foot and two 20-foot HC ISO Sea Containers. The first 20-foot container initially serves as a buffer tank with a dosing pump for phosphorus precipitation. Connected to this is the 40-foot container with fixed bed technology. The second 20-foot container contains a lamella settler and the control system.
The buffer tank balances inflow fluctuations and evenly directs the wastewater into the fixed bed reactor. This reactor comprises three different cascades. The fixed bed material in the cascades has a specific surface area that increases from cascade to cascade.
Microorganisms settle on the fixed bed material, metabolizing pollutants in the wastewater into secondary sludge. Since the growth surface area in the first cascade is still very small, only preliminary COD reduction occurs there. The degradation rate increases from cascade to cascade. After biological treatment, the secondary sludge enters a lamella settler to separate it from the clarified water.
The system is in operation since February 2024 and has been working without any faults since then.
Yes, the container sewage treatment plant can be individually tailored to your project. Our experts analyze your specific requirements, such as pollutant levels, wastewater volumes, and space available, to develop a tailor-made solution. Just talk to us!
The requirements depend on your wastewater stream, the specific loads (e.g. COD, ammonium), and the requirements for discharge limits. We carry out a detailed analysis to ensure that the container sewage treatment plant is optimally adapted to your needs.
Thanks to buffer tanks, the system can compensate for inflow fluctuations and ensure consistent operating behavior. This means that the treatment remains effective even with varying quantities and loads.
Yes, the container sewage treatment plant can be used as a temporary extension of existing systems. It is modular and can be easily integrated into existing processes.
The modular design allows for easy scaling. Additional containers can be integrated to treat higher wastewater volumes or additional pollutant parameters.
The system is designed for low maintenance. Regular checks of the fixed bed material, the pumps and the control system are sufficient. Our service team offers comprehensive maintenance support.
