http://www.sa-envitech.com

THE BASIC PRINCIPLES AND INNOVATIVE ASPECTS OF THE PROCESS

There is an ever-growing focus on advanced oxidation processes for water purification and, mainly, for the removal of recalcitrant compounds. All processes are based on the formation of •OH radicals which can attack most organic compounds with constant of degradation that are usually placed at intervals of 10⁶ – 10⁹ mol/l/s. As regards the EWAT^® technology, the application of most innovative developments in the field of nanotechnology - and particularly the use of RECAM^® - enables to emphasize and fully develop the benefits of advanced oxidation and contaminants absorption processes, reaching levels of efficiency and economy much higher than
traditional water purification approaches.

The EWAT^® wastewater treatment, developed by SA Envitech s.r.l., which also holds the rights to the brand, is a new and innovative approach to the treatment of industrial effluents in the field of water purification technology and is comprehensive of these technologies:

• advanced oxidation with nanoiron zero valent;
• electroxidation with electrodes of RECAM^®;
• photocatalysis;
• sonochemical treatment;
• filtration with RECAM^® and oxides nanoparticles.

EWAT^®, based on the application of nanostructured materials, is characterized by enhanced removal power of a whole range of contaminants, with a system configuration which is both simple to build and easy to control in accordance with the quantities
of effluent to be treated and the concentrations to be reached upon discharge.
One of the unique features of the processes is the reduction in the volume of the waste compared to traditional treatments, with a limited production of sludge and concentrates, which substantially reduces treatment costs and typical environmental problems
related to physicochemical and biological plants.

EWAT^® is divided into several treatment stages, whose duration and correct sequence depend on the kind of liquid to be treated and on the related pollution load. Therefore, the treatment process can be divided into either all the stages or only one, with
different sequences.

Usually the correct treatment sequence takes into account the following factors:

• limiting the amount of the pH corrections;
• limiting the amount of water tanks/reservoirs
which are necessary when continuous
treatments are alternated by batch treatments;
• making the best use of selective properties in
terms of oxidation and filtration of each process.

It has to be taken into account that, depending on the kind of effluent to be treated, only one or more treatment stages can be enough, moreover, it is necessary to define the correct sequence of each process from time to time.

The processes and the nanomaterials used in EWAT^® treatment are subject to international patents and are SA Envitech’s property.
Amongst the peculiar novelties of this new approach to wastewater treatment, the use of RECAM^® nanomaterial conceived and produced by SA Envitech. Hereafter, a short description of this material is given.