Laboratory for the analysis and characterization of industrial wastewater

Condorchem Envitech has a laboratory for the analysis and characterization of industrial wastewater, as well as for the simulation and validation of industrial water treatment plants.

Our industrial effluent analysis and characterization service is essential to ensure the best results when designing an industrial wastewater treatment plant, as it allows us to obtain the following information:

• Analysis of the effluent to identify all existing contaminants and their composition.
• Testing and simulation of the proposed solution at the laboratory scale before its implementation at an industrial scale.

Our laboratory has various equipment for simulating a wide range of processes: physicochemical, ultrafiltration (UF), nanofiltration (NF), reverse osmosis (RO), evaporation, crystallization, stripping, adsorption with activated carbon, as well as numerous analytical methods.

The goal is to determine the most efficient and suitable treatment process for each industrial effluent.

During laboratory studies, the conditions of the industrial equipment, which will later be installed at the client's facilities, are simulated. This study has the following main objectives:

• Validate the appropriate technological choice.
• Optimize the operating conditions of the units.
• Determine the appropriate pre-treatment and post-treatment for each effluent.

In this way, we ensure that the process and technologies are the ones that will offer the best results to the client. To achieve this, the tasks to be performed include:

1. Study of different technologies for the recovery, management, or reduction of wastewater or emissions to be treated.
2. Conducting laboratory tests or atmospheric measurements representing the treatment plant to verify design data and ensure the feasibility of the proposed solution.
3. Conceptual design of the optimal treatment system using technologies supplied by Condorchem (Technologies for water, air, or waste treatment).
4. Conclusions with process diagrams of the system and return on investment study.
5. Design of industrial pilot tests (if required).
6. Technical and economic proposal for the supply (design and manufacturing) of industrial equipment.

A typical protocol for pilot testing in our laboratory includes the phases of experimental study and conceptual engineering, divided into the following stages:

These are some of the most relevant parameters that can be analyzed in our laboratory tests:

Other parameters that we can obtain:

1. Humidity
2. Dry residue
3. Hardness
4. Total Organic Carbon (TOC)
5. Turbidity

The results obtained in the tests are included in a laboratory report sent to clients via email. This report includes the parameters obtained from both the water to be treated and the distilled water obtained, the concentration capacity of the wastewater, chemical consumption (if necessary), and our conclusions regarding the best treatment process.

Additionally, if the client requests it, a sample of the distilled water obtained and a sample of the final residue are provided.

To perform these analyses and studies, it is necessary for the client to provide us with two liters of a representative sample of the wastewater to be treated.

Concentration technologies such as evaporation and crystallization are the most efficient when aiming to achieve zero discharge. In this practical case, we outline the steps to obtain a solution for zero discharge from a sample provided to our laboratory by a client.

To determine the concentration capacity of the waters to be treated and the quality parameters of both the incoming water and the distilled water obtained, we propose conducting the following laboratory tests:

• Determination of Basic Water Parameters.
  • Water to be treated: pH, conductivity, COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand), SS (Suspended Solids), ammonium nitrogen, and chlorides.
  • Distilled water obtained: pH, conductivity, COD, ammonium nitrogen.
  • Evaporation Test with the Water to Be Treated:
• Depending on the parameters of the water to be treated, analyze the need to install a pretreatment system for the water before evaporation. This may involve adjusting parameters through chemical dosing, filtration requirements, etc.
• Depending on the parameters of the distillate, assess the need to install a post-treatment system to meet discharge limits.

The following diagram illustrates the steps to characterize an industrial effluent, as well as to conduct tests and simulations using different pilot plants. This process is repeated until the most efficient solution for the client's needs is found.

Our laboratory has the necessary equipment to carry out a detailed analysis and precise characterization of any industrial effluent.

The available equipment is as follows: