On September 29, 2021, ProWaTech AG presented an expert workshop on the topic of "Current trends in wastewater treatment due to new chemical regulations". The seminar hotel "Riverside", romantically situated on the Glatt river, provided the perfect setting.
During this seminar day, experts spoke about the latest developments in plant engineering for process water and wastewater plants as well as chemicals for wastewater treatment. The new developments are driven by current regulations, in particular the Chemical Risk Reduction Ordinance (ChemRRV). This requires the substitution of chromium trioxide and PFOS and, in future, a whole range of other chemicals such as boric acid and cobalt salts, which are defined as substances of very high concern (SVHC). The topic attracted 58 interested participants from the wet-chemical surface treatment industry. Representatives came from the medical technology, watchmaking and electronics industries and participants from well-known contract electroplating companies were also welcomed.
Chemical Risk Reduction Ordinance (ChemRRV)
A strong team: Herbert Hauser and Rainer Walz Dr. Josef Tremp from the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) reported on current developments regarding the POP Convention, EU law and the Chemical Risk Reduction Ordinance (ORRChem). Dr. Tremp is Head of the Industrial Chemicals Section at the FOEN in Bern. He presented the planned 7th revision of the ORRChem.
Substitution of SVHC substances
Herbert Hauser from ProWaTech AG presented the substitution of substances of very high concern (SVHC) as well as the increased requirements for process water, new cleaning processes and the necessary adaptation of waste water treatment. Typical substitute products for SVHC in electroplating, plastic electroplating and aluminum treatment were presented.
Conversion to chromium(III) deposition electrolytes
Tobias Moser (M. Sc.) is CEO of Galvano Wullimann AG in Selzach SO. He reported on the conversion of decorative chrome plating from hexavalent to trivalent electrolytes. This chrome deposition went into operation in February 2016. The advantages and disadvantages were described, with the advantages clearly outweighing the disadvantages for Galvano Wullimann AG.
Biofilm in the rinse water circuit
Dipl. Ing. (TU) Rainer Walz from ProWaTech AG described why the chemical switch to SVHC-free substances in production promotes the formation of microorganisms. He explained the technical possibilities for reducing and avoiding biofilm in the rinse water. Practical examples were used to demonstrate the chemical cleaning of process water systems and rinsing tanks. Walz's presentation hits the nerve of the times: biofilms and their problems are currently a hot topic elsewhere too.
Measures for poisoning
Dr. Colette Degrandi is a senior physician at TOX Info Suisse in Zurich. TOX Info Suisse carries out more than 40,000 consultations per year, of which around 2,000 are for technical and industrial products. She described typical irritant and nitrogen gases that can arise in electroplating or wastewater treatment plants. She presented decontamination measures and various antidotes for poisoning in order to save lives.
pH probes with self-diagnosis
David Rickenbach is a sales representative for process analytics at Mettler-Toledo (Switzerland) GmbH.He presented the Intelligent Sensor Management for pH, ORP, turbidity and conductivity measurement. This enables predictive maintenance information and stores sensor-specific data for diagnostics.
Latest trends in automation
Diploma El. Ing. ETH Benno Fiechter is managing director and owner of Eltromatic AG, which has the same headquarters as ProWaTech AG. He presented the implementation of standardization in engineering. Highly qualified personnel and high personnel costs are forcing repetitive work to be automated. One example of this is the configuration instead of programming of wastewater treatment steps.
Wastewater treatment for the customized
Maximilian Walz (M. Sc.) from Hauser + Walz GmbH described various wastewater treatment tests in Hauser + Walz GmbH's new laboratory using rinse water from a chromium(III) decorative electrolyte enriched with nickel. The results are incorporated into the planning of the measuring and dosing technology for the wastewater treatment plant.
Sustainably sanitized floor coverings
Stefan Rohner is CEO of RADIX AG in Steinebrunn TG. The company was founded in 1929 and produces and applies chemically resistant floor coatings to protect the substrate. Various binders such as epoxy or vinyl ester resin were described and practical examples presented. Rohner emphasized the long-standing and close cooperation with ProWaTech AG.
Possible topics for the next workshop were discussed at the concluding drinks reception. The feedback from the participants was extremely positive. ProWaTech AG makes the presentations available to its customers free of charge:
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