SULFATEQ^™

SULFATEQ^™ removes sulfate to less than 300 mg/l and converts it into hydrophilic (non-clogging) elemental sulfur. In addition, it recovers valuable metals such as copper, nickel and zinc as marketable metal sulfides.

Bioprocesses for sulfate removal from water can be preferred over chemical processes for sulfate removal. Bioprocesses are more sustainable, require less chemicals, and generate less waste. SULFATEQ^™ is a safe, effective and odor-free process. It treats acidic, alkaline and pH-neutral wastewater streams. This biological process operates at ambient conditions. SULFATEQ^™ simultaneously recovers valuable metals, such as copper, nickel and zinc, and removes sulfate (<300 mg/l), calcium (<100 mg/l>, magnesium (<4g/l), aluminium and iron as well as poisonous metals like lead, mercury or cadmium. As a result, the effluent quality is improved and can be discharged to surface waters. Also, as the treated wastewater is free of sulphate and metals, it can be reused in the facility. Thus, it is a much better alternative than lime treatment, reverse osmosis or ion exchange.

• Effluent treatment in the metal industry
• Wash tower acid treatment
• Brine treatment of reverse osmosis in combination with metal recovery to increase overall water recovery
• Acid mine drainage treatment in combination with metal recovery
• Effluent treatment and metal recovery in the viscose industry for the removal of metal, sulfate and COD
• Concentrated sodium sulphate streams with or without digestible organic compounds
• Integration with lime neutralization plant to improve the effluent, reduce total dissolved solids and reduce the sludge whilst improving the quality, resulting in less liability

The typical range for the application of SULFATEQ^™ is an influent sulfate concentration of 1,000-25,000 mg/l and a pH level of 2-8. SULFATEQ^™ is used as a standalone installation or as the final treatment at a lime-gypsum plant.

The power of this sulfate removal system lies in its ability to solve multiple problems with one installation: sulfate removal and simultaneous metal recovery.

After the anaerobic conversion of sulphate into sulphide using hydrogen or an organic carbon source, the sulphide produced is converted into elemental biosulphide by an aerobic biological sulphide oxidation process. The result is a sulphide- and metal-free effluent with low sulphate content.

• Lenzing AG
• Nyrstar zinc refinery
• Water flows / Vitelco / Hulshof
• Water flows / Ecco
• Anglo Coal