Kemira takes hold of eutrophication

Finnish manufacturer and supplier of chemicals for water treatment, Kemira Oyj has committed to contributing its expertise to improving the condition of the Baltic Sea. Thanks to Kemira’s new solution valuable nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus are returned safely to nature’s nutrient cycle without causing eutrophication.
 
Eutrophication is a threat to the shallow and brackish Baltic Sea. In the course of centuries significant amounts of nutrients deriving from agricultural, industrial and waste water have been stored in the seabed.

The emanation of nutrients into the Baltic Sea can be reduced significantly by chemical waste water treatment. Kemira made its own Baltic Sea commitment at the Baltic Sea Action Summit held in Helsinki in mid-February.

– If sludge is not handled responsibly and correctly, the nutrients already extracted in the waste water treatment process can end up eutrophicating the Baltic Sea, says General Manager Aija Jantunen from Kemira.

Kemira’s Baltic Sea commitment is based on the idea that by developing technologies, distributing understanding of safe recycling of nutrients contained in residual sludge and helping its customers with sludge disposal, the company is able to do its share in taking more effective waste water handling methods into use.

Safe handling

– The more effectively waste water is handled, the more sludge there is. The growing problem is in finding the final placement for this waste. Sludge disposal is a big challenge for most waste water treatment plants, and the most expensive single operation, Jantunen tells.
 
The amount of sludge resulting from Kemira’s KemiCond waste water treatment can be reduced while its condition is improved. The sludge is reconditioned with a chemical reaction, which kills intestinal bacteria such as Salmonella and Escherichia coli, and removes odours from the water. After the treatment the sludge can be spread safely on fields.

– This way all the valuable nutrients of communal sludge can be returned to food production, Jantunen emphasizes.

Kemira’s DesinFix concept will also make a difference in improving the swimming waters of the Baltic region, where the permitted percentages of intestinal bacteria are strictly defined by the European Union bathing water directive. Chlorination, traditionally used for wastewater disinfection, has been given up due to organic chlorine compounds originating from the disinfection process.
 
– The DesinFix method is based on a mixture of formic acid and hydrogen peroxide forming a highly efficient biocide, which breaks down into carbon dioxide and water. Thanks to the method harmful bacteria can be destroyed even with very small quantities. By increasing the dose also inadequately treated waste water can be disinfected.

www.kemira.fi

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