Waste water treatment

Collection and processing of inorganic waste water streams

Vecom is licensed to act as a collector and processor of various metallic acids and bases, waste water, rinsing water, pickling baths, etc.

Industries with inorganic waste water streams

The waste water streams that Vecom processes come from various industries, such as galvanic, surface treatment, chemical, industrial cleaning and hazardous waste collectors.

Below are examples of a number of waste water streams.

Pickling liquid

When the pickling bath is elaborated, the pickling liquid must be drained and replaced. Here too, a license holder such as Vecom can take care of the processing of pickling acids, among other things, and can arrange for the removal and processing of elaborated pickling baths.

Usually, the removal of the saturated pickling liquid and the delivery of new pickling liquid takes place in one operation. As a result, transport costs can be reduced and all handling of chemicals is taken care of. Naturally, the legally required administration of the waste is also taken care of.

Rinse water

After pickling stainless steel, the treated surface must be sprayed with water. This rinsing water contains a (small) amount of pickling acid and dissolved metals, such as iron, chromium and nickel. This rinsing water does not meet the discharge requirements and may not simply be discharged into a municipal sewer or surface water because:

  • The pH of the waste water is too low (acid);
  • The waste water contains fluoride from hydrofluoric acid;
  • The waste water contains iron as well as the heavy metals chromium and nickel.

The DND installation of Vecom

Vecom takes care of the waste water processing of customers and third parties, both in small quantities (IBCs) and in bulk (tankers), using an DND installation.

By using the waste to waste principle as much as possible when processing collected waste water streams, the use of new auxiliary substances is limited as much as possible. Vecom is certified according ISO 9001 and ISO 14001.

The operation of the DND installation

DND stands for the three steps in the process

  1. Detoxification
  2. Neutralization
  3. Dewatering

After compiling a batch for treatment (mixing several types of waste water using the waste-to-waste principle), the batch is treated with milk of lime to a pH at which the metals present will bind to a solid substance; metal hydroxide. Filter additives can be added to ensure proper separation of liquid and solids. The liquid and solids (metal hydroxides) are then separated with a horizontal filter press. When the effluent meets the permit requirements, it is discharged. The solids (metal hydroxide cake) are reused in the production of cement.

Contact us

For more information or questions, contact one of our specialists.