US Facility Successfully Tests Chlorine-Free Wastewater Treatment
The trial in Pennsylvania demonstrates performic acid as a sustainable and efficient alternative to traditional chemical disinfection.
Kemira has finished the first full-scale U.S. trial of its chlorine-free wastewater treatment technology, KemConnect DEX, at a Pennsylvania treatment facility.
The month-long trial was conducted alongside Capital Region Water, which serves the Harrisburg area. The technology uses performic acid, a sustainable microbial control agent that serves as an alternative to traditional chlorine-based methods.
Data from the trial indicated the solution effectively reduced bacteria levels at low doses. Unlike chlorine, the performic acid solution auto-degrades into biodegradable compounds, reducing the environmental footprint and persistence of chemicals in the local water supply.
The system utilizes a digital platform to automate chemical dosing based on real-time data. This allows plant operators to maintain bacterial limits even when weather events cause sudden fluctuations in water flow or quality.
Because the platform is installed on-site, it allows existing facilities to modernize infrastructure without the significant capital investment typically required for ultraviolet treatment or large-scale chlorine system overhauls.
The trial comes eight months after the EPA registered the core ingredient of the technology for commercial use in the United States.
About the Author
Jesse Jacobs is Assistant Editor of EPOnline.com.
