Wastewater from labs often contains chemicals that affect the acidity of the water. To prevent environmental damage and not disrupt the operation of sewer systems and water treatment plants, wastewater must meet certain discharge standards before it can be discharged into the public sewer or surface water.
One of the most important parameters is the pH value of the water. This pH value should be within a neutral range, between 6.5 and 9. Water that falls outside these limits – too acidic or too basic – can be harmful to pipes, infrastructure and, above all, the aquatic environment.
Automatic regulation of pH
To meet these requirements, a neutralisation installation is often used. This installation continuously measures the pH value of the incoming wastewater via an inline pH probe. Based on the measured value, an automated dosing system takes care of injecting an acid (if the pH is too high) or a base (if the pH is too low) until the water is within the permissible neutral range. Depending on the application, different reagents can be used.
Neutralisation takes place in a tank, in which proper mixing of the wastewater and the added chemicals takes place. This controlled reaction guarantees a stable effluent with a pH within the desired limits.
Applications in different sectors
Neutralisation plants are used in various sectors such as:
- Chemical and pharmaceutical industry
- Metal processing and surface treatment
- Food and beverage sector
- Laboratories and research centres
In these projects, wastewater coming from the labs of the Provincial Centre for Environmental Research in Ghent and the Provincial Institute of Hygiene in Antwerp (PIH) was neutralised. TASK installed very compact and maintenance-friendly installations.
