Water treatment systems for:
◄ ◄ drinking water
◄ ◄ water for processes
◄ ◄ waste water
Environmental Technology
Filtration Systems
Water Treatment Systems
Made in Germany
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Atec Neu-Ulm
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We are a medium size company situated on the border between Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. Since 1990 we have
worked successfully in the fields of plant design and mechanical engineering.
Especially in the area of filtration, Atec relies on its own
patented technical solutions, which assure higher efficiency
and reduced energy requirements.
Own facilities for development, production and shipment
assure continuous improvement of our products and a long
term perspective in the utilisation of our technology for our
customers. We assist our customers during planning and
realization of their projects, from the first idea till production
start-up.
Targets
Saving on
• chemicals
• water
• waste water
• waste disposal costs
Improving
• bathing quality
Avoiding
• complaints
• rejections
Relief in
• production
• maintenance
Complete plant
Recycling of washing water during
preliminary wafer cleansing
approx. 5 m3/h, with water supply,
discharge and concentrate buffers as well
as precipitation, flocculation, filtration
chamber press.
2
Atec cartridge filter
Atec Mini-Filter
Extension of service life / recycling
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Washing fluids
Degreasing baths
Rinsing baths
Ultrasonic baths
Clarification filtration
Complete water treatment
• Atec Ultra Filtration
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Inlet tank
Concentrate buffer
Sedimentation tank
Chemicals station
Precipitation / Flocculation
Advanced Oxidation Reactor
Elimination of metallic ions
Reducing:
Removal of:
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bacteriae
paint & enamel
high CSB/TOC values
hormones
drug residues
smell
etc.
nickel
zinc
arsenic
mercury
etc.
Combination of Atec Ultra
Filtration with DAS trickle flow
reactor
Biologic processing of waste water followed
bay filtration.
www.das-europe.com
Carrier material/bulk charge
• room saving
• excellent water quality
Circuit
Air regenerating
operation
Untreated water
Water
Air normal
operation
Excess slurry
Pure water
3
The principle of the Atec Membrane
Filter Systems
Field of application
This actually is an exclusively physical separation process
based on the difference in pressures on both sides of the filtration surface. Occlusion of the membrane surface is avoided
through fastest possible surface flow.
This information is valid for Atec filtration plants for fluid-solid
and fluid-fluid separation.
Examples of applications:
• degreasing baths
• wafer purification
• slurry recycling
• rinsing water from component washing systems
• recycling of car washing systems
• recycling of textile washing water
• cooling lubricant emulsions
• swimming pools
• food industry
• processing of alkaline solutions
• chemistry/pharmaceutical industries
• mining industries
• oil related industries
Micro and ultra filtration allows for separation and concentration
of emulsified and suspended components as well as such with
high molecular weight. Separation of the different components
is exclusively due to the fact that particles whose section is
smaller than the size of the pores will go through the
membrane, whereas larger particles are retained. Of course,
pore diameters may be adapted to each individual problem.
Nano filtration and reverse osmosis even allows for the separation of dissolved substances. Special membranes are required
for this. Their separating power is based on the different
solubility and diffusion rates of the different materials in the
membrane material.
In order to obtain economical flow rates, pressures significantly
higher than the osmotic pressure must be generated. This
requires up to 25 bars for nano filtration and 50 bars for reverse
osmosis.
An Atec facility will, as a general rule, not require preliminary
filtration, as opposed to conventional reverse osmosis.
As a general rule, the treatment of fluids using Atec technology,
e.g. for recycling or for observing introduction limit values is also
economically reasonable.
Reduced water and effluent costs, reduced energy and standstill
costs, as well as clearly reduced requirements of chemicals
save costs and are in agreement with the law for promoting
cycle economics.
The filtration sectors are distributed as shown in Tab. 1.
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•
•
Micro filtration
Ultra filtration
Nano filtration
Reverse osmosis
scanning electron microscope
micro meter
0,001
0,01
reverse osmosis
process of�
filtration�
�
Tab. 1 Range of filtration
with areas of selectivity for
different filtration methods
optical microscope
0,1
1,0
color pigments�
■■■■■■■■�
■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■
salts�
bacteria�
■■■■■■■■■■■■■�
■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■�
coal dust�
■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■�
starch powder / flour�
■■■■■■■■■■■�
■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■�
pyrogene�
yeast cells�
■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■�
■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■�
colloids / emulsions�
■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■�
proteins�
■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■�
■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■�
sand�
■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■�
■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■
tobacco smoke�
200
red blood cells�
■■■■■■■■■■■�
human hair �
viruses�
■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■
100
1000
micro filtration
pesticides �
■■■■■■■■■�
sugar�
molecular weight
100
conventional filtration
solvent�
examples
4
10
ultra filtration
nano filtration
vision of human eye
1000
20.000
10.000
500.000�
100.000
Atec Micro and Ultra filtration
Mini filters / Combi filters
Advantages
Operating principle
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The product to be filtered is pumped into the pressurised
container. In the case of the combi filter, a large number of filter
candles are installed at the bottom of the container, with the
filtering exit facing downwards. Every filtering candle consists of
a supporting body and a filtering medium.
A tubular filtering medium is fastened to the wall of the container
for both types of filters.
The filtering medium itself consists of a low priced flat membrane, which is available on the market for all separating capacities.
Furthermore, an agitator in the container keeps the contained
liquid in steady rotation.
The thus generated flow to avoid the clogging of membrane
surfaces is significantly higher than is the case for conventional
systems.
Mere physical separation during discontinuous operation will
cause increasing concentration of particles larger than the separating power of the filtering medium. The filtering process may
be carried on till the required concentration is achieved.
The volume contents will be pressed out in a very short time by
opening the concentrate valve whilst simultaneously applying a
low air pressure to the container. The process may now start
over again.
Flow of liquids controlled through an agitating system
Significantly higher flow velocity
Higher filter capacity per m2 of filtering surface
Longer maintenance intervals
Flow rate and pressure may be adjusted separately
Heavy duty performance
• Due to the technical design, the system can manage highly
contaminated waste water and/or particle concentrations in
the incoming fluids
• even in case of very high concentrations, stirring will always
allow for a high surface flow when this can no longer be
achieved economically with pumps.
Fields of Application
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Micro filtration
Ultra filtration
Nano filtration
Reverse Osmosis
0.5 bar
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50 bar
Compact facility
• small dimensions
• no supplementary concentration container required
Minifilter
filtrate
concentrate
Type
Minifilter
Kombifilter
Filtering surface
in m2
0,3 - 0,6
1,2 - 2,0
inflow
Size of facility L x W x H
in mm
800 x 800 x 2000
900 x 900 x 2200
combination filter
Production compatible facilities are available for on-the-spot tests.
Atec overflow filter systemes are patented.
filtrate
filtrate
5
Atec Micro and Ultra filtration
cartridge filters / tube filters
Vorteile
Operating principle
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The liquid which must be filtered is pumped into the container.
In the case of the cartridge filter, many cartridges are installed in
the container mantle between lid and bottom, in the case of the
tube filter these are many tubes.
With both types of Atec filters, different types of membranes
may be used simultaneously. These may be checked individually for quality and quantity. This will allow determining quite fast
which membrane is the most suitable, especially during the
start-up phase. Thus, different filter cartridges or tubes may be
used simultaneously. Furthermore, there is an agitator in the
container which will generate the flow required to assure
permanent cleaning of the membrane.
Flow of liquids controlled through an agitating system
Significantly higher flow velocity
Higher filter capacity per m2 of filtering surface
Less clogging of the membrane surface
Longer maintenance intervals
Flow rate and pressure may be adjusted separately
Heavy duty performance
• Due to the technical design, the system can manage highly
contaminated waste water and/or solid particle
concentrations in the incoming fluids,
• even in case of very high concentrations, stirring will always
allow for a high surface flow when this can no longer be
achieved economically with pumps.
Fields of application
•
•
•
•
Micro filtration
Ultra filtration
Nano filtration
Reverse Osmosis
0.5 bar
•
•
50 bar
When the required concentration has been achieved, the volume contents will be pressed out in a very short time by opening
the concentrate valve whilst simultaneously applying a low air
pressure to the container. Of course, concentration increase
may also be carried out outside the container.
Compact facility
• small dimensions
• no supplementary concentration container required
Agitator
Filter cartridges
Container
Filtrate outlet
Type
KF
TF
TF
Filtering surface
in m2
4-20
20-50
>50
Size of facility L x W x H
in mm
2000 x 1200 x 2200
2400 x 2000 x 2200
2400 x 2300 x 2400
Production compatible facilities are available for on-the-spot tests.
Atec overflow filter systemes are patented.
6
Waste water treatment without chemistry
Atec Advanced Oxidation Process (AAOP)
|1
The electrochemical Atec Advanced Oxidation Process allows treating process and waste water, destroying the substances listed
below or converting them to harmless substances.
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practically all organic components
oils, greases
germs, bakteria, smells
high CSB values
colorants
phenolic composites
mercaptanes
naphtenates
aldehydes
carboxylic acid
nitriles
amines
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decay CSB (oils etc.)
sterilising
detoxification
bleaching
deodorising
The process is based on an eletrolytic cell, wherein a voltage adapted to the problem is applied between two electrodes set in the
waste water. This voltage will generate a corresponding electric current. The structure of a reactor used for electrochemical
oxidation is shown in Fig. 1.
Fig. 1: Exemple for the setip of the electrochemical
reactor for electrochemical processes.
Fig. 2: Electron echange which triggers
electrochemical processes
The transfer of electric loads occurs by means of electrons within the electrode, whereas loads can only be transferred by means of
free ions in the waste water (electrolyte). Chemical processes will occur at the elctrodes during the transition between electron and
ion conductivity. These will cause direct modifications of the substances within the electrolyte (Fig. 2). As the salt load of
industrially used water is usually sufficient to assure sufficient conductivity for this process, no conducting electrolyte must be added.
During this process, impurities can be oxidised /eliminated directly. This reaction will mainly yield carbon dioxide and water.
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Waste water treatment without chemistry
Atec Advanced Oxidation Process (AAOP)
|2
Examples of anodic reactions:
1) Water containing hydrocyanic acid
2CN¯ + 8OH¯  2CO2 + N2 + 4H2 O + 10e¯
2) Water containing citrate
C6H8O7 + 5H2O  6CO2 + 18H+ + 18e¯
Furthermore, an indirect electrochemical oxidation (Fig. 3) will be carried out over a mediator. During this reaction, strong oxidising
agents will be generated directly from the water to start with.
H2O  OH¯ + e¯ + H+
2e¯ + 2H2 O  2OH¯ + H2
Hydroxyl generation at the anode
Hydroxyl generation at the cathode
The hydroxyl radical is the main radical generated during the Atec Advanced Oxidation Process. This is the strongest oxidising agent
which may be found in water. Subsequently, these radicals will totally reduce among others organic compounds and micro and macro
organisms to carbon dioxide and water.
Usually, the treated water will contain all components required to generate oxichlorides during a subsequent step. These are very
powerful disinfectants. If there are none, they can be added without problem and very cheaply.
1)
2Cl¯  Cl2 + 2e¯
Generating chloride as an intermediate product (see Fig. 2)
2)
Cl2 + 2OH¯  ClO¯ + Cl¯ + H2O
Oxidising chlorine to oxichloride.
This effect is enduring, due to the long “lifetime” of oxichlorides. As compared to UV disinfection, this means the effective substance
is buffered in the medium and continues acting.
Fig. 3: Indirect electrochemical oxidation
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Fig. 4: Disinfection with current, without chemistry
Waste water treatment without chemistry
Atec Advanced Oxidation Process (AAOP)
|3
It is frequently not even necessary fort he noxious substances to be totally dissolved in the water in order to assure their oxidation
through the indirect process.
Example for the decomposition of water containing hydrocyanic acid through oxichlorides:
2CN¯ + 5ClO¯ + H2 O  N2 + 2CO2 + 5Cl¯ + 2OH¯
Decomposition of organic substances R through hydroxyl radicals:
OH¯ + R  mCO2 + nH2 O
The experimental elimination of bacteria is shown in Fig.4. The number of germs has been reduced by 90% after a short time.
The decomposition of the electrode material is a basic problem of electrochemical oxidation. Atec uses special Atec electrodes.
Our electrodes are extremely corrosion resistant.
The problem of efficiency reduction of electrochemical oxidation through the simultaneous decomposition of water to oxygen and
hydrogen (electrolysis of water) is also very strongly reduced by using Atec electrodes.
As a general rule, the efficiency of a given material for the AOP process is directly proportional to the voltage required for oxygen
generation through the electrolysis of water with this electrode material. The Atec electrode display the largest “potential window”
ever found (Fig. 5).
Electrode
Potential in V
Platinum
..
Graphite
..
Tin oxide
..
Atec electrode
1,3….1,6
..
1,7
..
1,9
..
2,3….2,7
Fig. 5: Oxygen generating voltage of different types of electrodes
Fig. 6: Mobile Atec test system
Electrochemical reactors could only be operated economically using these high grade materials. The above mentioned hydroxyl
radicals may be generated with an efficiency of nearly 100% thanks to Atec electrodes.
Atec’s electrochemical reactors can destroy toxic and oily substances or convert them to easy to decompose or to filter substances
without addition of further chemicals, using electric current only. It is obvious that our reactors are very advantageous for the
environment.
Main advantages as compared to oxidation processes using ozone, UV radiation or high temperature furnaces are the large
servicing intervals ((> 6 months) und in the relatively economic price.
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Elimination of Metallic Ions through
Atec-Electro crystallisation
|1
When metals are dissolved in a liquid, they are present as ions. If it is necessary to remove these metallic ions from the liquid,
conventional filtering methods will frequently be ineffective. The electro crystallisation process allows discharging of metallic ions
electrochemically to metallic atoms, which will then grow on an electrode.
Fig. 1: Principle of the reactor
Fig. 2: Conversion of a metallic ion to a metal atom
The basic structure is similar to a reactor for galvanic technical processes (Fig. 1). An electric field is generated between two (or
more) electrodes in the liquid which must be purified. Due to the fact that metallic ions carry positive charges, the electric field will
accelerate them towards the cathode. They transport electric charges through the liquid. The transition from ion to electron
conduction will occur at the cathode. The cathode will give an electron to the positive metallic ion and discharge it – we now have a
metallic atom (Fig. 2).
Mez+ + ze¯  Me
The thus generated metallic atom will then diffuse towards the surface of the electrode, until it finds a crystalline growth nucleus
within its crystalline structure, or forms such a growth nucleus by itself (Fig. 3).
Atec uses different cathode materials in order to assure the formation of metallic atoms using as little energy as possible. For this,
experience and tests with the original liquid at the customer’s premises are essential.
In galvanic technology, objects (metals, plastics) receive a metallic coating at the cathode through electro crystallisation. For this, an
anode made of the coating material, or an initial solution highly enriched with the coating material, are used. Complementing the
electrochemical process at the cathode, electrons are taken from the anodic material. Due to this, the anode progressively
dissolves to those metallic ions which will then be enriched at the cathode.
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Elimination of Metallic Ions through
Atec-Electro crystallisation
Fig. 3: Growing of a metallic atom on an existing
grid structure
|2
Fig. 4: Metals which can be separated by galvanic
means in the periodic table of elements
Atec uses the special Atec electrode as anode material to avoid this reaction (no further metallic ions must be added). No dissolution will take place when using this high grade material in place of other types of electrodes.
Electro crystallisation allows to eliminate the following metals from liquids, or to convert them so that they may be separated through
filtration:
Antimony
Arsenic
Bismuth
Lead
Cadmium
Chromium
Cobalt
Iron
Gold
Indium
Iridium
Copper
Manganese
Nickel
Osmium
Palladium
Platinum
Mercury
Rhenium
Rhodium
Ruthenium
Selenium
Silver
Technetium
Tellurium
Thallium
Zinc
Tin
Atec’s compact reactors are very easy to use. The Atec anode is highly resistant to corrosion and robust. Depending on the
concentration which must be removed, and if the quantity of removed metal does not permit further operation, it may be that only
the low priced cathode must be exchanged during maintenance, which only must take place at long intervals.
Atec reactors allow for purification without using chemicals, which is very advantageous for the environment. The process may
furthermore be combined without any problems with conventional filtration methods or with the Atec Advanced Oxidation Process.
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Stand 12.2010_1
Environmental Technology
Filtration Systems
Water Treatment Systems
Atec Automatisierungstechnik GmbH
Emmi-Noether-Str. 6
89231 Neu-Ulm / Germany
Phone +49 731 977 59-0
Fax
+49 731 977 59-25
[email protected]
www.atec-nu.de