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91��Partners with University Area Joint Authority to Develop its First Biological Hydrolysis System in North America to Accelerate Local Decarbonized Energy Production

watertechnologies.com — Wed, 02 Oct 2024 15:04:19 +0000

91��Partners with University Area Joint Authority to Develop its First Biological Hydrolysis System in North America to Accelerate Local Decarbonized Energy Production watertechnolog… Wed, 10/02/2024 - 11:04

October 2, 2024

This project is based on an anaerobic co-digestion solution that will convert a waste stream into local decarbonized energy and revenue stream, providing a regional model for treating biosolids
It will generate approximately 150,000 GJ of renewable natural gas annually, creating local decarbonized energy for the ecological transformation of the State College community

Veolia, the world leader in water technologies, has been selected by the University Area Joint Authority (UAJA) in State College, Pennsylvania, to implement an unprecedented complete anaerobic digestion solution for biosolids and biowaste at its wastewater treatment plant. The biogas generated from the digestate will be upgraded to renewable natural gas and sold into the grid.

The regional co-location project will expand the existing wastewater treatment plant’s biosolids process to include advanced anaerobic digestion, thermal drying, and biogas upgrading. Once operational, the facility will digest surrounding wastewater treatment plants’ sludge and locally collected food waste, diverting it from landfills.

The anaerobic digestion system is compliant with EPA 503 regulations out of the box and will produce 162 standard cubic feet per minute (SCFM) of raw biogas for blended biosolids slurry and 264 SCFM of food waste slurry. Those outputs are expected to generate approximately 150,000 GJ of renewable natural gas annually, creating local decarbonized energy for the ecological transformation of the State College community.

Local decarbonizing energy through bioenergies and water technologies are strategic activities to which the 91��Group will devote a major share of its resources, as part of its GreenUp strategic plan.

To carry out this high-impact project, 91��has teamed up with Rettew Associates, Inc., who designed the project, and Quandel, the construction contractor. 91��will deliver this first biological hydrolysis pretreatment system in North America by summer 2025.

Veolia’s expertise in water technologies was selected for the biosolids and organics anaerobic digestion process equipment, including enhanced biological hydrolysis (Class A), sequential gas mixing, heat exchangers, gas holder, and associated equipment. Veolia’s scope includes Ecrusor™ for pre-processing food waste and BioCo™ for volume reduction of digested sludge.

“This project delivers a unique example of ecological transformation — literally converting waste into local energy and revenue,” said Richard Gray, Senior Vice President, Engineered Solutions Projects, 91��Water Technologies & Solutions. “Once complete, this project will serve as a blueprint for nearly any region that allows a municipality to produce energy from its waste, which goes beyond a sustainability initiative and creates savings for constituents.”

“This project is the culmination of many years of planning and efforts by the Authority to ensure that we are employing the most cost-effective technology and harnessing the value of our community’s wastewater,“ said Cory Miller, Executive Director of the University Area Joint Authority. “At the helm of the Authority for 27 years, I have seen tremendous changes. Our existing biosolids process, composting, started in 1994 and was among the few operational facilities of its kind in the nation. Having reached its retirement, the Authority is excited to replace these facilities with Veolia’s innovative biosolids digestion and drying that will position the Authority for the next 30 years.”

Learn more about how Veolia’s biosolids solutions and products create an ecological transformation for municipalities and industrial businesses.

ABOUT VEOLIA

Veolia's ambition is to become the benchmark company for ecological transformation. With nearly 218,000 employees on five continents, the Group designs and deploys useful, practical solutions for managing water, waste and energy that help to radically change the world. Through its three complementary activities, 91��contributes to developing access to resources, preserving available resources and renewing them. In 2023, the 91��group served 113 million people with drinking water and 103 million with wastewater services, produced 42 terawatt-hours of energy and recovered 63 million metric tons of waste. 91��Environnement (Paris Euronext: VIE) generated consolidated sales of €45.3 billion in 2023. www.veolia.com

ABOUT UNIVERSITY AREA JOINT AUTHORITY

The University Area Joint Authority is the municipal authority that provides wastewater collection, treatment, biosolids management, and water reuse for the Borough of State College, College Township, Ferguson Township, Harris Township, and Patton Township. Nationally recognized as a Utility of the Future Today three times by the Water Environment Federation, the Authority is a leader in management of wastewater for a growing community and has embraced sustainability and a forward-thinking approach to wastewater management on a watershed scale. Formed in 1969, the Authority comprehensively manages its assets for prudent fiscal operations and long-term sustainability, meeting today’s and tomorrow’s regulatory challenges. www.uaja.com

CONTACTS

91��Water Technologies & Solutions
Kalia Farrell External Communications Lead
kalia.farrell@veolia.com

Pharmacopeia's Paradigm Shift: Embracing Recombinant Methods in Bacterial Endotoxin Testing

rylee.lay@veolia.com — Tue, 24 Sep 2024 16:47:24 +0000

Pharmacopeia's Paradigm Shift: Embracing Recombinant Methods in Bacterial Endotoxin Testing rylee.lay@veolia.com Tue, 09/24/2024 - 12:47

September 24, 2024

The field of bacterial endotoxin testing (BET) is undergoing a significant transformation with the introduction of recombinant technologies. As these new methods gain traction, pharmacopeia guidance is evolving to accommodate and regulate their use.

A major development in this area is the upcoming publication of a new compendial chapter in the United States Pharmacopeia (USP). The chapter, USP <86> "Bacterial Endotoxins Test Using Recombinant Reagents," is set to become official in 2025. This new guidance will allow for the implementation of non-animal derived reagents, such as recombinant Factor C (rFC) and recombinant Cascade Reagent (rCR), in the detection and quantification of bacterial endotoxins.

The significance of this new chapter marks an important milestone in endotoxin testing. Currently, recombinant reagents are considered alternative methods, requiring users to undergo extensive alternative method validation. However, with the implementation of USP <86>, users will be able to choose between traditional Limulus Amebocyte Lysate (LAL) and recombinant reagents without the need for this additional validation step.

This change in pharmacopeia guidance is expected to streamline the adoption of recombinant reagents in BET procedures. It addresses one of the main hurdles in the widespread use of these innovative methods - the regulatory burden of proving comparability to traditional LAL methods. To prepare for this transition, laboratories are encouraged to conduct comparability studies between their current LAL methods and recombinant reagents. This can involve side-by-side testing of samples using both methods on platforms such as the Sievers Eclipse, which has demonstrated compatibility with both LAL and recombinant reagents.

As we approach 2025, the BET landscape is poised for significant change. The new pharmacopeia guidance will likely accelerate the adoption of recombinant technologies, offering potential benefits in terms of sustainability, consistency, and possibly improved sensitivity in endotoxin detection. Laboratories and quality control professionals should stay informed about these developments and consider how they might integrate recombinant methods into their testing protocols. As always, adherence to regulatory guidelines and thorough validation of any new methods will be crucial in ensuring the continued safety and quality of pharmaceutical products.

Author:

Author: Hayden Skalski- Life Sciences Product Application Specialist, 91��Water Technologies & Solutions, Sievers Instruments

Hayden is the Life Sciences Product Application Specialist for the Sievers Instruments product line, specializing in bacterial endotoxins testing (BET). Hayden has over 8 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry and Quality Control Microbiology and has presented on numerous topics surrounding endotoxin testing. Previously, Hayden held roles at Charles River Laboratories, Regeneron and Novartis, validating and executing method development protocols for endotoxin testing, providing customer support, troubleshooting and supporting high-volume product testing. Hayden has a B.S. from the University at Albany (SUNY) in Biology.

Sievers Resource Center Industry

Life Sciences

Sievers Resource Center Type

Industry Trends

91��Delivers Industrial Water and Wastewater Treatment Facilities to Suzano’s New Plant in Brazil

Admin — Mon, 23 Sep 2024 13:00:00 +0000

91��Delivers Industrial Water and Wastewater Treatment Facilities to Suzano’s New Plant in Brazil Admin Mon, 09/23/2024 - 09:00

September 23, 2024

> Suzano's new plant in Mato Grosso do Sul, considered to be the world’s largest single-line eucalyptus pulp production unit, includes $22.2 billion Brazilian real in total investments.

> According to the Brazilian Tree Industry, Brazil is the world’s largest pulp exporter and shipped 8.9 million metric tons of pulp to China last year, generating $3.8 billion.

> 91��commissioned a new set of industrial water, demineralized water and effluent treatment plants facilities with capacity of 9,550 and 8,050 cubic meters per hour respectively.

91��has made a significant contribution to Suzano, the world's largest pulp producer, by delivering advanced industrial and demineralized water and effluent treatment facilities for the company's new plant in Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. This plant, set to be the world's largest single-line eucalyptus pulp production plant, is a testament to our commitment to the industry. Operations began in the summer of 2024, producing an estimated 2.55 million tons of eucalyptus pulp annually and expanding Suzano's current production capacity by more than 20%.

Water treatment is vital to producing pulp and paper products because the manufacturing process requires high volumes of high-quality water and addresses environmental regulations for tough-to-treat effluents, including suspended solids, trace heavy metals, and organic compounds. These processes are essential for companies like Suzano, which focus on producing pulp sustainably. This is important for Brazil's economy and ensures a steady supply of pulp for products like toilet paper, sanitary pads, diapers, medicine, books, and other everyday items around the world. According to the Brazilian Tree Industry, the country made its largest sale ever, in both volume and revenue, to China in 2023: 8.9 million metric tons of pulp for $3.8 billion.

The new industrial and boiler feed water treatment facilities 91��commissioned for Suzano's next-generation plant are a testament to our commitment to reliability and efficiency. They utilize leading technologies for industrial process water and potable water production, including Densator clarifiers, SP Pak filters, ZeeWeed* ultrafiltration, and reverse osmosis. With a treatment capacity of 9,550 cubic meters per hour of industrial water and 80 cubic meters per hour of potable water, the facility will ensure reliable water production for the largest pulp production plant worldwide.

"Brazil continues to increase its capacity as a global pulp exporter, and to meet that demand, this new plant needs the most robust, state-of-the-art technology," said Mauro Cruz, Senior Vice President for Latin America at 91��Water Technologies & Solutions. "Our experts deeply understand the unique needs of the pulp and paper industry and developed solutions that enable our partners at Suzano to achieve depollution and regeneration of vital resources tied to Veolia's GreenUP strategic plan and ecological objectives.

" Additionally, 91��also enhanced the plant's effluent treatment by implementing its Biofilm Activated Sludge (BAS™) process, a robust technological solution that combines the moving bed bioreactor (MBBR) process with activated sludge, followed by sludge dewatering belt presses. The treatment of sludge generated through dewatering presses is also a key component of the 91��solution. This cutting-edge technology has been a differentiator in new pulp and paper plants, offering high reliability, lower civil construction costs, and proven efficiency, ensuring compliance with local environmental regulations.

"The advanced effluent treatment process we’ve implemented, when used efficiently, can prevent water pollution equivalent to the organic load generated by a municipality of 2 million inhabitants", explains Mauro Cruz. "This level of treatment ensures the local environment is safeguarded and preserves our vital water resources."

"Veolia's ability to adapt the application of their innovative technologies to meet our high demands and customized needs, along with their ability to bring robust and reliable partners to the project, was one of the company's differentials in this project," says Mauricio Miranda, Engineering Director at Suzano.

The technologies used in Suzano's new plant include the most sustainable innovations and processes in water treatment. The delivery of these water and industrial effluent treatment facilities further demonstrates Veolia's commitment to providing an ecological transformation for the pulp and paper industry, ensuring that companies like Suzano can operate efficiently while minimizing environmental impact and enabling the regeneration of existing and alternative water sources for the communities around its operations.

Learn more about custom and innovative water and effluent treatment solutions for the pulp and paper industry.

ABOUT VEOLIA

ABOUT VEOLIA WATER TECHNOLOGIES & SOLUTIONS

With operations in 130 countries and over 10,000 employees worldwide, 91��Water Technologies & Solutions solves the toughest water, wastewater, and process challenges around the globe. Leveraging a comprehensive set of chemical, equipment, and digital-enabled services and products, the company helps customers optimize water resources and overcome process challenges. 91��Water Technologies & Solutions serves customers across all industries, including food and beverage, metals and mining, power, pharmaceutical, oil and gas, chemicals, petrochemicals, pulp and paper, and utilities. Learn more at watertechnologies.com and connect with us on LinkedIn and X.

CONTACTS

91��Water Technologies & Solutions

Latin America

Diego Araque Fuentes

Communications Director

diego.fuentes1@veolia.com

Tel +55 (11) 971 365 752

91��Water Technologies & Solutions

Media Relations

Kalia Farrell

External Communications Lead

kalia.farrell@veolia.com

A Guide to Validating RMMs Following USP <1223>

rylee.lay@veolia.com — Tue, 03 Sep 2024 16:18:59 +0000

A Guide to Validating RMMs Following USP <1223> rylee.lay@veolia.com Tue, 09/03/2024 - 12:18

September 3, 2024

Introduction

Ensuring the safety and quality of pharmaceutical products is of paramount importance in the healthcare industry. Traditional microbiological testing methods, such as culture-based techniques, have long been the gold standard. However, with the advancement of technology, alternative microbiological methods (such as rapid microbial methods or RMMs) have emerged, offering potential advantages in terms of speed, sensitivity, and automation. The validation of these alternative methods is crucial to guarantee their reliability and accuracy, and to ensure the methods are fit for their intended purpose.

Regulations

The United States Pharmacopeia (USP) <1223> serves as a comprehensive guide for the validation of alternative microbiological methods used in the pharmaceutical industry. This chapter covers a wide range of applications, including microbial enumeration, identification, detection, antimicrobial effectiveness testing, and sterility testing. It encompasses various types of alternative methods, such as RMMs, automated techniques, and molecular approaches like polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and nucleic acid amplification.

According to USP <1223>, the validation process for alternative microbiological methods should address several key aspects. The method's suitability for its intended use must be evaluated, demonstrating equivalent or superior performance compared to the compendial method. This involves assessing factors such as accuracy, precision, specificity, limit of detection, and limit of quantification.

In addition, the alternative method must prove its equivalency to the compendial method by meeting the acceptance criteria outlined in USP <1223>. The method should demonstrate acceptable levels of accuracy, precision, specificity, linearity, robustness, repeatability, and ruggedness. Statistical analysis comparing the alternative method to the compendial method is also a requirement.

In addition to USP <1223>, manufacturers must adhere to guidelines from regulatory bodies such as the FDA, ICH, and EU GMP. Other relevant USP chapters, including USP <51>, <61>, <62>, <63>, <71>, <1058>, and <1225>, should also be considered.

Validation

The validation process should follow a stepwise approach, beginning with identifying user requirements and preparing a User Requirement Specification (URS) document. Instrument qualification, including Installation Qualification (IQ), Operational Qualification (OQ), and Performance Qualification (PQ), is essential to ensure that the equipment meets the manufacturer's specifications and the URS.

Proper documentation is a critical aspect of the validation process. A well-documented validation report should include comprehensive data supporting the method's suitability for its intended purpose. This report must be reviewed and approved by relevant personnel, such as quality assurance or regulatory affairs representatives.

Benefits of Alternative Microbiological Methods

The validation of alternative microbiological methods offers several benefits to pharmaceutical manufacturers. These methods can assist in monitoring the entire production process for microbial contamination more rapidly than traditional compendial methods. Additionally, they can reduce the risk of ergonomic injuries for analysts by minimizing repetitive tasks.

As technology continues to evolve, the adoption of alternative microbiological methods is expected to increase, driven by their potential advantages in speed, automation, and sensitivity. USP <1223> serves as an invaluable resource for manufacturers, providing guidance and ensuring that these alternative methods meet the necessary standards for quality and regulatory compliance.

Instrumentation for rapid microbial methods, accompanied by microorganism verification testing from the instrument vendor in alignment with USP <1223>, allows for confidence and efficiency when implementing an RMM.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the validation of alternative microbiological methods is a critical step in ensuring the safety and quality of pharmaceutical products. By adhering to the guidelines set forth in USP <1223> and complying with regulatory requirements, manufacturers can leverage the advantages of these advanced methods while maintaining the highest standards of quality and patient safety.

Click here to read the full whitepaper

Request more information on the Sievers Soleil Rapid Bioburden Analyzer

Sievers Resource Center Industry

Life Sciences

Sievers Resource Center Type

Industry Trends

Endotoxin testing alternatives to reduce LAL usage

rylee.lay@veolia.com — Wed, 07 Aug 2024 16:48:52 +0000

Endotoxin testing alternatives to reduce LAL usage rylee.lay@veolia.com Wed, 08/07/2024 - 12:48

August 7, 2024

Most of today’s pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers utilize limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL) – the blood from horseshoe crabs – to test for bacterial endotoxin. The testing is critical to detect dangerous and potentially deadly contaminants but, from a sustainability perspective, it puts pressure on the horseshoe crab population. The crabs are the most sensitive and unmatched natural endotoxin detection reagent on the planet. Most of those collected and bled by the biomedical industry are, as required by the Fishery Management Plant (FMP), released alive to the water from where they were collected; however, a portion of these crabs die from the procedure¹. For this reason, alternative bacterial endotoxin methods have evolved in recent years. Recombinant Factor C (rFC) and recombinant cascade reagents (rCR) are two alternative methods that do not use horseshoe crab blood.

rFC is the first clotting enzyme in the horseshoe crab’s blood clotting mechanism, and a clone of this Factor C is used for the rFC method. It works by having a fluorescence reader amplify a fluorogenic substrate to detect the presence of endotoxin. The FDA has recognized rFC as an alternative method but does require equivalency testing to more common compendial BET methods, in accordance with the requirements of USP <85>Bacterial Endotoxins Test and USP Chapter <1225>Validation of Compendial Procedures².

Recombinant cascade reagents, or rCR utilizes the same factors as traditional LAL reagents found in horseshoe crab blood, but by using a recombinant manufacturing process³, it is considered an alternative method. Using a recombinant reagent contains all clotting factors and uses a traditional kinetic assay on an absorbance reader, making it animal-free testing for BET. Companies that adopt this assay method also must go through the same validation/equivalency testing as rFC.

Although these methods are more sustainable for the horseshoe crab population, validating and implementing an alternative method for BET can be time consuming and rigorous, and leave many companies looking for a simpler, yet also sustainable option, for testing products for endotoxin.

The Sievers Eclipse Bacterial Endotoxins Testing (BET) Platform is a solution that offers significant advantages in terms of LAL reduction and compendial adherence. While not an alternative method, by performing a full IQ/OQ/PQ protocol and robust testing and validation similar to requirements of USP <1225>, users will have full confidence in its validation. The Eclipse uses commercially available, FDA licensed horseshoe crab LAL but reduces LAL use by up to 90 percent compared to traditional LAL methods such as the 96-well plate and gel clot. In developing the Eclipse, an ultramodern microplate was designed to facilitate accurate and rapid dispersion of LAL and samples using centripetal force, metering chambers, and microfluidic channels. The microfluidic system uses the same biochemistry as traditional endotoxin assays but with minimal hands-on effort, greater consistency, and drastically reduced LAL consumption– by up to 90% as mentioned.

The Sievers Eclipse Bacterial Endotoxins Testing (BET) Platform is fast becoming a BET testing method of choice because it allows pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers to protect valuable natural resources and meet sustainability goals while complying with strict analytical and regulatory requirements of USP <85>, EP 2.6.14 and JP 4.01 harmonized global pharmacopeia.

Comparison of LAL Testing Methods

Author: Hayden Skalski- Life Sciences Product Application Specialist, 91��Water Technologies & Solutions, Sievers Instruments

References

1. Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. (n.d.). Horseshoe Crab. Retrieved from http://www.asmfc.org/species/horseshoe-crab

2. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Food and Drug Administration. (2012, June). Guidance for Industry: Pyrogen and Endotoxins Testing: Questions and Answers

3. Associates Of Cape Cod Incorporated. (n.d.). Recombinant LAL Reagent PyroSmart NextGen™ Instructions For Use.

Sievers Resource Center Industry

Life Sciences

Sievers Resource Center Type

Industry Trends

91��takes artificial intelligence deployment to the next level to drive sustainable water management

watertechnologies.com — Wed, 31 Jul 2024 15:05:24 +0000

91��takes artificial intelligence deployment to the next level to drive sustainable water management watertechnolog… Wed, 07/31/2024 - 11:05

July 31, 2024

91��launches an innovative digital solution based on AI, Hubgrade Water Footprint, to help customers achieve water neutrality goals by effectively monitoring and managing water consumption in real time
During our pilot phase, the solution has already reduced water consumption at our 91��Hoskote site by 20% thanks to monitoring the use of Rainwater Harvesting in 2023
In line with its GreenUp strategic plan, which intends to rely heavily on innovation, the Group will roll out Hubgrade Water Footprint to 20 sites worldwide in 2024

As part of its GreenUp** strategic plan, which makes innovation one of the levers for accelerating ecological transformation, 91��is expanding its leading Hubgrade* portfolio by launching Hubgrade Water Footprint, an innovative digital solution designed to help customers reduce their water footprint, water-related energy use, and greenhouse gas emissions.

Hubgrade, Veolia’s unique range of digital services, provides data analytics, supervision, optimization and predictive systems for water, waste, energy and other environmental resources. Using the power of data and the most advanced AI technologies combined with our worldwide operational expertise, we tailor solutions for your specific ecological transformation journey, whether it’s decarbonization, depollution, or resource saving and regeneration.

Industrial processes around the world consume more than 1 billion cubic meters of water each year, leaving companies looking for ways to optimize water usage and accelerate ecological transformation***. Hubgrade Water Footprint offers full visibility into water operations, including true water cost, water use ratio, and water balance, by combining real-time, in-field data, artificial intelligence, and best-in-class domain expertise into a single resource.

"Traditional water audits only create a snapshot in time of water consumption at an industrial facility," said Bernie Anger, Chief Digital Officer at 91��Water Technologies & Solutions. "Hubgrade Water Footprint goes beyond this steady-state representation of total cost of water and captures real-time emergence of water wastage events at a granular level to systematically identify and eliminate water inefficiency in a way that a traditional water audit cannot."

By using AI, the platform drives actionable insights that can be used for example to detect water wastage incidents in real time, enabling effective water risk management and providing recommendations to optimize the impact of energy consumption associated with water circuits, thereby reducing the overall carbon emissions of the facility.

91��piloted Hubgrade Water Footprint at one of its plants and created early wins like more than 20,000 kilograms of emissions reduced by piped natural gas (PNG) usage. Hubgrade Water Footprint is the latest step of an ecological transformation at this facility, which included a 72,000-kilowatt-hour savings through solar power and more than 3,000 cubic meters of harvested rainwater.

In 2024, Hubgrade Water Footprint is expected to expand to more than 15 global 91��sites to drive new sustainability efforts, in addition to partnering with clients to help them achieve their unique water neutrality goals. 91��provided their expertise and customized recommendations needed to accelerate the client’s sustainability journey.

Veolia's innovative reporting tools also allow companies to set and track sustainability targets across teams, increasing transparency with regulators and stakeholders in adherence with local governance. Companies can also optimize operations and planning, ensured by Veolia's water expertise and customer success teams.

"By embracing water sustainability practices, enterprises secure long-term viability in an increasingly resource-constrained world," said Anger. "Hubgrade Water Footprint acts as a catalyst in the evolution toward ecological transformation, in line with our new strategic plan GreenUp.

"Drawing on decades of experience with over 50,000 connected assets across 5,000+ global sites, 91��is well-positioned to help customers achieve sustainability goals that drive significant change. In 2022, 91��saved 320 million cubic meters of water and reused 990 million cubic meters of treated wastewater.

Watch our latest video and learn more about how Hubgrade digital solutions make water processes smarter, safer, and more sustainable.

ABOUT VEOLIA

Veolia’s ambition is to become the benchmark company for ecological transformation. With nearly 218,000 employees on five continents, the Group designs and deploys useful, practical solutions for managing water, waste and energy that help to radically change the world. Through its three complementary activities, 91��contributes to developing access to resources, preserving available resources and renewing them. In 2023, the 91��group served 113 million people with drinking water and 103 million with wastewater services, produced 42 terawatt-hours of energy and recovered 63 million metric tons of waste. 91��Environnement (Paris Euronext: VIE) generated consolidated sales of €45.3 billion in 2023. www.veolia.com

CONTACT

91��Water Technologies & Solutions

Kalia Farrell

External Communications Lead

kalia.Farrell@veolia.com

Protecting your steam generation processes by monitoring organics

rylee.lay@veolia.com — Fri, 05 Jul 2024 14:19:57 +0000

Protecting your steam generation processes by monitoring organics rylee.lay@veolia.com Fri, 07/05/2024 - 10:19

July 5, 2024

Utilities for heating and cooling are critical to production processes across industries. Often these utilities use water for steam generation or to remove heat. Ultrapure water is a critical component in steam generation systems across many industries, including food and beverage, refineries, chemical processing, and power. For steam generation, water goes through extensive treatment processes to remove contaminants before being used and then is often recycled or discharged after use. Proper water treatment plays a key role in maintaining productivity, asset protection, and enabling water reuse.

Total organic carbon (TOC) can be a latent corrosion contributor which can enter water systems from the original source water or get introduced through cooling processes, leaks or other contamination points. If not removed, these organics can break down into corrosive acids at the high temperatures and pressures inside boilers and turbines. This corrosion can lead to equipment damage, deposits, unplanned downtime and reduced efficiency.

Some common sources of organic contaminants include:

Source organics that pass pre-treatment Ion-exchange resin or resin itself leaching
Treatment chemicals that volatilize into steam
Lubricating oils or degreasing solvents Leaks from process side
Polluted condensate returned to the boiler
Residue organics that cause microbial growth

To protect assets, some boiler insurance providers and regulatory bodies enforce strict TOC limits as low as 100-200 parts per billion (ppb) and some plants operate as low as 10% of that. Organics like polysaccharides can also foul membranes used for water purification. Monitoring and removing organics saves costs through improved equipment reliability and efficiency.

TOC monitoring allows plants to detect organic contamination from source water, identify treatment deficiencies, find leaks, and troubleshoot other issues. For example, measuring changes in organic content can identify breaches in system processes, and monitoring control points can help troubleshoot and identify sources of pollution. The information and data obtained from TOC monitoring allows for fast decision making to protect valuable equipment and achieve operational goals.

As plants move towards zero liquid discharge and increased water reuse, TOC data helps determine which streams can be safely recycled. TOC data provides facilities with information to solve various problems that can occur when monitoring ultrapure water.

Problem	Solution
Corrosion cracking in last rows of the steam turbine when source water changed from drinking water to industrial water.	Monitoring TOC when changing source waters or monitoring for changes in source waters can indicate if treatment adjustments are needed.
Defective anion exchange resin passed chlorinated organics into steam cycle. Increased chloride concentration forced a boiler blow-down.	Even though the resin rinsed to acceptable conductivity levels, non-ionic chlorinated organics did not rinse out. TOC monitors ionic and non-ionic organics and can help troubleshoot issues with process equipment.
Boilers needed replacement every two years due to internal scaling. Foaming was noticed on saturated steam lines. Investigation revealed TOC had reached 200 ppm in condensate return lines.	Continual monitoring of makeup and condensate for TOC can prevent scale from building up and protect equipment from damage.

Organics monitoring provides an effective way to measure and control organic contaminants while minimizing corrosion, fouling and other issues that impact productivity, costs and asset lifetimes. With increasingly stringent regulations and water reuse targets, TOC monitoring is an essential tool for optimizing water treatment in various steam generation processes.

To learn more about how implementing organics monitoring into your steam generation processes can be beneficial to you, click here.

Sievers Resource Center Industry

Industrial and Environmental

Sievers Resource Center Type

Industry Trends

Sievers TOC Analyzers: F&B Load Monitoring

rylee.lay@veolia.com — Tue, 18 Jun 2024 22:52:12 +0000

Sievers TOC Analyzers: F&B Load Monitoring rylee.lay@veolia.com Tue, 06/18/2024 - 18:52

June 18, 2024

Why use TOC to improve chemical dosing and optimize wastewater treatment?

Water plays a vital role in the food and beverage industry. It is used as an ingredient, for cleaning, and for utilities such as heating and cooling. Depending on the type of product, the manufacturing process, and the facility location, water use ratios can vary across the food and beverage industry. According to Global Water Intelligence (GWI), meat and poultry processing involves high amounts of water for cleaning and washing up to over 60L/kg of product. Distilleries, while a small portion of the industry, also involve high water use ratios per product due to the distilling process up to 45 L/kg of product. Beverage manufacturers like soft drinks and bottled water can achieve low water use ratios with high amounts of water in the product and opportunities for efficient reuse even less than 1 L/kg product. Due to the high and variable levels of water usage in the industry and the need to comply with discharge regulations, food and beverage manufacturers seek to optimize wastewater treatment processes to reduce costs and avoid fines, while also being able to achieve corporate sustainability targets and protect brand reputation.

The steps used to treat contaminated wastewater includes first removing suspended solids then breaking down contaminants to remove and polish the water prior to discharge. Insufficiently treated water can lead to risks such as product loss, discharge penalties, waste stream diversion or even hauling of waste – all expensive and undesirable consequences.

How can organics monitoring be used to optimize chemical treatment?

The EPA has identified major pollutant categories that must be controlled. These include pathogens, nutrients, inorganic contaminants, and organic contaminants. Organic contaminants are often referred to as oxygen-demanding substances. Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) and Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) are commonly used by companies to monitor oxygen-demanding substances, but with the advances in total organic carbon (TOC) monitoring technology, the EPA allows the use of TOC for monitoring oxygen-demanding substances. By shifting from BOD and COD monitoring to TOC monitoring, there are major advantages of faster analysis time as well as increased sustainability. When trying to determine a waste stream’s composition and determine quickly if chemical dosing is effective, speed and ease-of-testing are critical.

TOC monitoring is advantageous in a variety of stages within food and beverage wastewater treatment:

Initial influent testing for TOC into primary application—initial product washing and source wastewater control
Compliance release TOC testing into secondary application—blanching, separation, equalization prior to biological stage
Compliance release TOC testing into tertiary application—utility usage, cooling, clean up, packaging, reuse or recycling
Compliance release TOC testing into water tributaries—NPDES permit release or sewer discharge to POTW

Using TOC to adjust treatment in real-time allows for cost savings and prevention of discharge fines

Cost savings can be achieved when companies are able to use real-time information to modify treatment such as reduce chemical usage, control equalization, and monitor steady food to microorganism balancing in biological systems. By monitoring effluent, the treatment facility can confirm its treatment is effective, thus minimizing excess use of resources and time. Conversely, if manufacturers start to see increases in TOC values due to an unknown process contamination, they can act on the near real-time analysis and correct the chemical dosing to avoid cost and compliance violations.

Controlling organic load in waste streams is easily achievable

TOC monitoring plays a crucial role in optimizing water treatment processes in the food and beverage industry. It helps ensure compliance with regulations, minimize costs, and maximize profit. By monitoring and controlling the organic load in waste streams, manufacturers can achieve efficient water management and avoid the negative consequences of improper treatment. TOC analysis provides real-time data that enables quick adjustments and helps maintain water quality throughout the manufacturing process. When it comes to wastewater monitoring, Sievers TOC Analyzers give food and beverage manufacturers fast and reliable information by ensuring that they are in compliance with regulatory guidelines. Sievers partners with manufacturers to determine the right solution for each application. A thorough application review helps with method development, site pre commissioning, and preventative maintenance steps. Sievers TOC analyzers are designed to make complex measurements simple and enable users to achieve compliance, quality, and control while meeting both productivity and sustainability goals.

Sievers Resource Center Industry

Industrial and Environmental

Sievers Resource Center Type

Industry Trends

Capture6 and 91��Water Technologies & Solutions Announce a Global Collaboration to Help Reach Industrial Scale Carbon Removal

watertechnologies.com — Tue, 18 Jun 2024 16:42:06 +0000

Capture6 and 91��Water Technologies & Solutions Announce a Global Collaboration to Help Reach Industrial Scale Carbon Removal watertechnolog… Tue, 06/18/2024 - 12:42

June 17, 2024

BERKELEY, CA - June 17, 2024 – Capture6, a water-positive carbon removal company, and 91��Water Technologies & Solutions, a global leader in solving the toughest water, wastewater and process challenges, today announced a global collaboration agreement to help address both the cause and symptoms of climate change by deploying carbon dioxide (CO₂) removal facilities with integrated water management systems.

According to the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), keeping global warming under 1.5°C is no longer possible by reducing emissions alone. Permanent and irreversible carbon removal must be deployed at unprecedented speed and scale. At the same time, the world struggles with water security which is exacerbated by climate change and threatens the local economies, jobs, and livelihoods. The Capture6 and 91��collaboration will allow for novel reconfiguration of existing commercialized technologies to provide more cost-effective direct air capture CO₂ removal while utilizing wastewater brine to produce valuable by-products and freshwater.

Capture6’s direct air capture (DAC) technology requires saltwater to create its carbon removal solvent. By partnering with water treatment facilities and repurposing existing industrial-scale technologies, Capture6 can recover freshwater from desalination waste brine for drinking and industrial purposes while capturing CO₂ and reducing waste brine in the process. This process uses cutting-edge desalination and water treatment technologies 91��has been developing and implementing for over a century to effectively manage water resources around the world. These same technologies will enable Capture6 to scale quickly and meaningfully contribute to combating the climate crisis.

Brine treatment for carbon capture and water recovery is key to the Capture6 process, and 91��has brine treatment experience on five continents. Utilizing its global expertise , 91��can provide advanced water treatment processes for various brine sources based on its expertise in filtration, membrane, thermal treatment and electrodialysis technologies.

Integrating DAC technology into advanced water treatment processes offers a promising path to carbon removal on a global scale. “With Capture6, there will be zero discharge of brine,” said California’s Palmdale Water District Engineering Manager Scott Rogers. “This provides us with a lot of resilience. It looks like our savings will be about 20% to 40% for the lifetime of the cost of the project.”

Capture6 is leveraging this agreement in the development of a global pipeline of projects in California, Western Australia, New Zealand and South Korea to integrate circular solutions that utilize brine waste streams in their integrated process to provide megaton CO₂ removal from the atmosphere and create co-benefits including fresh water and added value products.

“Our solution was developed after closely looking at the major cost drivers of direct air carbon capture systems and working hard to eliminate them,” said Dr. Ethan Cohen-Cole, CEO and co-founder of Capture6. “91��has unique advantages integrating water treatment solutions that makes them the ideal partner.”

“As part of our drive for ecological transformation to address climate change challenges, 91��is excited to work with Capture6 to help provide innovative, meaningful solutions that can reduce residual emissions in the atmosphere as well as help companies and countries meet their net zero targets.” said Bill Heins, Global Leader, New Market Development at 91��Water Technologies & Solutions.

About Capture6
Capture6 is a water-positive carbon removal company based in California and New Zealand leveraging its technology to support climate resilience and industrial decarbonization. The company develops and commercializes highly scalable approaches to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Capture6 is pioneering an approach that can be deployed today by repurposing existing industrial-scale technologies. Additionally, when coupled with desalination facilities, Capture6 can recover over 50% of freshwater from desalination waste brine for drinking and industrial purposes in the process of removing CO₂. This creates a meaningful synergy between carbon removal and water security. Learn more at capture6.org.

About 91��

About 91��Water Technologies & Solutions

With operations in 130 countries and over 10,000 employees worldwide, 91��Water Technologies & Solutions solves the toughest water, wastewater, and process challenges around the globe. Leveraging a comprehensive set of chemical, equipment, and digital-enabled services and products, the company helps customers optimize water resources and overcome process challenges. 91��Water Technologies & Solutions serves customers across all industries, including food and beverage, metals and mining, power, pharmaceutical, oil and gas, chemicals,petrochemicals, pulp and paper, and utilities. Learn more at watertechnologies.com and connect with us on LinkedIn and X.

91��Water Technologies Signs Agreement to Expand Presence in Wuxi, China with New Intelligent Manufacturing Factory

watertechnologies.com — Thu, 30 May 2024 20:33:19 +0000

91��Water Technologies Signs Agreement to Expand Presence in Wuxi, China with New Intelligent Manufacturing Factory watertechnolog… Thu, 05/30/2024 - 16:33

May 31, 2024

> Extended agreement with the Administrative Committee of Wuxi National High-Tech Industrial Development Zone aims to accomplish mutually beneficial objectives.

> New facility will enable 91��to become a full solution provider of water technology and solutions in the region and transform the Wuxi facility into a base of R&D and product assembly in China.

Veolia, through its subsidiary, 91��Water Technologies & Solutions has signed an agreement to significantly expand its operations in Wuxi, China and partner with the Administrative Committee of Wuxi National High-Tech Industrial Development Zone (WND) to accomplish mutually beneficial objectives.

WND is among the top five national high-tech industrial development zones in China and home to 1,600 foreign-invested enterprises. 91��has held a presence in Wuxi since 2003.

Under the agreement, 91��plans to expand its current production capacity in Wuxi and introduce new products to build energy-saving and environmentally friendly clean production lines. The company will transform its Wuxi site into a base of R&D and product assembly in China. The expansion is part of Veolia’s newly launched GreenUp* program aimed at accelerating the deployment of solutions that decarbonize, depollute, and regenerate resources. To achieve this new strategy program, the Group relies on the combination of its core businesses with growth boosters such as Water Technologies and new solutions to preserve water resources and treat new pollutants.

“China represents an important market for 91��as we execute our GreenUp program to drive ecological transformation for partners and customers around the globe,” said Anne Le Guennec, Senior Executive VP, 91��Water Technologies. “Our enhanced presence will allow us to be the catalyst for emissions reductions, water conservation, and pollution prevention in the region. Through this extended partnership and new innovation, our Wuxi expansion exemplifies our commitment to greening up and creating a more sustainable future.”

Veolia’s Wuxi facility is the largest production base of 91��Group in Asia Pacific region, as well as the only site with a complete water treatment product production line, from chemical reagents to equipment. It holds a leading position in the global water treatment and process treatment industries.

_{*Greenup is Veolia's new strategic program to accelerate the deployment of affordable, replicable solutions that depollute, decarbonize and regenerate our resources}

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Capture6 and 91����Water Technologies & Solutions Announce a Global Collaboration to Help Reach Industrial Scale Carbon Removal

91����Water Technologies Signs Agreement to Expand Presence in Wuxi, China with New Intelligent Manufacturing Factory

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91��takes artificial intelligence deployment to the next level to drive sustainable water management

Capture6 and 91��Water Technologies & Solutions Announce a Global Collaboration to Help Reach Industrial Scale Carbon Removal

91��Water Technologies Signs Agreement to Expand Presence in Wuxi, China with New Intelligent Manufacturing Factory