ALICON ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS
Process Wastewater Treatment
Filter Cake
The cost and liability associated with the management of the filter
cake from the process waste water treatment plant at a client facility
was spiraling out of control. The filter cake being produced was
a hazardous waste and was being transported hundreds of miles for
disposal in a hazardous waste landfill and after disposal the liability
was still theirs.
As a result of a long-standing relationship, Alicon was asked to
lead an effort to review the process, from the treatment plant operation
to the final disposal, with a goal of reducing cost and, if possible,
long term liability.
A review of the treatment processes identified that some changes
could be instituted that would improve the efficiency of the process
and could potentially produce a filter cake that would not be a
hazardous waste. The additional costs of operating the process would
be more than offset by the improved efficiency.
 In
addition, Alicon identified a partnership formed by a private sector
firm, Pennsylvania State University and the Pennsylvania Department
of Environmental Protection. The partnership was experimenting with
the use of co-products for mine reclamation. After extensive testing,
process modification and negotiation, the filter cake was accepted
for the program. Changes in the treatment process had made the filter
cake non-hazardous. The filter cake is now a component of a cementatious
grout that is used in the reclamation program.
The client estimates that savings of $400,000.00 are realized annually
as a result of the changes identified by Alicon and instituted at
the process waste water treatment plant. In addition, there is no
long term liability associated with the filter cake, because the
material is used as a component of a product.
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