Initial situation:

• For the circulation of process water, dissolved heavy metals must be removed, e.g. From cooling water or washing water from electric furnace slag.
• Adsorption offers the possibility to selectively remove heavy metals at low initial concentrations (<1 mg / L) from high saline waters.
• Existing adsorbents are not designed for industrial wastewater and are too expensive.

Working topics:

• Product development of a low cost adsorbent based on iron hydroxide, based on the treatment of industrial effluents (solids containing, high salt content).
• Characterization of the new adsorption device and performance determination in on-site tests with industrial wastewater.
• Development of adsorption processes in the suspension reactor and fixed bed.

Results:

• Cost-effective new adsorbent with high mechanical stability for heavy metal removal, e.g. Molybdenum, vanadium, from industrial sewage water.
• New treatment process for selective heavy metal removal as a prerequisite for the circulation of industrial process waters.
• Process concepts for heavy metal removal by adsorption in the suspension reactor and in the fixed bed.