Copper Removal

Cost effective treatment of distillery effluent to remove copper

Presented by Dr Stephen Walker

Copper Reduction Tests

reduction in Copper above 90%

Copper Reduction

Average start figure

4.00mg/l

After treatment

0.58mg/l

Percentage

reduction

85%

Relationship between pH increase and Copper Reduction

pH at Start Copper at Start pH at end Copper at end

9.0 12.0mg/l 8.3 2.6mg/l

9.5 12.0mg/l 8.7 2.9mg/l

10.0 12.2mg/l 9.1 3.0mg/l

10.5 12.2mg/l 9.6 3.5mg/l

11.0 12.2mg/l 10.2 4.7mg/l

11.5 12.1mg/l 10.6 6.7mg/l

12.0 12.1mg/l 11.1 7.6mg/l

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

pH at StartCopper at Start (mg/l)pH at endCopper at end (mg/l)

pH

Mg/l of Copper

Relationship between pH increase and Copper Reduction

Affect on Copper using Chemical/Physical Treatment System

Copper Before Copper After Percentage (%)

Treatment Treatment Reduction

pH Adjusted to 8.3

12.0mg/l 2.6mg/l 79%

11.5mg/l 2.8mg/l 75%

18.0mg/l 4.0mg/l 78%

11.8mg/l 2.8mg/l 76%

12.2mg/l 3.0mg/l 75%

Average Percentage (%) Reduction in Total Copper = 76.6%

Affect on Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) using Chemical /

Physical Treatment Process

Pre DAF COD Post DAF COD Percentage (%)

Reduction

6,440mg/l 4,166mg/l 35%

4,885mg/l 3,504mg/l 28%

5,240mg/l 3,855mg/l 28%

4,020mg/l 2,811mg/l 28%

5,700mg/l 4,072mg/l 30%

Average Percentage (%) reduction in COD = 30%

Effect on Suspended Solids (SS) Using Chemical/Physical

Treatment Process

Before Treatment Post Treatment Percentage (%)

Reduction

2210mg/l 880mg/l 70%

1350mg/l 460mg/l 66%

1350mg/l 440mg/l 67%

550mg/l 180mg/l 67%

1520mg/l 460mg/l 70%

Average Percentage (%) Reduction in Suspended Solids (SS) = 67%

Adjusting pH using Hydrochloric Acid to improve Copper removal

Initial pH Initial Copper Adjusted pH Final Copper

12.0 12.2mg/l 8.3 3.0mg/l

11.5 12.1mg/l 8.5 2.8mg/l

11.0 11.7mg/l 8.5 2.6mg/l

10.5 11.7mg/l 8.3 2.4mg/l

10.0 10.6mg/l 8.9 4.2mg/l

Note at pH 10 no additional acid used for this test

9.5 7.6mg/l 8.6 3.1mg/l

As at pH 10 no need to adjust with acid, chemical programme adequate

Is part of: