Dr V Sivasubramanian
World's First Phycoremediation plant
Dr V Sivasubramanian, Director of VIAT ( Vivekananda Institute of Algal Technology), Chennai has set up the World's First Phycoremediation plant at SNAP alginate Industry. Algal remediation technology helps in pH correction of the acidic effluent and complete reduction of sludge formation. SNAP is now a zero disposal company. The phycoremediation plant has been in operation from September 2006. The effluent generated by the industry is highly acidic and of very high TDS ( 29000 mg/L). The entire effluent is evaporated using slope tank. The algal biomass produced is utilized in Bio-fertilizer preparation and sold by the Company. The amount of CO2 removed during phycoremediation process is being calculated to claim carbon credits
News Item which appeared in Deccan Chronicle on 23.08.2008.
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Details of the Succcess Story
M/S. SNAP NATURAL & ALGINATE PRODUCTS LTD., came into existence in the Year 1979. It started its operations in the SIPCOT INDUSTRIAL ESTATE at Ranipet, Tamil Nadu in the year 1980. It manufactures Alginic Acid and its various salts such as Sodium Alginate, Potasium Alginate, Calcium Alginate, Ammonium Alginate etc., from the Brown Algae. It procures the Brown Algae Sargassum and Turbeneria species from the Gulf Mannar in South India during the season July to December every year and stores for the year after the post harvest treatment. SNAP originally obtained the manufacturing technology for the alginates from M/S. EXCEL in the year 1979 and set up its operation in 1980. With its in house R&D efforts it made continual improvements to the process, constantly upgraded the technology and emerged out as a world class manufacturers of alginates.
SNAP is the pioneer in manufacturing food and pharma grade alginates in the country. Now it caters the need of world standard alginates to various industries such as Food, Pharma, Textile, Rubber, Welding Electrodes, Ceramic Glazing, Dental Impression Molds etc. Its manufacturing activities are aligned to the requirement of International standard ISO:for Quality Management System and ISO 14001-2004 for its Environment Management System. Its Food grade alginates are as per International Standards E 400 E40x and the Pharma grade products comply with the requirements of I.P., B.P. and U.S.P., requirements.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PROCESS:
Seaweeds of alginophytes species contain naturally occurring alginates. The weeds are treated with mild acid for removal of unwanted salts in the weeds, it is then treated with alkali for conversion of alginic acid into Sodium Alginate. The digested pulp is then diluted and settled and sodium alginate recovered. The purified alginic acid is then converted into the desired salts and then dried. The dried salts of alginates are pulverized and then packed.
Description Of The Process Discharges:
SNAP generates two categories of discharges (waste) from its process.
1. Solid Discharge: The remains of Sea Weeds after the extraction of alginates.
2. Liquid Discharge: The wash water of the sea weeds which is acidic and essentially contains organic TDS, sea salts and sea sand. There are no gaseous emissions from the process. Wastes generated from the service functions such as scrap and waste oil from the engineering activities, packing material from the stores, stationery waste from the office etc., are handled as per standard operating procedures which are in alignment with the legal and ISO 14001:2004
requirements. The waste water from the toilet are subjected to biological treatment in the septic tank and the over flow water is taken in to soak pits from where it is consumed by the surrounding Green Belt.
LIQUID DISCHARGE FROM THE PROCESS:
By developing suitable water recycle techniques the generation of liquid discharge is reduced to below 30 KLD from 750 KLD.
Description Of The Waste:
The liquid discharge is acidic in nature with a pH of about 1.8, at a normality of about 0.08.N. It contains fine sea sand, Inorganic and organic TDS together at about 40,000 ppm .
Conventional Treatment:
The acidic water was neutralized with caustic soda, settled to remove the TSS and evaporated on solar evaporation ponds. The dried solids were recovered from the solar evaporation pond collected and stored in a secured land fill.
Improved Biological Method:
Phycoremediation technique is used for the treatment of our waste.
Description Of The Slope Plant:
* RCC tank having cross section area of 1200 M2, 1 metre height and volume of 1200 KL.
* The tank is provided with a AC sheet slopped roof so that the rain water does not enter the tank.
* The AC sheet is painted with black bitumen to improve the absorption of Solar radiation.
* Masonry slopped floor of about 3000 M2 area painted with black bitumen is provided adjacent to the tank such that the effluent water from the tank may be drained over the slopped floor by gravity. * The tank is charged with blue green algae- Chroococcus Turgidus, which is a naturally occurring alga.
Operations:
* The acidic effluent water from the plant is discharged in to the tank. The algae utilize the nutrients such as organic TDS and minerals, produce alkalinity and neutralize the water.
* The effluent water from the tank is discharged over the drying platform such that the water runs evenly as a thin film over the entire 3000 M2.
* The water is collected at the end of the charging platform and pumped over the AC sheet roof of the tank where it is distributed evenly thro’ suitable header such that the water is again flowing over the black painted AC sheet evenly as a thin layer, collected at the lowest end in a trough and put back in to the tank.
* During rainy time the circulation of the effluent water will be stopped, all the water will be pumped into the tank.
* The circulation of the effluent water as a thin layer over the black coated surface increases the evaporation and the aeration of water enhances the Phycoremediation activity of the algae. The gentle distribution of water thro’ properly designed headers prevent the drifting of effluent water to the surroundings.
* This commercial scale plant is designed based on the study of the datum obtained from our Pilot plant, which was carried out over a period of about 3 years, with the research support of Vivekananda Institute of Algal Technology- RKM Vivekananday College, Chennai.
Continued Research:
M/s. VIAT, Chennai is woking on identifying the possibilities to extract useful phycobilions form the micro florapresent in our phycoremediation system.
Conclusion:
With the constant efforts SNAP has employed biological treatment methods to its wastes and converted the wastes in to useful commodity and has become a zero discharge unit. We find that the biological methods are cost effective, eco friendly and resolves many complex problems in a more simpler way.
Slope Tanks for Phycoremediation of effluent in SNAP Alginates
The industry has constructed slope tanks for remediation of effluent. VIAT visited the site on 2.08.2006 for inspection. See the pics below. Click on the pics to enlarge
