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Example ApplicationIndustrial Pre-treatment

Industrial Heavy-Metals Removal (Sulfide DAF)

This is an illustrative scenario showing how Reynolds & Bauhm equipment can be configured for this application. Every site has unique requirements — contact us for a solution tailored to your specific metals and discharge consent.

Process Requirements & Constraints

An industrial site discharges ~10 m³/h of wastewater carrying dissolved heavy metals — lead, zinc, copper and nickel — above its discharge consent. Conventional hydroxide precipitation struggles to hit the low metal limits across all four metals at once. The site needs a compact, containerised plant that drives metals below 0.5 mg/L total and stabilises the resulting sludge for compliant disposal.

Key Performance Targets
10 m³/h
Design flow
>99%
Lead & copper
>95%
Nickel
<0.5
Total metals mg/L
8.5–9.5
Precipitation pH
40ft
Single container

Treatment Approach

Step-by-step configuration from metal-bearing influent to compliant discharge.

01

Equalisation & pH Adjustment

Influent is equalised and pH is raised into the 8.5–9.5 window where metal sulfides are least soluble.

02

Sulfide Dosing & Reaction

NaHS / Na&sub2;S is dosed under ORP control; a reaction tank gives ~10 min for dissolved metals to precipitate as insoluble sulfides.

03

Coagulation / Flocculation

Coagulant and polymer build the fine sulfide precipitate into floc that the DAF can capture.

04

DAF Flotation

Micro-bubbles float the metal-sulfide floc; the surface skimmer removes it. Treated water meets the discharge consent.

05

Sludge Stabilisation

Metal-laden float is stabilised (cement mixing) for safe, compliant landfill disposal.

Equipment Configuration

The critical equipment that defines metals performance — not the full bill of materials.

Sulfide Dosing + Reaction Tank

NaHS/Na&sub2;S dosing under ORP control with ~10 min SS 316L reaction stage.

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Enhanced pH / ORP Control

Dual-range pH with acid/base dosing and ORP trim to hold the precipitation window.

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Lamella DAF Cell

10 m³/h flotation with 5.5 bar saturator and skimmer to capture the sulfide floc.

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Online Metals Analyser

Inlet/outlet monitoring of Pb, Zn, Cu and Ni for continuous compliance.

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Critical equipment shown, not the full BOM. Sulfide chemicals require dedicated containment, ventilation and gas detection — designed in to the container and detailed in the project HAZOP. The complete itemised BOM, P&ID and FAT pack are issued during detailed design.

Performance Achieved

Representative metals removal at pH 8.5–9.5 with sulfide precipitation + DAF.

>99%
Lead removal
>99%
Copper removal
>98%
Zinc removal
>95%
Nickel removal
<0.5
Total metals mg/L
10 m³/h
Treated flow

Related Treatment Processes

How this scenario connects to the wider capability.

Apply This Configuration to Your Site

Send us the metals, the concentrations and your discharge consent — we will confirm the chemistry, size the container and ship a factory-tested system that makes consent.

Related Pages

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