Traditional Chemical Cleaning Products in Wastewatertreatment - From the Help Forum Waterand Wastewater.com

Water and Wastewater.com Help Forum - Traditional Chemical Cleaning Products in WW

Question by Ianf
what problems/issues do traditional cleaning products pose for todays waste water systems.
EDTA, anti-microbial sprays, etc..etc

answer
Cleaning products are really a very broad family of products (from household cleaners to industrial cleaners for very different purposes). I would suggest to omit 'traditional' from the question raised. Some 'traditional' cleaners might be classified as eco friendly, while some newly developed products might imply several threats to the environment.

I would not consider anti-microbial sprays as related products, however, often unnecessarily anti-microbial agents are included in cleaning products.

In summary it is the responsibility of the manufacturers of excluding/replacing harmful compounds and of the consumers (individuals and industrial alike) of looking for safe products.

EDTA and NTA (an alternative complexing agent) and antimicrobial agents are one major problem.
Further, the use of surfactants with limited biodegradability - one major group of concern nonionic surfactants of the alkyl phenol type (several times discussed at this forum) and the use of chlor related products for bleaching.

In almost every case safer alternatives exist!

comment by Victor Santa Cruz
One of the few problems associated with chemicals coming into a wastewater treatment plant is the inability of both physiochemical and biological process being unable to remove/degrade the chemical in question. Take for example the chemical 3,4,4'-trichlorocarbanilide (triclocarban or TCC). It is an ingredient normally added to those hand soaps, cleaners, and other personal care products to kill germs. According to research conducted at John Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health (Baltimore) this chemical persists in the environment long after it has been used. The researchers' study of triclocarban contamination in US waters resources was published in the August online edition of Environmental Science and Technology. Also, the persistence of these antiobiotic chemicals radically changes their effectiveness as biocides, since the bacteria become immune to them.

reply by Ianf
Our company has for many years produced liquid microbial formulations for the very small end wws, septic tanks, ATS, etc etc. The products worked very well until the next influx of chemical cleaner/s killed of the micro activity.

To do away with this boom bust cycle our customers asked if we could work on wws friendly cleaning formulations....which we did.

I have no expertise in commercial WWS.......and I just wondered if large WWS facilities face the same dramas as the very small insitu systems.

We have aimed for a total product biodegradable target of <28 days....is this relevant or helpful for the end treatment plant.


reply
though I am not able to help you with the new question here a supplement.

Further to consider extreme pH range (acidic or basic cleaners), which gets a problem when not neutralized.

Solvent based cleaners, which become a problem when hazardous solvents are used.
A 'good' example is the cleaner 'Simple Green', which does not contain a 'green' solvent but the blood poison butoxyethanol.