Project Background
Wastewater treatment plants have traditionally been a costcenter for municipalities as treated effluent is often discharged back into the environment with little to no beneficial reuse. This is starting to change as wastewater professionals are finding innovative ways to produce a resource to use or sell. By doing this, operating costs can be cut and ideally plants can become profit-centers.
For the Netherlands, resource recovery is a main priority and the Beemster Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP), near Amsterdam, is an example of this. They decided to optimize their treatment plant by taking advantage of funding from the eco-innovation program through the European Commission.
The Challenge
With funding from the Eco-innovation program, the Beemster WWTP wanted to put into place equipment that would generate sludge with a high concentration of cellulose. Recovered cellulose would be reused for the production of other products.
The Solution
Eight SFK600 Salsnes Filters were installed – with 350 micron filter mesh and integrated sludge dewatering – to separate fine cellulose fibers from toilet paper in the wastewater. Fibers are collected and further processed into sugar and in a next stage to lactic acid as a base material for bioplastic.
The WWTP also discovered an added benefit of removing cellulose from the wastewater. The organic loading on their downstream biological process has been reduced, which has lowered the Plant’s aeration requirements and energy consumption.
Quick Facts
Location
Middenbeemster, Netherlands
Application
Primary Treatment & Cellulose Recovery
P.E.
170,000
Filter Model
Salsnes Filter SFK600
Quantity
8 units
Dry Weather Flow
1200 m³/h (7.6 MGD)
Max Flow Rate
3600 m³/h (22.8 MGD)
TSS Removal
50%
COD Removal
30%
Dewatered Sludge
40% Total Solids
Funding
EU Eco-innovation Programme
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