ARTICLE
Find out how much you can save by switching to ClariPhos™ for phosphorus removal.
How do you decide which coagulant provides the best value for phosphorus removal at your wastewater treatment plant? For most, it might be a simple comparison of bulk costs for alum- or ferric-based coagulants from supplier A vs. supplier B.
But ClariPhos®, a new rare-earth coagulant, changes the game—offering significant performance advantages over conventional coagulants and new opportunities for savings that go beyond simple price comparisons.
Less sludge = more savings
ClariPhos rare earth elements have a high affinity for phosphorus and bond at a 1:1 molar ratio, unlike Fe or Al coagulants that bond at a ratio of 5:2 or more. As a result, ClariPhos is dosed at rates that are 30 to 70% lower than alternatives and produces a corresponding reduction in sludge volume.
Treatment plants that are using rare earth coagulant report sludge reductions of up to 50%. They also experience significant improvements in sludge dewaterability—with solids concentration in dewatered materials increasing by as much as 40%. With these benefits, treatment plants that use ClariPhos can potentially reduce sludge management costs by tens of thousands of dollars per year.
A comparison of sludge produced to remove an equivalent amount of phosphorus.
Here’s proof. A 0.77 MGD treatment plant in the United States is saving over $70,000 per year in sludge management after switching to rare earth coagulant. Operators were able to reduce belt press operation by 80% and experienced a 40% improvement in sludge dewatering. With a smaller volume of drier sludge to handle, the plant also benefits from a 59% reduction in the amount of sludge that is transported to landfill.
ClariPhos reduces pH adjustment costs too
ClariPhos also contributes to lower costs for pH adjustment chemicals. That’s because it is about 100 times less acidic than alum and is far less likely to impact the pH of the treatment process. Some treatment plants have been able to eliminate pH adjustment entirely after switching to a rare earth coagulant, providing additional savings in chemical costs.
We’ll do the math and show you the savings
In just a few minutes, we can calculate how ClariPhos can reduce your chemical and sludge management costs. We’ll compare your current phosphorus removal program and sludge management costs and provide an estimate of ClariPhos performance and savings.
From there, it’s easy to switch. ClariPhos requires no special chemical feed equipment and will often work with the existing pumps. Our team will work with your operators to select the best dose location and rate and optimize the treatment process to deliver the best results through steady conditions as well as variable flows and loads.
Watch our video to see faster settling and lower sludge volume for ClariPhos compared to conventional Al- and Fe-based coagulants.
