Cooling towers, steam boilers, and recirculating closed loop systems require effective water treatment chemistry for reliable and efficient operation. Liquid treatment chemicals are traditionally used because they are easier to manufacture and add to systems. But liquids aren’t always the best fit and present safety and environmental concerns that are often overlooked.
Liquid Chemistry Challenges
Liquid water treatment products in drums or containers are heavy, and can take up a lot of floor space. In some facilities, it can be difficult getting them to where they are needed, especially if this requires delivering the chemicals through office spaces, up or down steps, or into tight spaces.
The weight and bulk of liquids also increases the risk for workplace injuries, chemical spills, and splash hazards. The cost of a workplace injury or chemical spill incident can be significant. In 2017/18, the cost to Britain due to work-related injuries and new cases of ill health was £15.0 billion*. The weight and hazard classification of liquids also makes transportation logistics more complicated with spill pallets required for on-site storage.
The amount of packaging and landfill waste associated with a typical liquids program can be surprising. Depending on the application, dozens of drums or containers may be required annually. The fossil fuel required to manufacture and ship these drums depletes valuable natural resources and increases greenhouse gas emissions. Empty containers must also be handled properly for disposal or recycling.
Liquid water treatment products are manufactured by blending 3 to 7 different raw materials with the final formulation containing anywhere from 50 to 85% water. The water originates both from the raw materials, many of which are only available as liquids, and from water that is added to keep all the chemical actives in solution.
Solid Chemistry Provides Solid Benefits
The water in the treatment products adds a lot of weight and bulk. What if you could remove the water from the product packaging, shipping, and handling equation by using solid concentrates instead?
Removing the water would reduce the product weight by 50 to 85%, and allow light weight, easier to handle, and more environmentally friendly packaging to be used instead of bulky plastic drums or pails. This translates into lower shipping costs, easier transportation logistics, and more sustainable deliveries. It also minimises operator exposure, eliminates the safety hazards and environmental concerns associated with handling and storing heavy drums of liquids and figuring out what to do with the empties. It becomes a lot easier to store the treatment chemicals and get them to where they are needed, even hard to reach places.
Solid water treatment concentrates provide significant benefits but require specialised expertise to manufacture and apply. With over 15 years of experience with solids, Chem-Aqua is a recognised world leader in providing solid water treatment technology.
HandiChem Solids Approach
The HandiChem Solid Water Treatment System was developed to address the safety, handling and sustainability concerns associated with using liquid chemicals in drums.
With the HandiChem System, the treatment chemicals are provided as solid concentrates in stackable blocks or bottles, as HandiFeed® Dissolving Feeders are used to make chemical feed solution on-site instead of shipping water. The solution is pumped from the feeder reservoir into the system as needed just like with liquids. Because the solution is more dilute, there is less potential for hazards associated with spills and splashes.
HandiPak solids contain the same proven actives used in high performance liquid programs. A complete product line is available for cooling tower, steam boiler, and closed loop systems. Cooling tower inhibitors are PTSA traced to simplify monitoring and automate feed using our aquaDART® SMART controllers. Easy to use, quick dissolving sticks or tablets are available for applications that do not require metered chemical feed.
As a global water treatment leader, Chem-Aqua pioneered the application of solid water treatment technology. We recognise that liquid programs are not always the best fit for every facility or application and solid technology is an important component of our Total Systems Approach to Water Treatment.
To learn more about the HandiChem Solid Water Treatment System, contact Chem-Aqua today!
* (HSE, HSE Costs to Britain Model, 2019)
