Metallurgical industry plant supplier SMS group is committed to taking care of the environment and has developed an environmentally beneficial product called Zero Solid Discharge (ZSD).

ZSD is a water treatment plant for metal industries.

This SMS group technology is based on a bio-augmentation process, which involves the insertion of specific microbial products in water treatment plants. The bioaugmentation process leads to biodegradation of the organic load present in the process water and reduces production of the organic sludge, which is normally sent to landfill for disposal.

“This technology is also reducing suspended and surface oil. The microbial product is composed of a mix of nongenetically modified natural bacteria and their micronutrients. The focus and aim of our technology is to remove and reduce biodegradable organic matter from process water,” says SMS group key accounts manager Samuel Gounden.

Biological treatment is also used to remove nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus from process water. It accelerates the oil and grease degradation and improves water quality. All surfaces of cooling systems covered with layers of oil and encrusted are a perfect breeding ground for bacteria including Legionella. The Legionella bacteria reside in a mature biofilm which is a slime layer on immersed equipment surfaces.

“Thanks to the ZSD application, layers of oil and biofilm are removed. That fact is allowing quick control of the Legionella level according to local authority limits. This ZSD product eliminates smell from the water treatment plants, which is usually present. Applying this application continuously can reduce the maintenance cost in water treatment plants and improve the product quality owing to cleaner process water and reduction of blockages in the nozzles,” explains Gounden.

ZSD is applicable to all water treatment plants for metal industries, namely iron and steel making, continuous casting, rolling mills and processing lines. The focus is on the biodegradation of the organic load present in the water and the consequent reduction of sludge production.