Why even bother with TTO!!! Who cares?? 

 

The reason I feel it has importance is that TTO’s have come up and bitten me more than once in sensitive spots. And since it is becoming a major issue with our clients and regulatory agencies we should know how it can impact our compliance issues. 

 

TTO’s are items such as, paint thinners, solvents, degreasers, organic cleaners, strippers, drying agents, activators, carriers, etc. These products are used by virtually every manufacturing firm in the country. When a Toxic Organic is combined with wastewater, it is usually not removed by conventional pretreatment unless you know how.  

 

 

APPLICATIONS; 

 

AEROSPACE; Painting in the aerospace industry involves VOCs, volatile organic compounds. These are the thinners and activators used to enhance the quality and delivery of the paint. Many paint booths are water wash systems that flood water in cascade to remove the overspray from the air. The paints and the VOCs are captured in the water. Since most aviation paints have heavy metals such as chromium, the water must be treated before being discharged to the sewer. Solids filtration and filter pressing are used first to remove the residual paints. Then coagulants such as Mag, or poly-aluminum products (PAC), DTC, drop out the metals. Finally, carbon or emulsion breakers are used to extract the toxic organics. The best way to do this is in a batch treater like the IPEC Series 2000. A filter press is also used with holding tanks and transfer systems.   

 

 

ELECTRONICS; Photo Resist wastes, and solvent stripping and developing are still in use in the general electronics industry. Also the use of drying chemicals is still with us. Composite materials such as phenolic insulation produces Toxic Organic Compounds in wastewater such as phenols. The processes above usually require some rinsing with water and the need for pre-treatment is established. Many of these require pH adjust before or after organics are removed. 

 

These are just two of the thousands of applications where TTOs affect wastewater! More to come in future reports. Let use know of applications and treatment successes and failures you find in the field.,