Heavy Metals Removal

Heavy metal removal features & benefits

Veolia’s MetClear metals removal products, coupled with in-depth system auditing, monitoring, and engineered application recommendations, provide the following features and benefits:

• A cost-effective approach to the removal of traditional heavy metals in wastewater
• Improved metals removal efficiency
• Capability to consistently meet or exceed discharge compliance requirements
• Improvement of environmental image and public relations with surrounding communities
• Availability of technical and engineering support to provide operating and monitoring recommendations, complementing chemical solution for a comprehensive and robust solution
• NPE-free products

What are heavy metals?

Heavy metals are particulate and soluble contaminant. The most common heavy metal contaminants that enter industrial and municipal wastewater from manufacturing processes and/or process additives include copper (Cu), silver (Ag), cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), zinc (Zn), mercury (Hg), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), tin (Sn), gold (Au), iron (Fe), and vanadium (V). The metals of concern will vary from plant to plant.

What are the effects of heavy metals on the environment?

Metals in waste streams don't naturally degrade and are toxic to aquatic life, even at low concentrations. The effects of heavy metals on the environment include potential contamination from particulate metals as suspended solids entering receiving streams, as well as being toxic to aquatic organisms in the soluble form.

How are heavy metals removed from water and wastewater?

Heavy metals are removed from water and wastewater by chemical precipitation followed by a solids separation step, which can include clarification, flotation and/or filtration.