Challenge

In 2003, Siemens Water Technologies was awarded a contract to provide design, installation and off-site recovery for a chromate contaminated groundwater supply in Odessa, Texas.  The site was the previously home to a number of chrome plating shops that had since gone out of business.

Solution

The Siemens solution utilizes ion exchange resin technology.  Service vessels were installed in a lead/lag configuration of two banks, each with 5 service vessels.  This allows the operator to monitor chromium breakthrough after the primary bank of vessels and maintain an acceptable chromium discharge level in the second set of tanks.

When the primary tanks become exhausted, Siemens dispatches field service technicians to remove and replace the resin.  The configuration of the vessels allows the lag bank to become the lead without moving the vessels. 

The spent resin is then transported to Siemens'  RCRA-permitted regeneration facility for recovery.  All chromium removed from the resin is further treated by a high temperature metals recovery process.  No chromium taken from the customer site is sent to a landfill.

Results

The service contract provides this customer with a low capital investment,  lower operating cost and the elimination of on-site waste generation.  Removal of the spent and contaminated resin from the site eliminates concerns of recontamination.

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