Research and Development At Kremesti Environmental Consulting Ltd.
Introduction
Research in the area of water treatment at KEC focuses on improving existing water and waste water treatment processes and looking at emerging environmental water contaminants and best practices/research on how to remove them. We are also interested in the water/power nexus and how we can transition to Net-Zero.
R&D at KE Consulting Ltd
Kremesti Environmental Consulting Ltd is involved in various research projects in the field of water treatment. In the area of Reverse Osmosis pre-treatment optimization, chemical interventions for failing WWTW’s as well as the VDI concept of chemical free approach to water treatment for hot and cold closed water treatment systems for cooling and heating buildings as well as other topics. We are also interested in PFAS research.
Reverse Osmosis Research
Many arid countries that border the sea or oceans drink from the sea using Seawater RO desalination. This technology has matured over the years and has become a Best Available Technology for water desalination. However, professional operations and maintenance seem to continue to be challenging for many operators and KEC is at the forefront of training clients in best practices. We have developed training courses for RO operators and continue to gather data on failed RO systems and the root causes.
Biostable Water
Creating biostable water for RO to prevent biofouling is an intelligent approach to solve the Achilles Heel of RO systems, namely, biofouling. By removing N and/or P from water, Bacteria are deprived of the essential nutrients they need to grow. This approach minimizes the use of expensive CIP chemicals for regular removal of biofilm by cleaning the membranes with expensive CIP skids. There are simple pre-treatment steps that can create a Biostable feed water for RO systems. There are also technologies such as Direct Osmosis High Salinity and Pulse Flow RO that fight scale and biofilm using in-situ process modifications in the RO stage itself.
Optimising Existing WWTW’s
In another research topic, Kremesti Environmental Consulting has conducted successful site experiments on the lowering of ammonia, COD and P on failing WWTW’s using simple chemical interventions. The results speak for themselves. Did you know that 50% of your N and P load comes from urine? Why not eliminate this load by using flush-free urinals? It is even possible to harvest the N and P in the collected urine to make NPK – the fertilizer gold of farmers.
Chemical Free Approach to Water Treatment
Finally, Kremesti Environmental Consutling Ltd has experience with the Chemical Free approach to treating cooling and heating circuits for large buildings and manufacturing plants. For example, closed cooling circuits on the power stations of one of the largest power station EPC contractors in the world, are filled with demin water and dosed with a minimal dose of solid NaOH at 5 g/m3 which increases the pH and prevents corrosion. The lack of nutrients in the demin water prevents scale and biofouling. The problem of ingress of DO can be solved with a degasser or a minimal oxygen scavenger dosing.
PFAS
PFAS are forever chemicals that are in our water supplies of anthropomorphic origins. They are used in non-stick pan coatings as well as dirt/grease repellants and in Fire Fighting formulations. We have published a white paper on PFAS and continue to monitor best practices in the field as well as research. As the C-F bond is impossible for bacteria to break, basic chemistry comes into play.
Capturing CO2 Using the Power of Chemistry
We recently published several articles with innovative ideas about capturing CO2 from the air using the power of chemistry.
Conclusion
KEC Ltd researchers keep abreast the cutting edge of water treatment science. Other areas we work on are Softener-free water softening, Electrochemical waste water treatment as well as PFAS removal and destruction research. We are also interested in process intensification for waste water treatment works. MBR’s and technologies like OxyMem which aim to deliver DO to the biomass using low pressure air filled fibres are very interesting.
For collaborating or discussing water treatment research further, please contact us at:
Biography of the Author:
Rami Elias Kremesti is a chartered water and wastewater treatment specialist with a background in chemistry. He has worked on a myriad of water treatment and power station projects internationally. He is a British Citizen based out of High Wycombe, UK. He has published three books on philosophical topics which he loves to ponder in his spare time.
Rami Elias Kremesti Portrait