In Germany, researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB have developed a biobased and functionalized flocculant to efficiently treat complex wastewaters. Furthermore, toxic phenols are removed from the water by the enzyme laccase in a chitosan matrix.
Through flocculation, finest solid impurities are removed during wastewater purification and water treatment. Flocculants cause suspended solids to agglomerate into larger flocs, which sink to the bottom or can be filtered – the water becomes clear again. Inorganic metal salts, such as iron or aluminum sulfates and chlorides, are frequently utilized to remove humic substances in drinking water treatment, to treat process water during paper production, or to precipitate phosphorus in municipal wastewater treatment plants. In some cases, polymer flocculants, synthetic polymers made from fossil resources, are additionally included. The obvious disadvantage of conventional methods: due to the added chemicals or polymers, the resulting sludge cannot be reused and has to be disposed of at great expense.
This is why researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB turned to natural and completely biodegradable chitosan. This is obtained from renewable chitin, which is contained as a structural component in the shells of crustaceans, the shells and skins of insects and in fungi, making chitin one of the most common natural polymers on earth – second only to plant-based cellulose.
Tags: biobased flocculant, Fraunhofer, Germany
Category: Research
