Use Case 3, managed by SMAT, is located in Brandizzo wastewater treatment plant, in north-west of Italy. This plant treats both domestic and industrial wastewater and hosts this Use Case that is aimed to the deployment of Weeefiner’s 4D Scavenger technology for heavy metals removal; along with and integrated within Weeefiner’s technology, also University of Florence’s Heavy Metal Box is installed for monitoring heavy metals. Both technologies have been installed at plant outlet.
Preliminary tests were performed at technologies’ providers premises, with real samples taken from the plant; after a continuous exchange of inputs, samples, data and information, it was possible to integrate both the technologies simultaneously, in order to maximize the potential that both technologies have to offer.
After one week travel from Finland, the container containing Weeefiner’s system finally arrived at Brandizzo on 27th March and was positioned in the plant by means of a crane. SMAT took care of hydraulic and electrical connection and, in the following week, both UNIFI and Weeefiner staff came to Brandizzo for setting up the system and integrate both the technologies.
During the first weeks of piloting, Weeefiner’s technology was successfully installed, even though the initial results point to slight increase in estimated chemical demand due to process parameters. First heavy metal removal results are on good level and removal rates are expected to further increase as process parameters are optimized.
At the same time, the HM Box of University of Florence was installed, wired up and remotely operated. Initial tests were carried out with the set-up tested by UNIFI in their laboratory; set-up variables have been progressively refined in order to take into account new conditions emerging in the new context and will be further refined in the following weeks.
During piloting activities, both systems are remotely operated by technological partners, while SMAT provides on-site assistance both for testing and for operational support. A monitoring sampling campaign is also performed by SMAT in order to provide necessary data to evaluate 4D Scavenger removal efficiency and HM box capability of providing accurate results.
