Case study 04 / 12 · Division I
Division I · Case Study 04
Printing Inks
Phys–Chem (Fenton) + Thermal
Ink and wash effluents are low-volume but extremely concentrated — high COD, pigments, resins and solvents with very low biodegradability. KEMISTA breaks the emulsions chemically, oxidises refractory organics and concentrates the residue.
90%
COD removal
Reuse
Distillate
<0.2
BOD/COD handled
Selected treatment train
Ink wash
→
Segregation + EQ
→
Emulsion break
→
Fenton oxidation
→
Filter press
→
Evaporation
→
Distillate reuse
Indicative influent characteristics
Flow
batch
low
pH
–
4–10
COD
mg/L
5,000–50,000
Colour
Pt-Co
very high
TSS
mg/L
1,000–10,000
BOD/COD
–
< 0.2
COD reduction along the train
COD (mg/L)
25,000
Raw
12,000
+Coag
4,000
+Fenton
800
+Evap
Why this configuration
Emulsion breaking with pH and coagulant releases bound pigment and resin.
Fenton / advanced oxidation tackles the non-biodegradable COD fraction.
Evaporation achieves high volume reduction where biology is ineffective.
Hazardous-waste compliant conditioning and routing of the concentrate.
Your sector not listed, or a stream that defies the categories?
KEMISTA characterises the stream and engineers a bespoke train — that is what bench and pilot testing are for.