SCALE-UP OF THE RAPID SEWAGE-TREATMENT SIROFLOC(TM) PROCESS

The patented SIROFLOC(TM) process was successfully demonstrated at Mal abar sewage treatment plant, NSW, Australia, using a 0.2 megalitre per day pilot plant with test work reported at CHEMECA 92. The process us es fine magnetite particles and a flocculant such as alum in physico-c hemical sewage purification. Both the magnetite and alum are recycled to reduce cost and environmental impact.A 5 megalitre per day prototyp e plant has now been built at Malabar which has successfully reproduce d the results achieved by the pilot plant. Within 20 minutes, the raw sewage suspended solids, oil and grease, and phosphorus are all reduce d by greater than 85% while BOD5 is reduced by 55% and E. coli and tot al coliforms are reduced by more than 97%. This Australian process is highly suited to applications where a high quality effluent is require d and only a small land area is available. It uses less power than com parable biological purification processes and the sludge produced is m uch smaller in volume and easier to dewater. It is most suitable for t he treatment of sewage prior to ocean discharge.