The November 2005 chemical spill into China's Songhua River served as a wakeup call for petrochemical plants across the country. Immediately, chemical plants stepped up efforts to prevent similar incidents from reoccurring. Part of these prevention measures includes early warning systems that detect minor leakages before they result in major spillages.

In the wake of that incident, Ankersmid, a Dutch maker of analytical instruments, received several orders of Oil-in-Water analyzers for petrochemical plants that can signal minor leakages in the process flow that, if left unchecked, could result in large ruptures and disastrous chemical spills.

Besides strong activity in material science, Ankersmid is very active in several environmental applications, including waterway management, industrial effluent monitoring, waste water processing, and drinking water control.

Present in China since 2003, Ankersmid has benefited strongly from increased environmental awareness in the country and the subsequent flow of investment into the sector. It recently opened a second office in Beijing to support its clients in North China.

Constant monitoring of total organic carbon (TOC) levels in industrial effluent is vital in ensuring that the discharge of wastewater into sewerage systems and rivers remains controlled.

The level of TOC (i.e. oils, fats, phosphates) in wastewater greatly affects the oxygen content in rivers, as these organic carbons decompose.

When large quantities of organic carbon are dumped into rivers, aquatic life has to compete for the limited supply of oxygen in the water system. Also, high levels of TOC also accelerates algae growth, which further endangers the river's ecosystem.

Ankersmid is the first to offer analyzers that are durable enough to guarantee around-the-clock monitoring of industrial effluent.

As water levels in China's rivers recede to record levels, the study of the country's rivers and sea beds has received significant attention. Ankersmid's particle size analyzers provide valuable information on the grain-size distribution of these sands and soils, which is useful to study river flow over time, settling patterns of river sediments, and sand movement on the sea bed along China's coastline.

Water scarcity in many parts of China has also driven wastewater treatment to higher technological levels. Ankersmid's analyzers are used to control flocculation processes that are now commonly used in water treatment.

In flocculation, small dirt particles and micro-organisms cling together to form larger particles that sink to the bottom of treatment tanks.

After flocculation, the water is channelled through sand filter beds where remaining impurities are removed so that the water is suitable for consumption.

By monitoring particle content in the final water, Ankersmid's analyzers ensure that filter beds have effectively removed impurities and that the water is indeed fit for drinking.

As for detailed information, please refer to www.ankersmid.com

Source: China Daily