What is an ETP plant ?

ETP (Effluent Treatment Plant) is a

process design for treating the industrial
waste water for its reuse or safe
disposal to the environment.
An ETP is a plant where the treatment of industrial
effluents and waste waters is done. The ETP plants
are used widely in industrial sector, for example,
pharmaceutical industry, to remove the effluents from
the bulk drugs.

During the manufacturing process of drugs, varied

effluents and contaminants are produced. The effluent
treatment plants are used in the removal of high
amount of organics, debris, dirt, grit, pollution, toxic,
non toxic materials, polymers etc. from drugs and
other medicated stuff. The ETP plants use
evaporation and drying methods, and other auxiliary
techniques such as centrifuging, filtration, incineration
for chemical processing and effluent treatment.

The treatment of effluents is essential to prevent

pollution of the receiving water. The effluent water
treatment plants are installed to reduce the possibility
of pollution; biodegradable organics if left unsolved,
the levels of contamination in the process of
purification could damage bacterial treatment beds
and lead to pollution of controlled waters. The ETPs
can be established in the industrial sectors like
Pharmaceuticals, Chemicals and Leather industry and
tanneries.
Effluent treatment plant, a process to convert
wastewater - which is water no longer needed or
suitable for its most recent use - into an effluent that
can be either returned to the water cycle with
minimal environmental issues or reused. see
industrial wastewater treatment. Electrolytic Tin
Plate, a tinning process.
 Flow chart of ETP plant

Influent: Untreated industrial waste water.

Effluent: Treated industrial waste water.
Sludge: Solid part separated from waste water by
ETP.
Overview

Water purification plays a key role in ensuring

access to safe drinking water. Safe drinking
water positively impacts the health of the entire
community. Systems are in place to ensure
ongoing water quality, including water quality
testing. The testing helps ensure the water
treatment process results in a product that
meets federal water quality guidelines. Water
analysis involves looking for several kinds of
contaminants, including unsafe levels of
organic, inorganic, microbial and/or radioactive
contaminants.
Screening

Water from lakes, rivers or the ground passes

through a screen as it enters the water
treatment plant. When the water source is a
lake or river, the screen serves an important
function, keeping out large natural
contaminants such as plants and wood, or fish.
If ground water is used, screening may not be
necessary since the water has passed through
layers of the earth in what is essentially a
natural screening function.
Coagulation

Treatment plant workers add alum and other

chemicals to the water, which cause tiny sticky
particles, or floc, to form. These floc attract dirt
particles, making them eventually heavy
enough to sink to the bottom of the water
storage tank.

The water and floc flow into a sedimentation

basin. As the water sits there, the heavy floc
settle to the bottom, where they remain until
removal.
Filtration

Water passes through layers of gravel, sand

and perhaps charcoal, which serve to filter out
any remaining particles. The gravel layer is
often about 1 foot deep and the sand layer
about 2 feet deep.
Disinfection

Water goes into a closed tank or reservoir.

Chlorine or other disinfecting chemicals kill any
remaining microorganisms or bacteria in the
water and help keep the water clean until
distribution. If a water treatment facility uses
ground water as its only water source,
disinfection may be the only step required to
sufficiently treat the water. After it is disinfected,
the purified water sits in the closed tank or
reservoir until it flows through pipes to homes
and businesses.
Treatment Levels & Mechanisms of ETP

Treatment levels:-
Preliminary
Primary
Secondary
Tertiary (or advanced)
 Treatment mechanisms:-
Physical
Chemical
Biological

Preliminary Treatment level Purpose:-

Physical separation of big sized impurities like
cloth, plastics, wood logs, paper, etc.
Common physical unit operations at Preliminary
level are:
Screening:-
A screen with openings of uniform size is used
to remove large solids such as plastics, cloth
etc. Generally maximum 10mm is used.
Sedimentation:-
Physical water treatment process using gravity
to remove suspended solids from water.
Clarification:-
Used for separation of solids from
fluids.

Primary Treatment Level:-

Purpose:
Removal of floating and settleable materials
such as suspended solids and organic matter.
Methods:
Both physical and chemical methods are used
in this treatment level.
Chemical unit processes:
Chemical unit processes are always used with
physical operations and may also be used with
biological treatment processes.
Chemical processes use the addition of
chemicals to the wastewater to bring about
changes in its quality.
Example:-
pH control, coagulation, chemical precipitation
and oxidation.
pH Control:
To adjust the pH in the treatment process to
make wastewater pH neutral.
For acidic wastes (low pH): NaOH, Na2CO3,
CaCO3or Ca(OH)2.
For alkali wastes (high pH): H2SO4, HCl.
Chemical coagulation and
Flocculation:-
Coagulation refers to collecting the minute
solid particles dispersed in a liquid into a larger
mass.
Chemical coagulants like Al2(SO4)3 {also
called alum} or Fe2(SO4)3 are added to
wastewater to improve the attraction among
fine particles so that they come together and
form larger particles called flocs.
 A chemical flocculent (usually a
polyelectrolyte) enhances the flocculation
process by bringing together particles to form
larger flocs , which settle out more quickly.
Flocculation is aided by gentle mixing which
causes the particles to collide.
Primary Treatment Level:-
Secondary Treatment Level:-
Methods:
Biological and chemical processes are involved
in this level.
Biological unit process
To remove, or reduce the concentration of
organic and inorganic compounds.
Biological treatment process can take many
forms but all are based around microorganisms,
mainly bacteria.
Aerobic Processes
Aerobic treatment processes take place in the
presence of air (oxygen).
Utilizes those microorganisms (aerobes), which
use molecular/free oxygen to assimilate organic
impurities i.e. convert them in to carbon dioxide,
water and biomass.
Anaerobic Processes
The anaerobic treatment processes take place
in the absence of air (oxygen).
Utilizes microorganisms (anaerobes) which do
not require air (molecular/free oxygen) to
assimilate organic impurities.
The final products are methane and biomass.
 Need of ETP

To clean industry effluent and recycle it for

further use.

To reduce the usage of fresh/potable water in

Industries.

To cut expenditure on water procurement.

To meet the Standards for emission or

discharge of environmental pollutants from
various Industries set by the Government and
avoid hefty penalties.

To safeguard environment against pollution

and contribute in sustainable development.