Can AI support the reduction of polyacrylamide-based flocculants?

ClearWater – Development of an AI-based optical measuring system for monitoring and controlling the flocculant dosing process in wastewater and investigation of reduction possibilities of polyacrylamide-based flocculants using dual flocculation

Sludge phases during flocculation tests in the jar tester. Left: At the beginning of a jar test; middle: during settling with clearly visible phase boundaries; right: during settling without clearly distinguishable phase boundaries.  © FiW e. V.
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Flocculated particles in wastewater detected and color-marked by algorithms during preliminary tests.  © GFaI e. V.
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Schematic of the demonstrator.  © FiW e. V.
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Gravel and sand are among the most essential mineral resources in Germany. Increasing demands on the operation of opencast gravel mines and on environmental protection require new, robust and efficient solutions for saving resources and emissions. The aim of the “ClearWater” project is to reduce the use of polyacrylamide-based flocculants in gravel washing water. To this end, the optimization of dual flocculation is being pursued and possible applications of alternative, bio-based flocculants are being tested, which are to be used in various test series.

Furthermore, an image-based analytical tool and a demonstrator will be developed to enable the detection of under- and overdosing conditions. This system, incorporating artificial intelligence, will analyze laboratory and optical parameters to derive recommendations for optimal dosing settings. This approach is intended to enable a significant reduction in the use of chemical flocculants.

Acknowledgement:
The project “ClearWater” is funded by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Energy as part of the “Industrielle Gemeinschaftsforschung” (IGF) program based on a resolution of the German Bundestag. Funding reference 01IF23192N.

More about the BMWE funded ClearWater project