Sorbfloc®

Sorbfloc®  is a totally GREEN product from the hydrocolloid family able to attach to even the smallest particles or oil droplets in water. It is characterized by excellent cross linking capabilities. These capabilities, when activated according to The Sorbwater Process, instantly and irreversibly flocculate pollution in water to large, easy separable super strong flocks.

Sorbwater Technology AS has developed IPR and utilization of the product in water treatment processes which until now has been considered impossible to treat with such cross linking hydrocolloids. We have branded the product Sorbfloc®. The brand is also licensed to our production and development partner FMC Corporation, PH, USA.

Sorbfloc® is a highly biodegradable cross linking flocculent which we have made applicable for use in almost any waste water purification treatment process regardless of chemical composition of the water and the contamination.

Sorbfloc® is HOCNF registered, and documented to meet GREEN product coding  - “causing little or no risk to marine environment”, according to the standards of the OSPAR Convention. Furthermore, Sorbfloc® is approved for use in Drinking Water Treatment according to Norwegian Institute of Public Health.

Sorbwater Treatment System

Sorbfloc® is manufactured with patented and proprietary processes owned by our manufacture partner FMC Corporation through FMC Biopolymer. It basically consists of hydrocolloid extracts of sea weed, red algae, micro crystalline cellulose or pectin. All natural products from renewable scources.

The Sorbwater Process Technologies is based on bringing Sorbfloc®  in contact with the contamination in the waste water in a continuous water flow, by online dosing and extremely efficient mixing it into the waste water. Sorbfloc® can be dosed and mixed into the waste water stream as dry powder, concentrated slurry, or premixed in makeup water.

SWT owns IPR rights to a new application of these hydrocolloids used, in combination with or by addition of, mono-/divalent-/or multivalent ions. The hydrocolloid simply encapsulates all and any oil droplets or particles in water. By cross linking reactions with these ions the hydrocolloid and the encapsulated pollution gels into super strong conglomerates which can be removed by conventional methods for separation from water. This enables a new era for cyclones, centrifuges, separators, flotation units, membranes, filters and screens in water and waste water treatment.

Applications

Sorbfloc® can be used for separation of any particle substance or oil droplet from water.

Sorbfloc® can be used in pH range 4-13,5 in the water.

Sorbfloc® can be used in temperature range 0 – 100 deg. C.

Sorbfloc® can be used for splitting chemical as well as mechanical emulsions in water.

Sorbfloc® can be used in sweet water as well as concentrated brines.

Sorbfloc® can be used directly in front of most separation devices (no reaction time or flocculator needed).

Sorbfloc® can be used as pretreatment for disinfection processes (UV, chemical etc).

Sorbfloc® can be used as pretreatment for reverse osmosis and ion exchange (desalination).

Working principe

Introducing the hydrocolloid based Sorbfloc® into the waste water stream in a way that brings the hydrocolloid chains in physical contact with the oil droplets or suspended solids present, results in instant attachment.

After the hydrocolloid chains is attached to the contamination the chains are “glued” together in a never ending domino effect  caused by cross linking reactions with monovalent, divalent or multivalent ions present in the water, or added to the water. Subsequently, contaminations are gathered in large flock hence particles of pollution are stuck to the hydrocolloid chains cross linked. Reaction time is just a few seconds.

This way, all types of suspended solids, fat, grease oil etc. are made easily separable, - even submicron particles and droplets – in seconds.

Sorbwater Technology AS has made this reaction possible in waters where cross linking reactants are inactivated and normally not accessible, and furthermore in waters where they are present in such concentrations that premature gelling normally should take place before the hydrocolloid chain have the time to get in contact with the pollution. This opens a new era for compact and harsh separation technologies which has earlier not been considered used to separate flocks.