Capterall®, a solution to capture pollutants from wastewater

This solution aims to improve the treatment of wastewater by cities and industries.

Water is one of the most precious resources on our planet. While 71% of the Earth’s surface is covered by water, only 2.5% of it is freshwater. And an even smaller fraction of it is readily available. The access to water is a major challenge, as almost 800 million people lack even a basic drinking-water service, according to the World Health Organization. This is why it has become a priority to conserve and recycle water.

One way of reducing our use of freshwater is to improve the treatment and reuse of industrial and urban wastewaters. Wastewater treatment is the process of restoring and depolluting water which has been used and contaminated.

To tackle this issue, Solvay has developed Capterall®, an innovative solution to capture pollutants from urban and industrial wastewater, which has become a priority for industries and municipalities as they face tighter regulations from public authorities.

Capterall® solutions treat polluted water with a non-toxic, mineral-based product. It’s an absorbent that is injected in water, and pollutants are securely trapped through specific mechanisms and not released anymore. It can remove a wide range of pollutants from wastewater.

“We are able to tackle soluble inorganic (metals, heavy metals metalloids..) and some organic (PAH, Endocrine Active Substances, Aromatics like Phenol..) micro-pollutants” says Alain Bruha, Solvay Soda Ash & Derivatives Business Development Manager.

In addition to its environmental impact, Capterall® has a financial impact for its customers,  “industries looking to improve their current treatment station and adapt to stricter environmental regulations”. Thanks to lower chemical usage, water reuse and simplified management operation, the solution can bring up to 20% global cost reduction, which is why it was awarded the Solar Impulse Efficient Solution Label in December 2019.

This technology is part of Solvay’s broader environmental strategy. Indeed, “increasing water use efficiency” is one of the group’s priorities. In its sustainability agenda, Solvay commits to “diminish its impact on freshwater withdrawal by reducing its intake of freshwater by 25%”.