Application Case: turn-key solution for steel processing wastewater treatment plant in Argentina

Surfcleaner’s distributor in Argentina, Aeration Argentina, has already delivered and installed three SCO 8000 systems for a wastewater treatment plant at a major steel producer in Latin America. A fourth machine is planned to be in operation by June 2024 at the facility. The SCO 8000 oil separator hybrid system continuously separates and removes oil and hydrocarbons from the steel processing plant’s industrial wastewater with less than 5% water content in the recovered oil. We interviewed Roberto Derosa, General Manager of Aeration Argentina S.A. about this business:

“Our customer needed a complete solution adapted to the size of their wastewater basins. Our engineers developed a complete system able to move the Surfcleaner to filter debris and to extract processed oils. ” -Roberto Derosa, General Manager, Aeration Argentina S.A.

Industrial wastewater treatment in the steel processing industry in Argentina

“The steel processing industry in Argentina produces around 5 million tons of steel and 6 million tons of laminates per year, and most of the production is run by less than 10 companies that employ around 20.000 people. This industry uses a moderate amount of water, and steel processing wastewater is usually contaminated with minerals and oil.”

Can you tell us about your customer?
“Our customer is one of the largest steel producers of the country, and supplies products for the automotive, agriculture, and kitchen appliances industries.”

What was your customer’s main challenge?
“They [the steel processing plant] were looking for a technology that would improve the collection, separation, and recovery efficiency of the oils present in the wastewater.”

What kind of solution where they exploring from start?
“They were looking for a robust and automated technology with minimal water content in the recovered oil.”

Why did they ultimately choose Surfcleaner SCO 8000?
“We initially identified an opportunity that we wanted to validate through the tests conducted with Surfcleaner’s technical team.”

Can you tell us about the complete engineering solution including Surfcleaner SCO 8000 you have developed?
“Aeration Argentina worked on a complete solution that included the Surfcleaner SCO 8000, along with a raft in which a pump was installed so that the recovered oil could be directed out of the pond.”

Did the solution met your customer’s expectations?
“The solution supplied met our customer’s expectations in terms of amount and concentration of recovered oil.”

What about Surfcleaner’s potential in that segment in your country?
“We see a high potential for Surfcleaner’s technology, not only in the steel processing industry, but also in other sectors such as oil and mining, where the collection and recovery of oils and hydrocarbons present both a challenge and an opportunity.”

Equipment: SCO 8000 ATEX
Separation capacity: 9,000 l/h
Systems installed: 2 units in 2022, 2 units in 2024
Application: steel processing wastewater treatment