The promise of more sustainable water purification with biobased flocculants

Flocculants are substances that are used to remove contaminants from water. "You could see it as a kind of polymer that binds particles in water together, so that they clump together and are easier to remove," Essers explains. In conventional water purification, synthetic petroleum based substances are used for this purpose. These are effective, but difficult to break down and therefore harmful to the environment.

Environmentally friendlier alternative

In this project, which will run for three years, the basis of these flocculants is fundamentally different. “In this project, we only use natural component,” says Essers. “By combining them with process or modification techniques, we try to make a product that is just as good as the synthetic variants, but that is able to completely biodegrade. And therefore more environmentally friendly.”

That sounds simple, but it requires a careful balance between chemical know-how, knowledge of material properties and research into practical applications. According to Van den Broek, it is not only about the end product, but also about how to get there. “You do not only want the end material to be biobased and safer, but you also have to look critically at the process. How sustainable are the steps you take to arrive at that green end product?” Essers agrees: “If you work with heavy chemical agents to make a so-called green product, you are missing the mark. Then the result is still not environmentally friendly.”

Small changes lead to massive impact

The impact of an alternative to synthetic flocculants is potentially large. “It may be just one small ingredient in a water purification plant,” says Van den Broek, “but if you look at the global volume, a small improvement can have a massive effect.” However, it does require an integrated approach, in which processes, applications and environmental impact come together. With their project, Van den Broek and Essers hope to make a tangible contribution to cleaner water, less environmental pollution and a future-proof chemical sector.