384 Innovations in Sunflower Oil Wastewater Solutions with Dr. Swati Sharma

Scaling UP! H2O

Discover Breakthroughs in Sunflower Oil Wastewater Treatment: A Special Re-Air of Our Most Popular Episode from 2023

When it comes to oil wastewater treatment, the challenges can feel overwhelming. But what if there was a way to tackle these obstacles with cutting-edge solutions? In this special re-airing of our most popular episode from 2023, Swati Sharma, Ph.D. an expert at Water Engineering Inc. (WEI), walks us through her innovative research that’s helping water treaters around the world.

Her expertise is backed by groundbreaking research, including her thesis titled "How to Estimate the Best Treatment Conditions for Sunflower Oil Wastewater Using Advanced Electrooxidation Process", which she graciously shares with our global audience. Gain insights into electrooxidation processes and valuable advice for aspiring water treatment researchers.

Even if you’ve heard this episode before, we promise you’ll learn something new this time around. Dr. Sharma’s expertise in electrooxidation processes and her passion for solving complex wastewater problems is sure to inspire and equip you to approach your next challenge with confidence.

What makes treating sunflower oil wastewater so difficult? Sunflower oil wastewater is particularly challenging because it contains high levels of organic pollutants. Traditional methods often fall short, leaving treaters frustrated and looking for better solutions. But as Dr. Sharma shares, every wastewater is different, and each treatment process behaves uniquely depending on the specific characteristics.

“I found that each wastewater was so different in its characteristics, that each of these treatments behaved completely differently. Electrocoagulation (EC) was really good with the canola oil, whereas I found that Electrooxidation (EO) was a better process for sugar beets, which are really high in organic loading.” – Dr. Swati Sharma

How does electrooxidation make a difference? Dr. Sharma explains that advanced processes like electrooxidation and electrocoagulation offer more precise control over treating specific types of wastewaters. Electrooxidation, for instance, can target and break down organic pollutants more effectively than conventional methods, making it a game-changer for sunflower oil wastewater.

“Wastewater is like math, it’s like a game. You have to understand it and enjoy doing it. It’s a puzzle, you need to connect the dots to make a beautiful picture.” – Dr. Swati Sharma

What advice does Dr. Sharma have for aspiring researchers? Dr. Sharma’s path to success wasn’t without challenges. In the episode, she offers valuable insights into the importance of persistence and curiosity. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just starting out, her advice applies across the board.

“Sometimes your hypothesis doesn’t match your findings and it’s hard. You dedicate so many hours of your life to your study and you are so passionate about this, and it's demotivating at times. But you have to learn what has failed and why it has failed. Find the reason behind your failure and it will lead to your success. That's what I believe in.” – Dr. Swati Sharma

What’s the key to successful wastewater treatment? Understanding the specific characteristics of the wastewater you’re dealing with is essential to finding the right solution. Dr. Sharma emphasizes that it’s not just about adding chemicals but truly understanding the problem.

“It’s not about the addition of chemicals, it’s about understanding the characteristics of your wastewater. pH, temperature, composition, where is it coming from and where is it going—all of these matters matter. Understanding how this work is important.” – Dr. Swati Sharma

Whether you’re hearing this episode for the first time or revisiting it, Dr. Sharma’s research will leave you better equipped to tackle your next wastewater challenge with new insights and practical takeaways.

Timestamps 01:00 - Trace Blackmore reminds you that next week there will be a new episode heard every day as we celebrate all 5 days of Industrial Water Week 06:00 - Introducing our top five episodes since Industrial Water Week 2023 08:03 - Interview with Doctor Swati Sharma of Water Engineering Incorporated, about 43:30 - Drop by Drop with James McDonald

Connect with Swati Sharma, Ph.D. Phone: [phone] Email: [e-mail] Website: www.h2oeng.com LinkedIn: in/swati-sharma-ph-d-91449518 company/water-engineering-inc Read the Press Release HERE

Links Mentioned “How to Estimate the Best Treatment Conditions for Sunflower Oil Wastewater Using Advanced Electrooxidation Process” - Thesis by Dr. Swati Sharma Follow Dr. Swati Sharma on Google Scholar and be updated on her publications The Rising Tide Mastermind

Top 5 Episodes since 2023’s Industrial Water Week 341 Guarding Against Legionella: The Hidden Dangers of Dead Legs in Water Systems with lab partner Richard Philip Beckett 348 Credentials and Codes: Plumbing Strategies Against Legionella with Christoph Lohr 328 Industrial Water Week 2023: Pretreatment Monday with Wes Bryne 324 Endless Career Possibilities in Industrial Water Treatment with Chelsea Farmer Books Mentioned Wastewater Engineering: Treatment and Resource Recovery by Inc. Metcalf & Eddy

Drop By Drop with James In today’s episode, we’re thinking about annual reviews. Yes, annual reviews. They come due before you know it each year. Do you do annual reviews for your customers? If your answer is no, why not? I’ve always found annual reviews to be a great time to remind your customer of the value you bring to their operation. Industrial water treatment is important! Without it, it would cost more for them to operate. In many instances, their operations could be shut down. Plus, there are many safety aspects that good industrial water treatment brings to the table from helping keep boilers from exploding to helping minimize Legionnaires Disease. It’s also a good time to get everyone on the same page to both maintain and improve the water treatment operations. Sure, it could be an opportunity for the end user to complain, but that’s good! Would you rather they have an opportunity to tell you their issues face to face or in an email informing you they’re changing industrial water treatment vendors? Be sure to document the annual review with a prepared document or presentation. Also be sure to follow up on any issues they have and commitments you have made.

Events for Water Professionals Check out our Scaling UP! H2O Events Calendar where we’ve listed every event Water Treaters should be aware of by clicking HERE.