News | September 28, 2017

Element Six Synthetic Diamond Technology Used In Siemens' Zimpro System For Spent Caustic Treatment

Next generation Diamox technology implemented in Siemens’ Zimpro systems to deliver unparalleled electrochemical oxidation capacity

Element Six, a world leader in synthetic diamond supermaterials and member of the De Beers Group of Companies, has announced its Diamox electrochemical advanced oxidation cell technology has been adopted as a core part of Siemens Zimpro electro-oxidation technology for use in the effective treatment of recalcitrant industrial wastewater.

With high-purity, electrically-conductive, free standing boron doped diamond (BDD) electrodes, Diamox is used in Zimpro technology to produce advanced oxidation processes that are capable of mineralising dissolved pollutants in wastewater streams.

Negating the need for strong and expensive oxidising chemicals to be stored onsite, the specialised Diamox cell and Zimpro electro-oxidation process combine to provide an efficient and cost-effective solution for challenging applications such as spent caustic treatment.

The collaboration between Element Six and Siemens, which follows a successful pilot project using Diamox in Zimpro electro-oxidation technology, has now been brought to market and is specifically focusing on the needs of the oil and gas industry, with potential for applications in other industrial sectors.

“The synthetic diamond materials technology we have been able to combine with Siemens’ Zimpro electro-oxidation process is inherently compact and modular, which means it is highly flexible for customers that are looking for small volume, low temperature advanced oxidation processes ” commented Hossein Zarrin, Head of Element Six’s Water Business.

“Effective treatment in terms of commercial feasibility and scalability has been critical to the success of the technology to date. We look forward to seeing where we can push the boundaries next to continue to achieve unbeaten performance for customers.”

Anthony Pink, CEO of Siemens Water Solutions added, “Siemens and Element Six are both world leaders in their respective fields, so combining our expertise was a logical step to best serve our customers and fill a gap in the market.

“Hard to treat waste streams require technology that is capable of handling and thriving in challenging environments. We see that this safer, more environmentally-friendly technology will excel in these applications, giving the highest level of treatment performance, with no compromises on safety or quality.”

About Element Six
Element Six, part of the De Beers Group of Companies, designs, develops and produces synthetic diamond and other supermaterials, and operates worldwide with primary manufacturing facilities in China, Germany, Ireland, South Africa, the UK and US.

Element Six supermaterial solutions are used in industrial applications such as cutting, grinding, drilling, shearing and polishing, in industries such as manufacturing for Automotive and Consumer Electronics; Mining and Road components; and Oil and Gas drilling.

Element Six are also opening up new applications for the extreme properties of synthetic diamond beyond hardness in a wide array of industries such as optics, power transmission, water treatment, semiconductors and sensors.

Source: Element Six