Removing surfactants from de-ionised water in the automotive industry

A car manufacturer in Germany uses de-ionised water to clean car bodies after being coated with phosphates.  

As both the production and the disposal of de-ionised water are expensive, this company is keen to reuse their rinsing water where possible. To do so, the car manufacturer needs to remove the surfactants leaking into the water during the rinsing process.  

The company contacted DESOTEC in search of a solution. We suggested installing a pilot filter to determine the best grade of activated carbon to use and prove that our system would work for this application.  

Tests proved that the filter was efficiently removing the surfactants. Additionally, conductivity measurements showed that the de-ionized water was fit for reuse.  

Therefore, after the customer created an area at their site to host a permanent filter, we delivered a small Mobicon 2000 model in 2022.  

Activated carbon is a simple and effective technology with a wide range of applications. DESOTEC’s engineers have the expertise to tailor our filtration solution to your company’s unique needs. As well as pilots, we can carry out lab analysis and tests on samples from your site.  

As part of our full-service solution, we handle all filtration waste off-site, lifting the burden from our customers. When the carbon is saturated, we swiftly exchange filters. Then, we move the old filter away from the customer’s site and take it to our own facilities for analysis and treatment. All adsorbed molecules are destroyed in our furnaces in a process that is continuously monitored to ensure that only harmless water vapour exits the chimneys. 

Wherever possible, carbon is reactivated. This circular model further conserves our planet’s resources, saving our customers money and boosting their sustainability.