New chlorination technology to meet South Africa’s unique needs

In one of the world’s most unequal countries, it’s only logical that the South African water treatment industry applies a wide variety of solutions – from the most basic technologies in poorer, rural areas to technologically advanced systems in wealthier, urban areas.

Klorman Solutions – a subsidiary of the Control Chemicals group – offers a unique range of disinfection and treatment solutions for the water sector: from a person standing at a turbid river with a bucket of water in a remote location, to a large-scale urban waterworks employing technologically advanced, fully automated treatment systems utilising real-time feedback capabilities.

“Anyone hoping to service the water and sanitation industry in South Africa, and indeed Africa, should have a multivariate approach,” says Peter Buchan, CEO, Control Chemicals.

For over half a century, the group has specialised in the development and manufacture of patented disinfection technologies (largely centred around chlorination) that are used in a variety of applications, including water treatment, hygiene and disinfection, food production/agriculture, and swimming pools.

“When I joined Klorman Solutions in 1987, there was a narrative suggesting that ‘chlorination would soon be replaced’ by other formulations and technologies; however, 30 years later, the application of chlorination as the preferred disinfection agent is growing. This is because chlorination remains the most effective, versatile and economical disinfection method in the world,” explains Buchan. Buchan adds that disinfectants are used to disinfect, oxidise and break down proteinaceous biofilms.

The new Klorman Connect™ digital control console, including real-time feedback data-logging

“Chlorine remains the only disinfectant that achieves all three of these objectives with the same molecule. This has made it resilient over the years and, if applied properly, most target organisms do not develop resistance to chlorination.”

Today, Klorman Solutions is one of a very small group of companies in the world with the capability to custom-blend and manufacture both dry organic and inorganic chlorine forms.

“Our research and development focus has centred around developing formulations and bespoke delivery systems to harness chlorine in many different forms, systems and applications. Unlike our competitors, we are not bound to a single raw material – or raw material producer. Klorman Solutions uses the best-suited compound for the best possible application,” explains Buchan.

Chlorine has an intriguing chemistry. In its purest (gaseous) form, it is highly volatile, toxic and extremely difficult to transport, store and apply. In its safest form – sodium hypochlorite (bleach) – it is in reality a weak disinfectant with low shelf-life stability and is prohibitively expensive to transport and apply. More recently, bleach has attracted international regulatory scrutiny due to its propensity to form toxic by-products such as chlorates and perchlorates as it decomposes during storage.

Martin Wilden (left), GM of Klorman Solutions, and Peter Buchan, CEO of Control Chemicals

These factors have made the dry chlorine compounds more attractive – but it’s a challenge to dose them effectively and sustainably. Klorman Solutions has focused on specially engineered turnkey solutions suitable to each dry chlorine form and its specific point-of-use utility.

“We’ve taken the time to explore all of the vagaries, strengths and weaknesses of each compound and develop customised storage and dispensing systems – from single-use disposable water tank dispensers of all sizes and hand-held spray equipment for hard-surface disinfection, to fully automated, inline dispensing systems governed by internet of things driven data management and control solutions,” adds Buchan.

White elephants in the water sector According to Buchan, Klorman Solutions achieves low-tech, sustainable end-point disinfection through the application of high-tech means.

“Our delivery systems are locally produced, robust, incredibly simple to use and far more affordable in comparison to other local and imported solutions that require skilled technicians to operate, and are difficult to repair and replace. We find dispensing systems at treatment plants are either mothballed or in disrepair both in South Africa and across the continent.

“It is a great source of frustration to read about the hundreds of millions of rand spent on these so-called high-tech, mostly imported technologies, when there are home-grown solutions that are literally a fraction of the cost and their performance can either surpass or are at least equal to expensive solutions brought in from other countries,” adds Buchan.

A twin set of Klorman 8000 bulk-dispensers treating 80 Ml/day of water

While the Klorman Solutions dispensing systems are simple to use (they can do proportional dosing without electronics), a new custom-designed digital datalogging and remote-control layer has been added. Files can be exported, measurements can be tracked, and alarms can be activated should certain measurements fall outside set parameters.

“Klorman Solutions can make a massive difference to the water sector because our systems do not require much (if any) specialised skill or training, initial capex is negligible, and ongoing costs of repair and maintenance are close to zero. More importantly, over the past few years we set out to finally prove to the market that, when applied properly, and costed fully, our systems are significantly more economical to run than chlorine gas – and we have the independent case studies to prove it’,” adds Buchan.

International presence Klorman Solutions exports its systems to five continents. These solutions disinfect household water supply in underdeveloped communities and are used in disaster relief aid applications for the supply of emergency water, sanitation and hygiene services (WASH).

In South Africa, Klorman Solutions’ affordable and sustainable, low- and semi-skilled labour operating paradigm has gained increasing traction in replacing gas- and bleach-based systems within the municipal and large-scale water treatment sectors, as well as other countries, including Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia, Kenya and offshore, in places like Australia and Colombia.

“While we’re working hard at expanding our presence in North America, South America, Europe and Australia, we remain fully committed to South Africa. We are acutely aware of the many challenges South Africa faces and aim to be part of the solution to those challenges. We have made substantial capital investments in our internal capacity, and we endeavour to source, build and invent locally. Ironically, by avoiding foreign imports, we have created products and systems that are now being exported,” concludes Buchan.