Base Technology
Our fundamental technologies expanded
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01. Flocculation and Coagulation technology
Treatment of water to be used and waste water
A technology used to collect and enlarge the minute dirt and impurities in water, making them easier to separate from the water. Example: Organic Coagulation agent “Zeta Ace™” series
Flocculating microscopic dirt and impurities in water into a sizes that are easier to process
In wastewater treatment, the particles of suspended solids in the water are made larger, settle out by their weight, and separate from the water. However, the particles of suspended solids in the water have a negative charge on their surface and repel each other in a stable (non-settling) state, inhibiting them from gathering together and becoming larger. Flocculation and coagulation technology can eliminate the repulsion between particles by neutralizing the negative electricity generated when the components of the added chemicals act on the surface of the particles of suspended solids, enabling them to easily larger (coagulation) and make them into larger ones and hold together to larger (flocculation). Kurita develops various treatment chemicals for wastewater and sludge utilizing flocculation and coagulation technology.
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02. Membrane Separation Technology
Treatment of water to be used, water used in manufacturing processes, and wastewater
A technology to remove suspended solids, fine particles, and dissolved substances in water by membranes. Example: CORR™ System
Removing suspended solids, fine particles, and dissolved substances (organic matter, ions) in water using the pores of separation membranes made of various materials, such as organic and inorganic compounds
Industrial water and well water are not treated at water purification plants like tap water, so they contain suspended solids. To produce pure water, water must be passed through a filtration material such as sand and be removed even finer suspended solids in them by membranes. Membrane separation and filtration technology can selectively transfer substances through tiny pores of a membrane and sift and separate the materials utilizing the difference in pressure of the solution in contact with the membrane and the difference in the pore sizes of membranes. According to the difference that can separate the size of the substances in the type and used of membranes, there are various kinds of membranes, such as microfiltration membranes that separate suspended solids, bacteria, and fine particles, ultrafiltration membranes that separate substances such as proteins, enzymes, bacteria, and viruses, and reverse osmosis membranes that separate even smaller substances such as low-molecular-weight compounds and ions. Kurita provides optimal membrane treatment systems utilizing membrane separation and filtration technology, which are tailored to the quality of the raw water and the quality of the treated water required.
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03. Ion Exchange Technology
Treatment of water for use, treatment of water used in manufacturing processes
A technology to remove unwanted ions dissolved in water using ion exchange resin, electro-deionization equipment, and others. Application example: Variable flow deionized water production system that can vary the amount of water produced.
Ions dissolved in water
Remove them using ion exchange resin or electric deionization devices.Substances such as calcium, sodium and sulfuric acid carry positive or negative electrical charges in water and dissolve as cations (positively charged ions,) such as calcium ions and sodium ions, or anions (negatively charged ions,) such as sulfuric acid ions. These ions in water are removed by ion-exchange resins or ion-exchange membranes. In producing pure water, spherical ion exchange resins with a diameter of around 0.5mm are used to remove ions from water. Ion exchange resins have a structure called an exchange group on their surface, which binds with cations and anions in water instead of releasing hydrogen ions or hydroxide ions. In addition, electro-deionization equipment uses ion exchange membranes, which have the property of selectively permeating specific ions, to pass electricity through water and move the ions in the water, separating the cations and anions in the water. Kurita provides water purification systems utilizing ion exchange technology according to the type and characteristics of the ions to be removed, the purity of the treated water, and other specifications.
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04. Biological Usage Technology
Treatment to dispose water
A technology to prevent corrosion of pipes contacting with water, such as boilers and cooling towers, and heat exchangers. Example: BioPlanet SR™, an aerobic biological treatment system generating little sludge
Technologies using microorganisms to break down organic matter in wastewater and biological metabolism, such as methane fermentation, to create energy
In wastewater treatment, there are methods, including aerobic biological treatment, which uses aerobic microorganisms that can only survive in the presence of oxygen, and anaerobic biological treatment, which uses anaerobic microorganisms that can survive without oxygen. Aerobic biological treatment breaks down the organic matter in the wastewater into carbon dioxide gas and water using the oxygen dissolved microorganisms in the water. Anaerobic biological treatment breaks down the organic matter into methane gas, carbon dioxide gas, and water by microorganisms in an environment where oxygen is not dissolved in the water, and recovers the methane gas as a fuel. Kurita develops various wastewater treatment systems utilizing these biological usage technologies.
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05. Anticorrosion and Dispersion Technology
Treatment to protect facilities that use water
Anticorrosion technology prevents corrosion of pipes contacting with water, such as boilers and cooling towers, as well as heat exchangers. Example: The Cetamin™ series of water treatment chemicals for high-pressure power generation boilers with environmentally friendly and excellent safety features Dispersion technology disperses dirt in water in boilers and cooling water to prevent adhering them on pipes and heat exchangers. Example: Boiler chemicals containing Dream Polymer™ to disperse and remove scales
Anticorrosion
Boiler water corrodes when the dissolved oxygen reacts with the metal of the pipes and other parts, dissolving it into the water, and corrosion accelerates further when corrosive ions, such as chlorine ions, are present in the water. Anticorrosion technology removes the causes of corrosion by changing the components of the added chemicals into different substances through reactions with dissolved oxygen, a cause of corrosion, and ions that promote corrosion. It also suppresses corrosion by forming a film on the metal surface of substances generated through reactions between the components of the chemicals and the metal. Kurita cultivates anticorrosion technologies deeply and leads them to develop boiler and cooling water treatment chemicals that respond to various conditions.
Dispersion
In cooling water, if the concentration of hardness components, such as calcium and magnesium, dissolved in the water increases, insoluble substances in water, such as calcium carbonate and magnesium silicate, crystallize precipitate on metal surfaces, and become adherent. Dispersion technology is used to maintains a dispersed state by preventing the components of the added chemicals from adsorbing onto the fine crystals that have begun to form and coalesce into larger crystals. Kurita deeply cultivates its dispersion technology and develops scale inhibitors that can be used under various conditions.
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06. Sterilization and Anti-bacterial Technology
H3| Water treatment in manufacturing processes to protect facilities using water
A technology to prevent microorganisms in water from adhering to heat exchangers and dispersion membranes and from multiplying. Example: Productivity improvement by the iron and bacteria blemish reduction system
Preventing the deterioration in water quality caused by microorganisms that multiply in water and the adhesion of dirt (slime) to heat exchangers and separation membranes, as well as inheriting the sterilization and proliferation of microorganisms
In cooling water and the like, bacteria, mold, algae, and other microorganisms are present. When mixed with sediment and dust, sludge-like contaminants are formed which lead to a decrease in the thermal efficiency of heat exchangers, deterioration of water flow and corrosion in equipment and piping. Sterilization and antibacterial technology inhibit the growth of microorganisms by adding chemical components that destroy microorganisms by breaking down their cell membranes or reducing their active nature by changing the properties of the substances needed to multiply themselves. Kurita develops cooling water treatment chemicals, RO membrane chemicals, and similar chemicals utilizing sterilization and antibacterial technology.
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07. Cleaning and Refining Technology
Treatment of water used in manufacturing processes
A technology to clean the surfaces of silicon wafers for semiconductors and other materials, preparing them for the subsequent processes. Example: Functional water production system to reduce the amount of chemicals used and improve yield
Cleaning and reforming the surface of silicon wafers and glass panels in the electronics industry, such as semiconductors and liquid crystals
The manufacture of semiconductors and liquid crystals includes the wet cleaning process, which uses ultra-pure water and chemicals, usually in large amounts, to clean particles adhering to the substrates of semiconductor substrates and the surfaces of liquid crystal glass panels. For this process, the surface treatment technology using functional cleaning water, which dissolves specific gases into ultrapure water, attracts attention to improve cleaning effectiveness and enable stabilizing the substrate surface by preventing oxidation and controlling static electricity on the substrate. Functional cleaning water dissolved in hydrogen gas, ozone gas, and the other gases can significantly reduce the chemicals used. In addition, the resin called resist, which is used to form the circuit of a semiconductor and is removed after forming the circuit, is peered off using a large amount of chemicals. For peeling-off resists, electrolyzed sulfuric acid, which has a high resist-dissolving effect developed by Kurita for this resist stripping, can significantly reduce the amount of chemicals used compared to conventional methods. Kurita utilizes these surface treatment technologies to provide high-value-added equipment for the manufacturing processes of semiconductors and liquid crystals.
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08. Fluid Process Analysis Technology
A technology for examining and understanding water movement
A technology to visualize the flow of substances, such as solution materials and chemicals, in a device on a computer to effectively realize optimal device development and design. Examples: Ion exchange towers, piping mixing, sedimentation tanks, pressurized flotation devices
Using CFD analysis technology to optimize equipment development and design
With utilizing CFD analysis technology for each water tank structure of the pressurized flotation system, the flocculation reaction tank is found a structure to improve the reaction efficiency, the flotation separation tank is maximized the separation efficiency between the floating floc and the clarified water, and these enable to develop a more compact system than before. In addition, our insight and knowledge accumulated until now are utilized to improve the fluid process analysis technology. For example, by comparing the fluid analysis result of the resin filled the ion exchange column to the results of experiments, prediction accuracy by analysis was improved.
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09. Analysis Technology
A technology for examining and understanding water movement
This is a Technology that proves effectiveness and functionality by qualifying and quantifying the invisible.
Application examples: water quality analysis/environmental analysis and servicesVisualizing the state of water which is invisible
In various water treatment processes, visualization using analysis can identify phenomena and issues and then specify their points of concern. In addition, the effectiveness and functions of Kurita's water treatment technologies can be proven through analysis. Analysis is indispensable in all aspects, such as solving customers' issues, stabilizing operation management, and proceeding with Kurita's research and technological development. Kurita's analysis technology can visualize the state of water that cannot be identified by the human eye to provide a wide range of analyses tailored to each business area. For example, the analysis of ultrapure water has a low limit value and high accuracy in the ultra-trace analysis, to prove “no impurities.” This plays an important role in indicating the high purity of Kurita's ultrapure water. In industrial sites, Kurita executes multiple analyses that respond to various water qualities, from water supply to wastewater. Furthermore, we are developing our original analysis methods for specific purposes and continuing to challenge to achieve the world's highest sensitivity and accuracy in trace analysis.
