Staffordshire ceramics manufacturer makes key parts for new Middle East ozone plant

Posted on 17 Sep 2024 by The Manufacturer

A UK manufacturer of bespoke and innovative ceramic-based solutions has produced key parts for a new ozone plant in Bahrain.

In a recent six-figure deal, Stoke-on-Trent-based Mantec Technical Ceramics has shipped specialist ceramic diffuser tubes and installation ancillaries that are currently being incorporated into one of the largest public sector ozone plants to be built in the Middle East in more than 10 years. The contract was placed with Mantec by Milan-based De Nora, a global provider in sustainable water treatment solutions, and the plant in question is the Tubli Sewage Treatment Plant Phase 4 expansion in Manama, Bahrain, one of the largest wastewater treatment plants in the country.

“We are proud to have played our part in this prestigious project,” commented Mantec Sales Engineer Andy Frost, “and we worked closely with De Nora to come up with the optimum solution for what is a substantial and demanding ozone operation. Our proven expertise in this area once again made us a preferred manufacturer and supplier.”

The new ozone generators in Manama will accommodate the increased flow of wastewater caused by rapid population growth in the area, doubling the average daily flow capacity of 200,000m3 per day to 400,000m3 per day. Following initial discussions with De Nora, subsequent product redesigns and vendor prequalification, Mantec supplied a large number of 600mm-long ceramic diffuser tubes and associated fittings.

For this project, Mantec’s Pyrolith grade material was chosen. It is ideal for diffuser tubes, featuring an average pore diameter of 90µm and porosity between 35% and 45%. This is a proprietary aluminosilicate material for which Mantec is renowned, and over the past 15 years or so it has supplied over 100,000 large ceramic diffuser tubes for wastewater treatment and ozone applications.

Clearly, all parts were required to be specified for compatibility with ozone. This meant that the caps and fixings were manufactured from 316 Ti stainless steel, a special grade of austenitic stainless steel that contains a small amount of titanium for improved corrosion resistance. Silicone gaskets were specified for compatibility. The contract was delivered three weeks ahead of schedule. The products, including the packaging, were subject to rigorous third-party inspection by TÜV.

De Nora is among the world’s leading suppliers of water filtration and disinfection technologies (for the industrial and municipal sectors) and the world’s leading supplier of swimming pool disinfection components.

De Nora technology was selected for the Bahrain plant expansion from a group of tier-one ozone manufacturers for exhibiting continuous excellence in technical support and cost-effective maintenance requirements. Mantec is delighted to have been chosen as the preferred ceramic specialist for this part of the project and is confident that its advanced porous tube technology will lead to further successes.

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