Univar Inc., a global distributor of chemistry and related products and services, has entered into an exclusive five-year North American agreement with Molycorp Advanced Water Technologies, LLC (Molycorp AWT) to distribute the company’s proprietary, cerium-based water treatment product SorbX-100, formerly known as XSORBX, to municipal and industrial wastewater treatment facilities in North America.
The high performance properties of SorbX100 make the product a strong addition to Univar’s existing portfolio of products already serving the wastewater industry. The company’s extensive North American network will create greater opportunities for municipalities in the US and Canada to benefit from the cost and operational efficiencies of SorbX-100.
“Effective wastewater treatment is critical to ensuring a safe and positive impact on our environment and the quality of life to people everywhere, every day,” said Univar’s president and CEO Erik Fyrwald. “Univar is pleased to be appointed as Molycorp’s exclusive channel to market for North American municipal and wastewater treatment facilities, and we look forward to offering our customers a new, innovative solution that allows them to be more efficient in their operations.”
According to 2011 US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) facility discharge compliance data, of the 3,058 facilities in the US that have permits for phosphorous discharge, 397 plants that collectively discharge 1.077 billion gallons per day were found to be non-compliant for such discharge. These facilities represent a large potential phosphorus removal market.
To date, there has only been a limited selection of chemical coagulants for the removal of phosphorus in waste water. SorbX-100 is a patented, cerium-based product that removes phosphorus, heavy metals, and other contaminants from municipal and industrial wastewater streams. It offers wastewater treatment operators a more cost-effective option to reduce phosphorus discharges, chemical usage, and sludge volumes, while improving environmental compliance.
“We are very pleased to have Univar, one of the world’s leading chemical distributors, as our exclusive North American distribution partner for SorbX-100,” said Molycorp’s president and CEO Constantine Karayannopoulos. “Univar’s dedicated team of professionals understands the needs of the operators in this industry, and I’m confident they will help our customers reach their phosphorus removal targets in a more cost effective manner while producing less waste.”
Specific information on SorbX-100’s capabilities can be seen here.
