Explosion at Indaver

On 26 February 2016 at around 3:45 pm there was an explosion followed by a fire at Indaver in Antwerp involving a road tanker. The emergency services took readings for hazardous substances immediately after the incident. None were measured at dangerous levels. The firewater was collected via the sealed drainage system on the site and transferred by pumping to a safe storage facility. Following an in-depth analysis of this firewater, the necessary mobile activated carbon filters (MOBICON^® type) were installed by DESOTEC in order to treat the firewater such that it would comply with the applicable discharge standards. Besides, Indaver has 1 filter ready on standby at all times on its site to cope with disasters.

Response within 24 hours

Thanks to its 24/7 service and a large stock of mobile filters and activated carbon filters, DESOTEC was able to install the first MOBICON^® mobile filter and help Indaver out. Several similar MOBICON^® units were installed over the days that followed in order to complete the treatment of the firewater.

Tailor-made industrial air and (waste)water treatment

DESOTEC develops, manufactures and supplies treatment systems based on activated carbon for water (liquids) and air (gases). Our total solutions comprise a wide range of mobile adsorption systems, as well as designing, building and commissioning tailor-made fixed systems. In addition to this DESOTEC is able to recycle saturated activated carbon in 3 reactivation furnaces.

At DESOTEC’s facilities, all used carbon is analysed so the right measures can be taken for handling and removing the saturated carbon out of the mobile filters. All molecules that were adsorbed on the activated carbon at the customers’ site, are desorbed inside DESOTEC’s reactivation furnaces. These contaminants are then fully destroyed, in accordance with National and European legislation, by an incineration and neutralisation setup. The entire installation and it's emissions are under continuous on-line monitoring, which guarantees that only harmless water vapour is seen exiting the chimney.