Anaerobic Solutions and IC Process: How to solve the Core Challenges of Industrial Wastewater

The core challenges of industrial wastewater treatment center on the "three highs"-high difficulty, high cost, and high energy consumption. Wastewater from new energy, chemical, and pharmaceutical industries is complex in composition with numerous characteristic pollutants, and traditional treatment processes are difficult to remove effectively.

Chinese companies have significant price advantages in the mid- to low-end equipment segment. The industry also faces continuous technological upgrade pressure from increasingly stringent emission standards, as well as new requirements for digitalization and low-carbon transformation on operational refinement management capabilities. These pressures are driving the industry toward advanced Anaerobic Solutions that combine treatment efficiency with energy recovery.

What Is the IC Process and How Does It Work?

IC, or Internal Circulation Anaerobic Reactor, is the third-generation high-efficiency anaerobic treatment technology built upon UASB. Its core innovation is the built-in gas-lift internal circulation system, enabling autonomous wastewater recirculation without external return pumps. The reactor features a dual-zone configuration with a lower main reaction zone and an upper polishing zone. Biogas gas-lift creates hydraulic internal circulation, significantly increasing upflow velocity and enhancing sludge-wastewater contact. With extremely high compactness, the IC Process is specifically designed for high-concentration, high-flow industrial organic wastewater, combining high efficiency, energy savings, and minimal footprint-the core process for modern industrial high-strength wastewater treatment. Within the broader family of Anaerobic Solutions, it represents the most advanced option for space-constrained, high-load applications.

Where Does Pharmaceutical Wastewater Come From?

Pharmaceutical wastewater originates from the entire production process of chemical synthesis, fermentation antibiotics, traditional Chinese medicine, and biopharmaceuticals, representing a typical high-difficulty industrial wastewater. Key pollution-generating stages include raw material washing, reaction synthesis, fermentation culture, extraction crystallization, and filtration separation. Auxiliary wastewater includes equipment washing, workshop floor cleaning, laboratory testing, and exhaust gas scrubbing. Fermentation wastewater mainly consists of bacterial cell residues and spent culture media; chemical synthesis wastewater is rich in reaction byproducts and organic solvent residues; TCM wastewater is concentrated in herb decoction and alcohol precipitation or concentration stages. Wastewater generation is continuous, with significant variations due to drug type and production batch changes. Small and medium-sized pharmaceutical companies lack stable production conditions, causing extreme fluctuations in water quality and quantity-the highest industry-wide pollution control difficulty. This variability makes robust Anaerobic Solutions essential for reliable pretreatment.

Three Decades of Center Enamel Development

Center Enamel has been deeply engaged in the environmental bolted storage equipment field for over 30 years. Starting with proprietary enamel anti-corrosion material technology, the company has gradually completed the full-industry-chain upgrade from a single tank manufacturer to a comprehensive environmental EPC service provider. Throughout its 30+ year history, the company has been recognized as a National High-Tech Enterprise, National Specialized and Sophisticated "Little Giant," Manufacturing Single Champion, and Provincial Green Factory. It has successfully delivered over 30,000 environmental projects globally, establishing itself as a leading enterprise in the global GFS tank storage industry. The company has fully integrated the entire chain from enamel frit R&D, intelligent environmental equipment manufacturing, to EPC project contracting-every business breakthrough has been achieved through proprietary core anti-corrosion technology.

Building a Professional Construction Team for Global Delivery

Center Enamel has established its own domestic and international certified construction teams, with regular practical training on GFS tank installation and overseas construction standards for various countries. Domestically, regional construction teams cover multiple zones, capable of simultaneously deploying multiple teams for large tank farm projects. Internationally, cross-border professional installation teams are equipped to various country construction standards-sufficient manpower reserves ensure uninterrupted construction delivery for remote African sites, high-standard European and American facilities, and other projects.

R&D Team Driving Anaerobic Solutions Innovation

Center Enamel has built a full-chain professional team covering R&D, design, marketing, installation, and after-sales. The R&D team is led by national-level materials technology experts, specializing in enamel frit and tank anti-corrosion core technologies. External senior environmental engineering and mechanical structure engineers are retained to strengthen R&D capabilities, focusing on anti-corrosion coating formulations, specialty corrosion-resistant tanks, and anaerobic supporting integrated equipment-continuously breaking through industry technological barriers. This integrated R&D approach ensures that every Anaerobic Solution is matched with tanks engineered for decades of reliable service.

Innovative Material Technology for Long-Life Performance

Center Enamel has independently developed over 200 anti-corrosion enamel formulations, with proprietary double-sided double-layer enameling technology. GFS tank anti-corrosion service life exceeds 30 years-far surpassing concrete and ordinary equipment-making it suitable for global high-corrosion wastewater and biogas fermentation conditions. This material advantage directly supports the long-term reliability of IC Process and other Anaerobic Solutions deployed in aggressive industrial environments.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes the IC Process different from traditional anaerobic treatment?
The IC Process uses a built-in gas-lift internal circulation system that eliminates external recirculation pumps. Its dual-zone configuration and high upflow velocity deliver superior sludge-wastewater contact, higher loading rates, and a footprint one-third the size of conventional systems.

Why is pharmaceutical wastewater so difficult to treat?
Pharmaceutical wastewater contains toxic, persistent pollutants from synthesis, fermentation, and extraction processes. Water quality fluctuates dramatically with batch production, requiring robust Anaerobic Solutions and advanced polishing stages to maintain stable compliance.

How long do Center Enamel's GFS tanks last in corrosive environments?
Center Enamel's proprietary double-sided double-layer enameling technology gives GFS tanks an anti-corrosion service life exceeding 30 years, outperforming concrete and ordinary equipment in high-corrosion wastewater and biogas fermentation conditions.

Partner with Center Enamel for Your Anaerobic Solutions Project

Our technical team can evaluate your wastewater profile and recommend the optimal IC Process configuration and tank specification for your site. Get in touch today to discuss how our 30+ years of experience can support your project.

Contact us now to request a feasibility study and preliminary design for your industrial wastewater treatment or biogas recovery project.