Cost Details

Calculating what it costs to actually use a particular product is more complicated than merely comparing purchase prices of competing products. To accurately compare one product to another, it is necessary to determine what it actually costs to remove and dispose of a certain quantity of the targeted contaminant. Consideration must be given not only to the cost per kg of the product, but to the weight and volume of product that will be needed to extract a certain quantity of the contaminant. Disposal costs, installation costs, monitoring costs, and operating and maintenance costs must also be figured into the equation.

In this example, calculations were based upon using granular FORAGERŪ Type M-TU to remove mercury at a 20 ppb level. When fully saturated with mercury, FORAGERŪ absorbent is usually sent to an incineration facility for destruction of the absorbent and recovery of the mercury. This is normal procedure for mercury - saturated competing products as well:

The following table compares the actual use cost of FORAGERŪ absorbent in granular format to its most common competitors... beaded ion exchange resin and sulphur-treated activated carbon.

NOTE: There are other significant cost savings as well. FORAGERŪ Sponge is usually deployed in a column or disposable drum, or confined within a net bag in an in-situ or passive gravity flow operation. No costly pumps, plumbing, or prefiltration is required. This greatly reduces installation and process costs, as well as expensive downtime when replacement of the absorbent medium is required.

Because of the fast kinetics of Forager absorbents (1 - 2 munute contact time versus 20 - 40 minute contact time for activated carbon) equipment of considerably smaller size is possible.