RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
VLB IN-HOUSE
The Department for Water Quality, Management and Technology (WMT) offers all-round service for water In 2015, the Department for Water Quality, Management and Technology (WMT) was integrated into the new VLB Research Institute for Biotechnology and Water (FIBW), which has been under the direction of Dr. Martin Senz since November 2020. Five staff take water samples, quantify, conduct analysis, advise, research, and do much more besides. The tasks are manifold – after all, “Water is much more than just H2O,” as Dr. Alfons Ahrens and Stefan Reimann will tell in this interview. The Head of the Department and the Laboratory Manager explain why the water division needs to be strengthened further, and what makes it an indispensable component of the services VLB offers.
What are the core tasks of the Water Quality, Management and Technology Department? Ahrens: Our day-to-day work focuses on the analysis of drinking water, process water and wastewater, and also on operational consulting and research. In addition to this, some staff members are active in teaching and on various industry committees. What are the focal points for your contract analysis? Ahrens: One of our focal points is chemical-physical drinking water testing in accordance with the German Drinking Water Ordinance (officially named TrinkwV) based on the European Drinking Water Directive 98/83/EC. This involves testing the water for nitrate and heavy metal contamination, for example. In addition to this, we also conduct brewing and process water analyses for the beverage industry. On top of that, we are responsible for chemical-physical and sensory testing within the framework of the German Agricultural Society’s quality test for mineral, spring and table water. For this test, I act as an authorized German Agricultural Society (DLG) testing agent. Reimann: Drinking water is the raw material that serves as the basis for beverage production. Water-related technological issues are also important in this context. How does
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the water quality affect the final product? How does it impact the manufacturing process? Generally speaking, what we’re really looking at here is usually the ion composition and the ingredients. Water is much more than just H2O. On a global scale, water is the universal solvent. Geographical, geological and climate conditions – and anthropogenic factors as well – all influence the composition of the constituents, and consequently the quality of any water at the point of abstraction. Is it surface water or groundwater? Was the water already treated to be of drinking water quality? All of this makes a difference. And our focus covers all of it: we analyze and quantify the water and present our assessment and recommendation to the brewing and beverage industry. This tells them whether it is suitable for the intended application and, if not, how it needs to be treated before it can be used. The WMT also conducts inhibition and degradation tests – what is the aim of these tests? Ahrens: Inhibition tests are designed to simulate biological sewage treatment plants – in small vessels in a laboratory setting. We add substances that could cause problems in biological wastewater treatment during operation. These are often substances from the cleaning and disinfectant sector, or
Brauerei Forum International – May 2021
glues for labels. Within the scope of the inhibition tests, we determine whether small-scale inhibition is present and, accordingly, whether the operating materials could be dangerous for the biological sewage treatment plant. Degradability tests are concerned with biodegradability. There are some substances which are still difficult to degrade, even though they’re not inhibitory. The two issues are usually inseparable. The results of these tests can be valuable decision-making aids for plants that are looking to change their operating materials, which is usually an economically motivated decision. Around two years ago, VLB Berlin’s sampling and analysis of service water from evaporative cooling systems, cooling towers and wet separators were successfully accredited in accordance with the 42nd German Federal Immission Control Ordinance (officially named 42. BImSchV) and VDI 2047 (Directive published by the Association of German Engineers). What does this service mean for VLB’s customers? Reimann: Drinking water and wastewater are subject to strict legal regulations, and the sampling and analysis of them go hand in hand. This means that everything we process as part of the legally regulated contract analysis, be it drinking water or wastewater, ser-
