This spring, three theses related to EPSE’s operations were completed, resulting in two new engineers and one master’s degree in engineering. Anette Anttonen, who works as a laboratory engineer at EPSE, graduated as an engineer of laboratory technology after completing her thesis on chemical precipitation and a comparison of the EPSE™ Method with lime precipitation at Tampere University of Applied Sciences. Anni Honkonen, EHSQ Manager at EPSE, graduated as a Master of Science in Industrial Engineering and Management from Tampere University after completing her thesis on safety management in international, complex projects. The third thesis is by Niko Lodman, who studied at Jyväskylä University of Applied Sciences (JAMK). Lodman and EPSE were brought together when JAMK sought companies interested in thesis projects carried out in cooperation with businesses. EPSE and Lodman worked on the topic together, and Lodman completed his thesis independently and proficiently.
Anttonen’s bachelor thesis on the precipitation of metals in the laboratory
Ensuring water quality and controlling heavy metals are key challenges in industrial wastewater treatment, and Anttonen’s thesis deals with metal precipitation, particularly using hydroxide precipitation and the EPSE™ Method. The aim was to study and develop the EPSE™ Method through comparative laboratory studies. The study consisted of two complementary parts: the first part compared the effectiveness of the EPSE™ method and traditional hydroxide precipitation in batch decanter tests, particularly in terms of lime consumption and metal precipitation efficiency. The second part evaluated the results of continuous SCOPE equipment and decanter tests. The purpose of the study was to deepen understanding of the effectiveness of the EPSE™ Method and to produce comparable data on its competitiveness in industrial wastewater treatment. The results showed that the EPSE™ Method can improve metal precipitation, especially in complex wastewater and at low metal concentrations, even though lime consumption was often nominally higher compared to traditional hydroxide precipitation. The EPSE1010 chemical significantly promoted the precipitation of uranium and molybdenum. The thesis provides valuable additional information about the EPSE™ Method, and Anttonen plans to hold a training session for the entire team in May. This will provide more extensive experience, including in presenting and communicating the results. According to Anttonen, the thesis went according to plan and was a rewarding and educational project. “Although a thesis generally seems like a big and challenging task beforehand, the clear and interesting topic made it easy to get started and keep going. I had a valuable opportunity to carry out independent practical research, where I was able to both apply and deepen my expertise. I was able to choose my own approach to the work, but I was not left alone – I always received support and perspectives from the multi-skilled work community when needed,” Anttonen summarizes.
The Finnish publication can be found in Theseus, the publication archive of Finnish universities of applied sciences.
Anttonen’s thesis had a long experimental part, during which Anttonen performed dozens of precipitation tests.
Lodman’s bachelor thesis on CO2 emissions from precipitation
Lodman’s thesis dealt with industrial wastewater and in particular metal precipitation from the perspective of the global green transition and the circular economy phenomenon. The separation and recovery of soluble metals from industrial and mining wastewater are, according to Lodman, perfect examples of environmental considerations in modern processes, reducing the use of virgin raw materials and clean water, while also reducing the amount of greenhouse gas emissions created by the process. There is a wide range of metal extraction techniques and the differences in CO2e emissions between them can vary widely, depending on the chemicals used, for example. Chemical precipitation is the most globally used technique for metal separation in wastewater and is based specifically on the use of precipitation chemicals. The aim and objective of this thesis was to create a simplified calculator to compare the emissions of conventional chemical precipitation methods with those of the EPSE™ Method. EPSE uses the calculator to review the emission balance of its own method and as part of the compilation of customer solutions. The work was carried out as a functional development project and resulted in a calculator package that also includes diagrams analysing the results of the calculators under different annual scenarios. At its best, the calculator package is a flexible and customisable model base for the client, which can potentially also influence the greenhouse gas emissions of the client companies.
The Finnish publication can be found in Theseus, the publication archive of Finnish universities of applied sciences.
Themes of safety management in Honkonen’s master’s thesis
Honkonen’s thesis examines safety management issues in international, multicultural industrial projects, focusing on small and medium-sized enterprises operating in risky environments. EPSE is implementing international pilot projects in the mining and metals industry and has encountered over the years various safety problems related to communication, cultural differences, unclear responsibilities and limited resources. The aim of the study was to examine, with the help of experts and literature, how the problems identified have been solved, and how the solutions identified can be integrated into the current safety management processes of the case company, EPSE. The work combines a literature review of international safety practices with expert interviews from four countries representing different cultural and regulatory environments: Finland, South Africa, Kazakhstan and the United States. The integration of solutions was supported by adapting the practices into project-specific guidelines and using management engagement, clarification of job roles and digital feedback tools to support implementation. The results underline that strong management commitment, careful upfront engagement and clear structures and processes are essential to improve safety in complex industrial projects. The publication includes a simple checklist to help readers identify areas for improvement in their own projects.
The English publication is available in publication archive of Tampere university, Trepo.
Honkonen supervised and graduated
Honkonen supervised both bachelor theses and praises both thesis authors for being independent and self-directed, which she believes is important in the worklife. “There is a lot of attention-seeking discussion these days about whether there are jobs available for university or university of applied sciences graduates. It is certainly true that many people are graduating from higher education institutions, and the importance of this is emphasized in government programs and likely in high schools as well,” Honkonen says. “In my opinion, vocational education should not be forgotten. It plays an important role in our society; not everyone can graduate from higher education.” Furthermore, even a well-completed degree does not automatically guarantee a job, and according to Honkonen, the most important thing is attitude: “This is evident in students, job seekers, and employees, and it determines everything. The right education—whether it be university, vocational school, or something else—provides a foundation for success in working life. However, attitude determines how successful you ultimately are in your career,” Honkonen sums up.
This article was written by
Anni Honkonen
EHSQ Manager
anni.honkonen(a)epse.fi
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