Membranes turn waste into profit
22 Aug 2000
A new case study from the government's Environmental Technology Best Practice Programme, managed by AEA Technology, details how a fibreboard manufacturer overcame its effluent problems - and saved over £250 000 a year - by installing a membrane-based treatment system.
At its North Wales site, MDF manufacturer, Kronospan, generates large volumes of effluent with a high chemical oxygen demand and suspended solids content. Previously this was tankered off site for treatment and disposal, but the company has now put in a membrane system that allows material recovery and recirculation of treated water. The hybrid plant uses settlement and filtration to remove most of the fibres from the feedwater before it passes through reverse osmosis crossflow membranes.
Kronospan now reuses all its effluent components - the `clean' permeate is reused as boiler feedwater; the `dirty' concentrate is added to the glue mix and the filter press cake is used as a woodchip substitute. Effluent is no longer taken away for disposal and mains water consumption has fallen by around 44,000 m3/year.
The case study (NC259) can be obtained by calling the Environment and Energy Helpline on 0800 585794.
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