Aquatech has been awarded a contract for a 2,400 m³/d zero liquid discharge (ZLD) plant for a coal-to-chemicals facility in Hailer in Inner Mongolia.
The plant incorporates HERO™ (high efficiency reverse osmosis) and a thermal brine concentrator.
The ZLD plant will reuse 92.5% of the waste streams, which are extremely challenging with high COD, BOD, ammonia, silica and TDS levels that exceed 18,000 ppm. The HERO™ system will be used to concentrate the feedwater to a solids level of approximately 8.5% before taking it to the brine concentrator and subsequent evaporation pond.
Aquatech will be supplying this project on an engineering, procurement and commissioning basis, and is looking to start commissioning by mid-2011.
The coal-to-chemicals plant is owned by Hulunbeier New Gold Chemical Co Ltd, part of Yuntianhua Chemical (YTH), one of China’s largest state-owned enterprises with a series of products such as chemical fertilizers, organic chemicals, new glass fiber materials and phosphate ore mining and dressing.
The plant is located in one of the biggest grasslands in China, a famous tourist attraction, and is also a major coal region attracting major industrial investment. The driving force for ZLD is to strive for a solution that will reinforce the delicate balance between industrial development and environmental conservation.
Tom Tseng, general manager, Aquatech China, commented, “We are honored that the YTH Group has entrusted Aquatech with such an important project. Due to strict pollution control guidelines the reliable maximization of water reuse and ensuring true zero discharge are critical in such an important region of China. It is our goal to be the partner of our clients in developing solutions to conserve water and reduce pollution.”