Luan An Chemical New Materials Company has achieved a healthy closed-loop circulation for the water system in its industrial park

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Luan An Chemical New Materials Company has achieved a healthy closed-loop circulation for its water system. Author/Source: Luan An Chemical. Date: November 30, 2021. Clicks: 15. Against the backdrop of the institutional reforms aimed at boosting efficiency at the New Materials Company, its fertilizer production branch has kept pace with these reforms, adhering closely to the \"18-character\" work guideline. It fully implements a culture based on lean thinking and strives to establish a high-standard lean management system. As a treatment device for achieving near-zero discharge of wastewater generated in production and daily operations across the entire plant, zero emission is crucial for enabling a healthy closed-loop circulation in the park’s water system. The processing capacity of existing zero-emission systems is relatively low, primarily limited by the capacity of the evaporation crystallization units. This results in insufficient salt output, leading to a continuous increase in salt levels in the water systems. The circulating water system is most affected, with extremely high chloride levels that threaten the proper operation of the heat exchange systems in the production facilities. Furthermore, the increasing salinity in the water system also affects the efficiency of the biological treatment system in wastewater treatment plants in dealing with organic matter. To address the operational bottlenecks in the park’s water system as soon as possible, it was decided through discussions in 2019 to install new zero-discharge equipment. The new installations include a membrane concentration unit with a capacity of 55 t/h, along with two salt separation and evaporation crystallization units; a three-effect evaporation crystallization unit with a capacity of 10.7 t/h; and a mother liquor drying unit with a capacity of 6.5 t/h. By installing new zero-emission devices, the processing capacity of concentrated brine and the amount of salt produced can be increased, thereby gradually reducing the salt content in the water system and improving the efficiency of the wastewater treatment system. Additionally, chloride levels in the circulating water system can be reduced through waste discharge replacement, so that they meet the specified requirements and the stable operation of the heat exchange systems in the production facilities is ensured. Ultimately, a positive closed-loop cycle for the water system is achieved. The project commenced in 2020, and the company and its subsidiaries attached great importance to and paid close attention to the construction progress of the new zero-emission facilities. Thanks to the active coordination by the company’s leadership, the main construction of the project was completed in November 2021. At present, the mother liquor drying facility is ready for commissioning, the membrane concentration facility is undergoing routine inspections and adjustments, and the trisection evaporation crystallization facility for adipic acid started operating with feed input at 11:00 on November 16, successfully producing crystalline salts at 10:20 on November 17. It has successfully addressed the issue of efficient recycling of high-concentration saline wastewater, achieving near-zero wastewater discharge and environmentally sustainable utilization; this has helped to achieve cost reduction and improved efficiency in production, pushing the company’s environmental protection efforts to a new level and facilitating gradual progress toward green development.