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Dow's RO technology tackles punishing operational challenges
NEWS
Kerui provides membrane nitrogen-generation services in Kuwait
T
owards the end of 2016 Kerui Petroleum obtained a membrane nitrogen stimulation contract in Kuwait which, it claims, is set to break the domination of the use of liquid nitrogen locally, and brings a new stimulation product and method to the oil-rich country. The stimulation effect of liquid nitrogen is unsatisfactory in many oil wells because of its low continuity and transportation issues which increase costs. Kerui says that its membrane separation technology continuously generates nitrogen at well sites, which is pumped into the well directly without transportation – cutting costs by around 20%. Hailong Wang, Project Director, Kerui Petroleum, said: ‘The nitrogen unit was applied to three pilot wells when Kerui entered the Kuwait market. Previously, two world-class service giants operated liquid nitrogen stimulation on the second well, but both failed to make well recovery production. Combined with a coiled tubing unit Kerui saved this well successfully and exceeded stimulation expectations after 60 hours of continuous nitrogen injection using a membrane nitrogen generator and booster.’ This project marked Kerui’s breakthrough in Kuwait. Wang says that as the first membrane nitrogen-generation services provider in Kuwait, its technology has enabled it to gain the trust of both oil companies and oilfield services firms. It is aiming to promote this technology and strengthen Kuwait’s nitrogen stimulation market. Wang continued: ‘Kerui will extend cooperation with other oil or oilfield service companies in Saudi Arabia, Oman, United Arab Emirates and other members of the Gulf Cooperation Council, and build a sound oilfield services system in the Middle East.’ Contact: Kerui Petroleum, No. 233 Naner Road, Dongying City, Dongying, Shandong 257000, China. Tel: +965 6683 5987, www.keruigroup.com
Evoqua acquires Environmental Treatment Systems
E
voqua Water Technologies Llc, which specialises in water and wastewater treatment products, 4
Membrane Technology
systems and services for industrial and municipal customers, recently signed a definitive agreement to acquire privately held Environmental Treatment Systems Inc, a US firm that operates in the industrial wastewater market. Environmental Treatment Systems serves the food processing, pulp and paper, poultry and meat processing, chemical, beverage, laundry and textile industries. Its clients range from end-users to consulting engineering firms and contractors. ‘We welcome Environmental Treatment Systems to the Evoqua Water Technologies family,’ said Ron Keating, CEO, Evoqua. ‘The company has been a leader in the industrial wastewater market since 1987 and its products and technology, and customer focus and market flexibility have been its hallmarks. We look forward to it joining our team and to helping it accelerate its growth as part of Evoqua.’ Environmental Treatment Systems is becoming a part of Evoqua’s Industrial Projects and Services division – supporting the wastewater needs of its heavy, light and institutional customers, serving a variety of markets. As part of this acquisition this division will form an organic wastewater centre of excellence with Environmental Treatment Systems to serve Evoqua’s industrial customers across its portfolio. Environmental Treatment Systems’ products include dissolved air flotation (DAF) technology, wastewater systems, biological treatment, services and controls. DAF, an effective physical/chemical technology, is used to treat a variety of industrial and municipal wastewater streams. DAF systems are commonly used for the removal of oils and greases and suspended solids, to meet a variety of treatment goals, including product recovery and reuse; pretreatment to meet sewer discharge limits; pretreatment to reduce loading on downstream biological treatment systems; treatment of biological effluent; and thickening of biosolids.
Chemical Co, recently introduced the Specialty Membrane Elements series to provide a reliable, consistent and affordable technology that is capable of tackling punishing operational challenges and intense conditions in the chemicals, sugar, mining, oil and gas, power-generating and dairy markets. The company says that industry demand to operate less resource intensely, in order to meet environmental and economical requirements, calls for new technology and products. These are most needed in markets where highly harmful or highly valuable compounds are being processed and, ultimately, are being separated. Very often these separation processes take place under demanding conditions, requiring specialised technology. ‘The Dow Specialty Membrane Elements complement our reverse osmosis and nanofiltration portfolio well – helping us meet more unique challenges in the chemicals, sugar, mining, oil and gas, power and dairy markets,’ explained Yochai Gafni, Global Business Director, Reverse Osmosis, DW & PS. According to Gafni, this product series also can be used with other Dow technologies, such as ultrafiltration, ion-exchange resins and brackish water or sea-water reverse osmosis (RO). These speciality membranes help users maximise recovery and separation of valuable compounds, reduce their environmental footprint, minimise operational costs and meet regulatory requirements. Andi Gorenflo, Business Development Leader, RO Business Unit, DW & PS, added: ‘Our Dow Specialty Membrane product series enables customers to operate spiral-wound RO and nanofiltration elements under extreme conditions — far beyond the limits of standard elements. This series is a continuation of the RO and nanofiltration success story into new applications for a variety of industries.’ Products that form part of the Specialty Membrane Element series are summarised below.
Contacts: Evoqua Water Technologies Llc, 4800 North Point Parkway, Suite 250, Alpharetta, GA 30022, USA. Tel: +1 978 614 7111, www.evoqua.com
• Ultra-high-pressure RO elements for industrial process and wastewater – these operate at 1740 psi (120 bar) and increase overall efficiency of minimal liquid discharge (MLD) and zero liquid discharge (ZLD) operations, whilst helping to reduce the size of downstream conventional treatment processes by up to 50%. • High-temperature RO elements for various industrial streams, including those involving sugar – these operate at temperatures up to 80°C, and the Dow Hypershell technology increases cleaning efficiency, reducing cleanin-place chemicals and water usage, compared with standard mesh-wrap elements. • High-temperature nanofiltration (NF) elements for various industrial streams – these
Environmental Treatment Systems Inc, 4310 McEver Industrial Drive, Acworth, GA 30101, USA. Tel: +1 770 384 0602, www.etsenvironmental.com
Dow’s RO technology tackles punishing operational challenges
D
ow Water & Process Solutions (DW & PS), a business unit of Dow
January 2017
NEWS/IN BRIEF separate sulfate, or large organic molecules, efficiently at temperatures up to 70°C, helping to reduce heat-exchanger capacity and save energy. • Extra-wide feed-spacer NF elements for demineralisation of high, viscous liquids – these achieve high recovery because of the extra-wide feed-spacer, and the Dow Hypershell technology saves energy through up to 60% less bypass, and increases cleaning efficiency compared with standard mesh-wrap elements. Contact: The Dow Chemical Co, Dow Water & Process Solutions, Customer Information Center, PO Box 1206, Midland, MI 48642-1206, USA. Tel: +1 989 636 9086, www.dowwaterandprocess.com
First Saudi plant to use Inge membranes is operating successfully
G
erman water treatment specialist Inge GmbH, part of BASF Se, has provided details of the first application of its ultrafiltration (UF) technology at a sea-water desalination facility in Saudi Arabia. According to the company, its involvement provides yet another clear signal of its commitment to the Middle Eastern market. The desalination plant that was commissioned in October 2015 is located in the Jeddah South region and was built by AES Arabia Ltd and Hyundai Heavy Industries on behalf of Saudi Electricity Co to supply water to a power plant. It uses Inge UF technology as a pretreatment stage prior to reverse osmosis (RO). Inge provided four T-Rack lines featuring a total of 160 Dizzer XL UF modules and manifolds in order to deliver 17 million litres (about 4.5 million gallons) of water a day to the RO system. The desalinated water is used to meet process water demands at the Jeddah South Power plant. ‘This is a very important project for Inge and an excellent reference for our work in the Middle East,’ commented Ralf Krüger, Director of Sales, Inge. ‘Our unique T-Rack system and T-Rack manifold components met the customer’s needs perfectly – offering a truly space-saving solution. And we were also able to offer extensive technical support during both the tendering and commissioning stages.’ All involved parties have expressed their satisfaction with the project, says Inge. Irshad Sonde, who heads up the Energy Operating Unit at AES, summed up his
January 2017
experience: ‘We were completely satisfied with all the steps and measures taken in this project. Delivery of the equipment, documentation and engineering services were on time and all the milestones were completed within the foreseen time frame. The engineering services were provided in a professional way, and cooperation and coordination with the engineers was smooth and hassle-free.’ ‘A highlight was that the service provided by Inge did not only focus on the company’s own equipment, but also took into consideration upstream and downstream treatment processes. Inge reacted quickly to all our projectrelated requests and showed a high degree of responsiveness.’ Contact: Inge GmbH, Flurstrasse 27, 86926 Greifenberg, Germany. Tel: +49 8192 997 700, www.inge.ag
New Logic and Agrotropico jointly create zero waste palm-oil mill
P
rovider of high-performance membrane separation systems US-based New Logic Research Inc has finalised an agreement with Aceites Sustentables de Palma Sa de Cv – an Agrotropico company – under which it is supplying a VSEP vibrating membrane system to a new integrated palm-oil facility in Chiapas, Mexico. Combined with Agrotropico’s green production methods, the addition of a VSEP system is taking sustainability to levels before unseen in the palm-oil industry, says New Logic. It will create a true zero waste facility in which 100% of solid waste is composted, and 100% of the liquid waste is recycled. VSEP’s patented vibratory shear mechanism, coupled with an innovative filter pack design, keeps the membranes free of obstruction, ensuring trouble-free operation in the face of difficult feed water, such as palm-oil mill effluent (POME). ‘Even with extensive treatment by anaerobic and aerobic digesters, POME has a lot of residual contaminants that can be harmful if discharged directly to the environment,’ explained Greg Johnson, CEO, New Logic. ‘But with VSEP, the water is not only treated, but reused in the process. It is a win-win for Agrotropico and the environment, and that is what sustainable business is all about.’ Jorge Medrano, CEO, Agrotropico, added: ‘Even with all of our green growing and
In Brief Traverse City renews its wastewater treatment contract with CH2M In the USA, Traverse City, Michigan, recently approved a five-year contract renewal with CH2M for operations and maintenance of the Traverse City Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant. The facility serves 50 000 residents and local industries. Originally built in 1932, it has been upgraded several times, and now employs advanced membrane filtration technology to produce high-quality treated effluent that helps sustain public and environmental health. H2O Innovation awarded contracts worth C$6.9 million H2O Innovation Inc was recently awarded five contracts in Canada – in Nunavut, Alberta, Manitoba and Quebec, respectively, and two contracts in the USA – in Minnesota and Iowa. These contracts, worth C$6.9 million, include providing potable water and wastewater treatment systems for a workers’ camp in Nunavut. These are based on the firm’s containerised membrane bioreactor process. Another project, with a major oil company in Alberta, covers an ultrafiltration system that will produce 3000 m3 of potable water a day. This system will feed a steam generator and act as the pretreatment unit to an existing nanofiltration plant. CMS wins ICIS award Industrial membrane manufacturer Compact Membrane Systems (CMS) has been selected as the overall winner in the 2016 ICIS Innovation Awards. The panel of judges at ICIS – a major petrochemical market information provider – based its decision on the strength of CMS’ Optiperm system, which is designed to separate olefins and paraffins, using a fluoropolymer membrane. CMS says that this technology was recognised for its significant potential to minimise the cost and energy of separating olefins and paraffins – currently one of the most energy intensive separation processes for refiners and petrochemical manufacturers. Data sheet details Fluorogard NX filters US-based Entegris Inc has published a data sheet covering its Fluorogard NX filters, which have been developed for wet etch and clean applications in the semiconductor industry. Designed for aggressive aqueous chemicals and solvent applications, Fluorogard NX’s hydrophobic polytetrafluoroethylene membrane maximises surface area to improve flow-rate performance and increase device yields at elevated temperatures, says the company. More information: www.entegris.com/content/en/ home/resources.html
Membrane Technology
5
Kerui provides membrane nitrogen-generation services in Kuwait
T
owards the end of 2016 Kerui Petroleum obtained a membrane nitrogen stimulation contract in Kuwait which, it claims, is set to break the domination of the use of liquid nitrogen locally, and brings a new stimulation product and method to the oil-rich country. The stimulation effect of liquid nitrogen is unsatisfactory in many oil wells because of its low continuity and transportation issues which increase costs. Kerui says that its membrane separation technology continuously generates nitrogen at well sites, which is pumped into the well directly without transportation – cutting costs by around 20%. Hailong Wang, Project Director, Kerui Petroleum, said: ‘The nitrogen unit was applied to three pilot wells when Kerui entered the Kuwait market. Previously, two world-class service giants operated liquid nitrogen stimulation on the second well, but both failed to make well recovery production. Combined with a coiled tubing unit Kerui saved this well successfully and exceeded stimulation expectations after 60 hours of continuous nitrogen injection using a membrane nitrogen generator and booster.’ This project marked Kerui’s breakthrough in Kuwait. Wang says that as the first membrane nitrogen-generation services provider in Kuwait, its technology has enabled it to gain the trust of both oil companies and oilfield services firms. It is aiming to promote this technology and strengthen Kuwait’s nitrogen stimulation market. Wang continued: ‘Kerui will extend cooperation with other oil or oilfield service companies in Saudi Arabia, Oman, United Arab Emirates and other members of the Gulf Cooperation Council, and build a sound oilfield services system in the Middle East.’ Contact: Kerui Petroleum, No. 233 Naner Road, Dongying City, Dongying, Shandong 257000, China. Tel: +965 6683 5987, www.keruigroup.com
Evoqua acquires Environmental Treatment Systems
E
voqua Water Technologies Llc, which specialises in water and wastewater treatment products, 4
Membrane Technology
systems and services for industrial and municipal customers, recently signed a definitive agreement to acquire privately held Environmental Treatment Systems Inc, a US firm that operates in the industrial wastewater market. Environmental Treatment Systems serves the food processing, pulp and paper, poultry and meat processing, chemical, beverage, laundry and textile industries. Its clients range from end-users to consulting engineering firms and contractors. ‘We welcome Environmental Treatment Systems to the Evoqua Water Technologies family,’ said Ron Keating, CEO, Evoqua. ‘The company has been a leader in the industrial wastewater market since 1987 and its products and technology, and customer focus and market flexibility have been its hallmarks. We look forward to it joining our team and to helping it accelerate its growth as part of Evoqua.’ Environmental Treatment Systems is becoming a part of Evoqua’s Industrial Projects and Services division – supporting the wastewater needs of its heavy, light and institutional customers, serving a variety of markets. As part of this acquisition this division will form an organic wastewater centre of excellence with Environmental Treatment Systems to serve Evoqua’s industrial customers across its portfolio. Environmental Treatment Systems’ products include dissolved air flotation (DAF) technology, wastewater systems, biological treatment, services and controls. DAF, an effective physical/chemical technology, is used to treat a variety of industrial and municipal wastewater streams. DAF systems are commonly used for the removal of oils and greases and suspended solids, to meet a variety of treatment goals, including product recovery and reuse; pretreatment to meet sewer discharge limits; pretreatment to reduce loading on downstream biological treatment systems; treatment of biological effluent; and thickening of biosolids.
Chemical Co, recently introduced the Specialty Membrane Elements series to provide a reliable, consistent and affordable technology that is capable of tackling punishing operational challenges and intense conditions in the chemicals, sugar, mining, oil and gas, power-generating and dairy markets. The company says that industry demand to operate less resource intensely, in order to meet environmental and economical requirements, calls for new technology and products. These are most needed in markets where highly harmful or highly valuable compounds are being processed and, ultimately, are being separated. Very often these separation processes take place under demanding conditions, requiring specialised technology. ‘The Dow Specialty Membrane Elements complement our reverse osmosis and nanofiltration portfolio well – helping us meet more unique challenges in the chemicals, sugar, mining, oil and gas, power and dairy markets,’ explained Yochai Gafni, Global Business Director, Reverse Osmosis, DW & PS. According to Gafni, this product series also can be used with other Dow technologies, such as ultrafiltration, ion-exchange resins and brackish water or sea-water reverse osmosis (RO). These speciality membranes help users maximise recovery and separation of valuable compounds, reduce their environmental footprint, minimise operational costs and meet regulatory requirements. Andi Gorenflo, Business Development Leader, RO Business Unit, DW & PS, added: ‘Our Dow Specialty Membrane product series enables customers to operate spiral-wound RO and nanofiltration elements under extreme conditions — far beyond the limits of standard elements. This series is a continuation of the RO and nanofiltration success story into new applications for a variety of industries.’ Products that form part of the Specialty Membrane Element series are summarised below.
Contacts: Evoqua Water Technologies Llc, 4800 North Point Parkway, Suite 250, Alpharetta, GA 30022, USA. Tel: +1 978 614 7111, www.evoqua.com
• Ultra-high-pressure RO elements for industrial process and wastewater – these operate at 1740 psi (120 bar) and increase overall efficiency of minimal liquid discharge (MLD) and zero liquid discharge (ZLD) operations, whilst helping to reduce the size of downstream conventional treatment processes by up to 50%. • High-temperature RO elements for various industrial streams, including those involving sugar – these operate at temperatures up to 80°C, and the Dow Hypershell technology increases cleaning efficiency, reducing cleanin-place chemicals and water usage, compared with standard mesh-wrap elements. • High-temperature nanofiltration (NF) elements for various industrial streams – these
Environmental Treatment Systems Inc, 4310 McEver Industrial Drive, Acworth, GA 30101, USA. Tel: +1 770 384 0602, www.etsenvironmental.com
Dow’s RO technology tackles punishing operational challenges
D
ow Water & Process Solutions (DW & PS), a business unit of Dow
January 2017
NEWS/IN BRIEF separate sulfate, or large organic molecules, efficiently at temperatures up to 70°C, helping to reduce heat-exchanger capacity and save energy. • Extra-wide feed-spacer NF elements for demineralisation of high, viscous liquids – these achieve high recovery because of the extra-wide feed-spacer, and the Dow Hypershell technology saves energy through up to 60% less bypass, and increases cleaning efficiency compared with standard mesh-wrap elements. Contact: The Dow Chemical Co, Dow Water & Process Solutions, Customer Information Center, PO Box 1206, Midland, MI 48642-1206, USA. Tel: +1 989 636 9086, www.dowwaterandprocess.com
First Saudi plant to use Inge membranes is operating successfully
G
erman water treatment specialist Inge GmbH, part of BASF Se, has provided details of the first application of its ultrafiltration (UF) technology at a sea-water desalination facility in Saudi Arabia. According to the company, its involvement provides yet another clear signal of its commitment to the Middle Eastern market. The desalination plant that was commissioned in October 2015 is located in the Jeddah South region and was built by AES Arabia Ltd and Hyundai Heavy Industries on behalf of Saudi Electricity Co to supply water to a power plant. It uses Inge UF technology as a pretreatment stage prior to reverse osmosis (RO). Inge provided four T-Rack lines featuring a total of 160 Dizzer XL UF modules and manifolds in order to deliver 17 million litres (about 4.5 million gallons) of water a day to the RO system. The desalinated water is used to meet process water demands at the Jeddah South Power plant. ‘This is a very important project for Inge and an excellent reference for our work in the Middle East,’ commented Ralf Krüger, Director of Sales, Inge. ‘Our unique T-Rack system and T-Rack manifold components met the customer’s needs perfectly – offering a truly space-saving solution. And we were also able to offer extensive technical support during both the tendering and commissioning stages.’ All involved parties have expressed their satisfaction with the project, says Inge. Irshad Sonde, who heads up the Energy Operating Unit at AES, summed up his
January 2017
experience: ‘We were completely satisfied with all the steps and measures taken in this project. Delivery of the equipment, documentation and engineering services were on time and all the milestones were completed within the foreseen time frame. The engineering services were provided in a professional way, and cooperation and coordination with the engineers was smooth and hassle-free.’ ‘A highlight was that the service provided by Inge did not only focus on the company’s own equipment, but also took into consideration upstream and downstream treatment processes. Inge reacted quickly to all our projectrelated requests and showed a high degree of responsiveness.’ Contact: Inge GmbH, Flurstrasse 27, 86926 Greifenberg, Germany. Tel: +49 8192 997 700, www.inge.ag
New Logic and Agrotropico jointly create zero waste palm-oil mill
P
rovider of high-performance membrane separation systems US-based New Logic Research Inc has finalised an agreement with Aceites Sustentables de Palma Sa de Cv – an Agrotropico company – under which it is supplying a VSEP vibrating membrane system to a new integrated palm-oil facility in Chiapas, Mexico. Combined with Agrotropico’s green production methods, the addition of a VSEP system is taking sustainability to levels before unseen in the palm-oil industry, says New Logic. It will create a true zero waste facility in which 100% of solid waste is composted, and 100% of the liquid waste is recycled. VSEP’s patented vibratory shear mechanism, coupled with an innovative filter pack design, keeps the membranes free of obstruction, ensuring trouble-free operation in the face of difficult feed water, such as palm-oil mill effluent (POME). ‘Even with extensive treatment by anaerobic and aerobic digesters, POME has a lot of residual contaminants that can be harmful if discharged directly to the environment,’ explained Greg Johnson, CEO, New Logic. ‘But with VSEP, the water is not only treated, but reused in the process. It is a win-win for Agrotropico and the environment, and that is what sustainable business is all about.’ Jorge Medrano, CEO, Agrotropico, added: ‘Even with all of our green growing and
In Brief Traverse City renews its wastewater treatment contract with CH2M In the USA, Traverse City, Michigan, recently approved a five-year contract renewal with CH2M for operations and maintenance of the Traverse City Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant. The facility serves 50 000 residents and local industries. Originally built in 1932, it has been upgraded several times, and now employs advanced membrane filtration technology to produce high-quality treated effluent that helps sustain public and environmental health. H2O Innovation awarded contracts worth C$6.9 million H2O Innovation Inc was recently awarded five contracts in Canada – in Nunavut, Alberta, Manitoba and Quebec, respectively, and two contracts in the USA – in Minnesota and Iowa. These contracts, worth C$6.9 million, include providing potable water and wastewater treatment systems for a workers’ camp in Nunavut. These are based on the firm’s containerised membrane bioreactor process. Another project, with a major oil company in Alberta, covers an ultrafiltration system that will produce 3000 m3 of potable water a day. This system will feed a steam generator and act as the pretreatment unit to an existing nanofiltration plant. CMS wins ICIS award Industrial membrane manufacturer Compact Membrane Systems (CMS) has been selected as the overall winner in the 2016 ICIS Innovation Awards. The panel of judges at ICIS – a major petrochemical market information provider – based its decision on the strength of CMS’ Optiperm system, which is designed to separate olefins and paraffins, using a fluoropolymer membrane. CMS says that this technology was recognised for its significant potential to minimise the cost and energy of separating olefins and paraffins – currently one of the most energy intensive separation processes for refiners and petrochemical manufacturers. Data sheet details Fluorogard NX filters US-based Entegris Inc has published a data sheet covering its Fluorogard NX filters, which have been developed for wet etch and clean applications in the semiconductor industry. Designed for aggressive aqueous chemicals and solvent applications, Fluorogard NX’s hydrophobic polytetrafluoroethylene membrane maximises surface area to improve flow-rate performance and increase device yields at elevated temperatures, says the company. More information: www.entegris.com/content/en/ home/resources.html
Membrane Technology
5