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ZLD.eco2 process lowers the cost of zero liquid discharge
NEWS/IN BRIEF Contacts: GE Water & Process Technologies, 4636 Somerton Road, Trevose, PA 19053-6783, USA. Tel: +1 215 355 3300, www.gewater.com GE Power & Water, 1 River Road, Building 2-135D, Schenectady, NY 12345, USA. Tel: +1 518 385 2211, www.gepower.com
ZLD.eco2 process lowers the cost of zero liquid discharge
G
lobal water-treatment systems provider Aquarion Group, based in Baar, Switzerland, used ACHEMA 2015, which was held recently in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, as an opportunity to launch the ZLD.eco2 process. According to the firm, it sets new standards in lowering the cost of zero liquid discharge (ZLD) systems in terms of both operating and capital expenditure. The process uses a series of filtration and separation technologies to reduce the subsequent evaporation of residual waste products to a minimum, and lower energy requirements. The system’s modular design also reduces plant footprint. ‘Aquarion focuses on constantly improving the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of ZLD systems. Based on the technologies used we believe that ZLD.eco2 is the lowest cost ZLD system available today,’ commented Karl Michael Millauer, CEO, Aquarion. ‘The term “eco” (in “ZLD.eco2”) signifies the economic advantages of this system. Moreover, the new ZLD.eco2 represents a significant enhancement over the original ZLDECO process introduced by Aquarion in 2014.’ Compared with conventional systems without pre-concentration, ZLD.eco2 requires about 20% less energy, claims Aquarion. Also, since the evaporation system is smaller, less cooling energy is needed for the condensation process. These savings can amount to as much as 80%. The modular construction of the system enables further savings to be achieved. The savings in terms of staffing are around 20%, whilst commissioning costs are also 20% lower. In addition, the reduced consumption of chemicals is another advantage. At the heart of the system is a new highpressure reverse osmosis (RO) stage that uses circular disc (CD) module technology developed by Membran-Filtrations-Technik (MFT), one of the Aquarion Group’s companies (see Membrane Technology June 2015, page 1). ZLD.eco2 involves a pretreatment process, which can be either chemical–physical or bio-
August 2015
logical, depending on the user’s needs, and an ultrafiltration (UF) stage to filter out residual organic material, followed by multi-stage membrane technology designed to concentrate nonorganic waste material more densely. After the first two RO stages, involving pressure of up to 8 MPa (80 bar), the residual concentrate contains around 20% of the total wastewater volume. This is then subjected to a third RO stage where pressures up 20 MPa (200 bar) are reached. This stage uses MFT’s CD module, through which water takes a circular path, thereby reducing pressure losses. The high pressure warms the concentrate to approximately 70°C (158°F). This is then vaporised in the subsequent low-pressure stage, which acts with the membrane technology to form a “hybrid system”, giving the concentrate a manageable consistency. The thermal energy is fed back into the system and used to increase energy efficiency. This significantly reduces the energy requirements of the entire system. According to the company, the volume of waste products still present, after the maximum pre-concentration produced by the highpressure membrane technology, is significantly lower than that generated by conventional processes. As a result, the evaporation stage with ZLD.eco2 can be considerably shorter. The CD modules are available from MFT, and ZLD.eco2 systems are available through Hager + Elsässer, another Aquarion Group company that has operations around the world. Contact: Aquarion Ag, Zugerstrasse 76B, 6340 Baar, Switzerland. Tel: +41 41 501 4286, www.aquarion-group.com
TFF reduces processing volumes and eliminates process constraints
E
MD Millipore recently introduced a single-pass tangential flow filtration (TFF) system with Pellicon cassettes – an enhanced application of the firm’s existing TFF technology that enables the concentration of process streams without the recirculation required in traditional TFF. The life sciences division of Merck KgaA of Darmstadt, Germany, says this alternative application eliminates typical process constraints caused by higher volumes or concentration factors, resulting in increased capacity. It
In Brief New laboratory technology show scheduled for October Labvolution, a new exhibition for laboratory technology, will premiere in 2015. The trade show, which is being held in Hannover, Germany, on 6–8 October, will cover the complete range of equipment and technology for research, analytical, production and training laboratories. The event will also include the premiere of the special “smartLAB” display designed to give an insight into the intelligent laboratory of the future. More information: www.labvolution.de H2O Innovation wins new contracts worth C$3.6 million Canadian membrane filtration company H2O Innovation Inc was recently awarded new contracts worth C$3.6 million. It has been selected by two US companies in the energy sector for the design, manufacturing and commissioning of complete process water treatment systems. These involve an ultrafiltration system, which will be supplied to a power plant located in New Jersey, and a reverse osmosis system for a refinery in New Mexico. In Canada, the firm’s Bio-Brane technology is also being integrated into a wastewater treatment plant in Saskatchewan, and it has also won a nanofiltration water treatment project for the municipality of Sainte-Marthe-sur-leLac, located in the Province of Quebec. EMD Millipore acquires exclusive rights to Singulex’s SMC technology In the USA, EMD Millipore – the life sciences division of Merck KgaA of Darmstadt, Germany – and Singulex Inc, the developer of Single Molecule Counting (SMC) technology for clinical diagnostics and scientific discovery, have entered into a definitive agreement. The move will see EMD Millipore controlling and managing the Singulex Life Science Research business. Under the terms of this agreement, EMD Millipore will pay Singulex an upfront payment, royalties and additional payments based on the achievement of certain commercial milestones. LiqTech receives order for system to remove heavy metals from wastewater Danish cleantech company LiqTech International A/s has received a US$830 000 purchase order for two systems based on its silicon carbide (SiC) membranes, which are expected to be delivered in 2015. Sune Mathiesen, CEO, LiqTech, remarked: ‘This new order marks a further commercial confirmation of our products in the treatment of wastewater containing heavy metals.’
Membrane Technology
3
ZLD.eco2 process lowers the cost of zero liquid discharge
G
lobal water-treatment systems provider Aquarion Group, based in Baar, Switzerland, used ACHEMA 2015, which was held recently in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, as an opportunity to launch the ZLD.eco2 process. According to the firm, it sets new standards in lowering the cost of zero liquid discharge (ZLD) systems in terms of both operating and capital expenditure. The process uses a series of filtration and separation technologies to reduce the subsequent evaporation of residual waste products to a minimum, and lower energy requirements. The system’s modular design also reduces plant footprint. ‘Aquarion focuses on constantly improving the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of ZLD systems. Based on the technologies used we believe that ZLD.eco2 is the lowest cost ZLD system available today,’ commented Karl Michael Millauer, CEO, Aquarion. ‘The term “eco” (in “ZLD.eco2”) signifies the economic advantages of this system. Moreover, the new ZLD.eco2 represents a significant enhancement over the original ZLDECO process introduced by Aquarion in 2014.’ Compared with conventional systems without pre-concentration, ZLD.eco2 requires about 20% less energy, claims Aquarion. Also, since the evaporation system is smaller, less cooling energy is needed for the condensation process. These savings can amount to as much as 80%. The modular construction of the system enables further savings to be achieved. The savings in terms of staffing are around 20%, whilst commissioning costs are also 20% lower. In addition, the reduced consumption of chemicals is another advantage. At the heart of the system is a new highpressure reverse osmosis (RO) stage that uses circular disc (CD) module technology developed by Membran-Filtrations-Technik (MFT), one of the Aquarion Group’s companies (see Membrane Technology June 2015, page 1). ZLD.eco2 involves a pretreatment process, which can be either chemical–physical or bio-
August 2015
logical, depending on the user’s needs, and an ultrafiltration (UF) stage to filter out residual organic material, followed by multi-stage membrane technology designed to concentrate nonorganic waste material more densely. After the first two RO stages, involving pressure of up to 8 MPa (80 bar), the residual concentrate contains around 20% of the total wastewater volume. This is then subjected to a third RO stage where pressures up 20 MPa (200 bar) are reached. This stage uses MFT’s CD module, through which water takes a circular path, thereby reducing pressure losses. The high pressure warms the concentrate to approximately 70°C (158°F). This is then vaporised in the subsequent low-pressure stage, which acts with the membrane technology to form a “hybrid system”, giving the concentrate a manageable consistency. The thermal energy is fed back into the system and used to increase energy efficiency. This significantly reduces the energy requirements of the entire system. According to the company, the volume of waste products still present, after the maximum pre-concentration produced by the highpressure membrane technology, is significantly lower than that generated by conventional processes. As a result, the evaporation stage with ZLD.eco2 can be considerably shorter. The CD modules are available from MFT, and ZLD.eco2 systems are available through Hager + Elsässer, another Aquarion Group company that has operations around the world. Contact: Aquarion Ag, Zugerstrasse 76B, 6340 Baar, Switzerland. Tel: +41 41 501 4286, www.aquarion-group.com
TFF reduces processing volumes and eliminates process constraints
E
MD Millipore recently introduced a single-pass tangential flow filtration (TFF) system with Pellicon cassettes – an enhanced application of the firm’s existing TFF technology that enables the concentration of process streams without the recirculation required in traditional TFF. The life sciences division of Merck KgaA of Darmstadt, Germany, says this alternative application eliminates typical process constraints caused by higher volumes or concentration factors, resulting in increased capacity. It
In Brief New laboratory technology show scheduled for October Labvolution, a new exhibition for laboratory technology, will premiere in 2015. The trade show, which is being held in Hannover, Germany, on 6–8 October, will cover the complete range of equipment and technology for research, analytical, production and training laboratories. The event will also include the premiere of the special “smartLAB” display designed to give an insight into the intelligent laboratory of the future. More information: www.labvolution.de H2O Innovation wins new contracts worth C$3.6 million Canadian membrane filtration company H2O Innovation Inc was recently awarded new contracts worth C$3.6 million. It has been selected by two US companies in the energy sector for the design, manufacturing and commissioning of complete process water treatment systems. These involve an ultrafiltration system, which will be supplied to a power plant located in New Jersey, and a reverse osmosis system for a refinery in New Mexico. In Canada, the firm’s Bio-Brane technology is also being integrated into a wastewater treatment plant in Saskatchewan, and it has also won a nanofiltration water treatment project for the municipality of Sainte-Marthe-sur-leLac, located in the Province of Quebec. EMD Millipore acquires exclusive rights to Singulex’s SMC technology In the USA, EMD Millipore – the life sciences division of Merck KgaA of Darmstadt, Germany – and Singulex Inc, the developer of Single Molecule Counting (SMC) technology for clinical diagnostics and scientific discovery, have entered into a definitive agreement. The move will see EMD Millipore controlling and managing the Singulex Life Science Research business. Under the terms of this agreement, EMD Millipore will pay Singulex an upfront payment, royalties and additional payments based on the achievement of certain commercial milestones. LiqTech receives order for system to remove heavy metals from wastewater Danish cleantech company LiqTech International A/s has received a US$830 000 purchase order for two systems based on its silicon carbide (SiC) membranes, which are expected to be delivered in 2015. Sune Mathiesen, CEO, LiqTech, remarked: ‘This new order marks a further commercial confirmation of our products in the treatment of wastewater containing heavy metals.’
Membrane Technology
3