• Evonik in association with Remondis has opened its first plant in India to ensure Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD)
• The plant is located in Dombivli, Western Maharashtra, India
• As per company officials, the plant is an integral component of Evonik’s circular economy goals

India: Evonik Catalysts has opened a new Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) plant at its facility in Dombivli, India.

The new plant reduces the amount of freshwater required for production processes and turns material that was previously considered waste into saleable products.

ZLD purifies and recycles wastewater at the end of an industrial process, leaving little to no effluent remaining when it is completed. This means not only more efficient water use but also a significant reduction in the waste liquid.

“Environmental excellence has always been a top priority for Evonik in India, and the ZLD plant at our catalysts site is a centerpiece in Evonik’s efforts to minimize its production-associated ecological footprint,” said Sanjeev Taneja, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Catalysts business Line, at the inauguration of the plant.

“The efficient reuse of process water, and products extracted from it, is in line with our circular economy principles, and a key contribution to the sustainability targets of Evonik and our customers.”

Evonik is developing site-specific action plans as part of its global water management system. One focus is on sites in regions that could be affected by water scarcity. It also strives for the most efficient use of water.

The main ambition of the Dombivli ZLD plant is to improve the treatment of process water. It goes through a multi-stage process and then the byproducts go through further processing. An estimated 600 m3 of wastewater – the equivalent of between 25 and 30 tankers – enters the ZLD plant every day and the plant is expected to recirculate around 55 percent of that –approximately 300-350 m3 – for process reuse and the balance water for re-use as cooling tower make up thus reducing Evonik water use requirements and thereby reducing Evonik’s dependence on municipal water supplies.

The requirement for freshwater will be reduced by 65 percent after stable operation of zero liquid discharge and the company is targeting further reductions through process optimization.

In addition, processing leads to the production of 15-20 metric tons of sodium sulfate and certain mixed salts which can be resold as commercial products.

“At Evonik, we see responsibility and long-term business success as two sides of the same coin,” says Vinod Paremal, Regional President, Evonik India Subcontinent. “Sustainability is a central element in our purpose ‘Leading Beyond Chemistry’, and we look to provide innovative solutions that help to make everyone’s lives more sustainable, healthier, and more comfortable.

“Sustainability is important to our customers and the end consumer and has long been a growth driver in many of our businesses. This new ZLD initiative carries forward that sustainable outlook.”

The ZLD plant is set up on a ‘BOOT’ Model between Evonik and Remondis, with the latter responsible for building, owning, operating, maintaining, and transferring the ZLD plants to Evonik.

Evonik is one of the world leaders in specialty chemicals. The company is active in more than 100 countries around the world and generated sales of €15 billion and an operating profit (adjusted EBITDA) of €2.38 billion in 2021. The Smart Materials division includes businesses with innovative materials that enable resource-saving solutions and replace conventional materials. They are the smart answer to the major challenges of our time: environment, energy efficiency, urbanization, mobility, and health. The Smart Materials division generated sales of €3.92 billion in 2021 with about 7,900 employees.

Headquartered in Mumbai, India, the Evonik Indian Subcontinent cluster caters to India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. Evonik has been active in India for four decades via predecessor companies. Today, in addition to the main office in Mumbai, Evonik has three production sites, 2 research and development centers, and 6 application technology labs in and around Mumbai.

The REMONDIS Group operates in many fields of business: it recovers raw materials from waste, develops innovative recycled products, offers alternative fuels, and plays an important role in the water management sector supplying water and treating wastewater. In addition, REMONDIS removes pollutants from residual and hazardous wastes – which are unable to be recycled with today’s technology – and disposes of them using eco-friendly methods.

© Smart Water & Waste World. Send us your editorial contributions at mayur@smartwww.in