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ESMIL 'zero discharge plant' Design

ESMIL Process Systems Ltd. treatment designs can result in extensive recoveries of both solid and liquid phase outputs. With notable success in MDF wood pulp (medium density fibreboard) effluent treatment and also paper & packaging effluent treatment, clients have benefited from ESMIL's approach with operational "Zero discharge" plants located throughout Europe. In recognition of this innovative approach of its state-of-the-art treatment and recovery plants, ESMIL was awarded the Queens Award for Environmental Achievement (1999).

For wood pulp effluent treatment, conventional effluent treatment utilising a new efficient flocculation electrolyte is passed through a filter press to yield treated effluent (which passes on for further treatment) and filter cake (dry solids >50%) which is used as feed for the waste heat boiler.

The effluent is passed through sand and carbon filters before treatment using membranes. The rejected material (the concentrate) can be stored to be recycled as chemical makeup water, where residual soluble organics (lignins, celluloses and naturally occurring resins) act to improve the quality of the processed product. The permeate is passed through a carbon filter for final polishing.The permeate is then fit for use as general site process water or boiler feed water, with 99.5% COD removal achieved.

All solid and liquid phases from this ESMIL plant design are recoverable. ESMIL plant design is mechanical (non-biological) with just a few process stages, thus benefiting from relatively low capital costs. Financial returns are further improved by reducing waste volumes and the associated disposal costs and by savings accrued from the recycling of wood pulp feed and water reuse. The system is highly automated, with a relatively short operator training time, also reducing operating costs. ESMIL have installed this technology at many sites across Europe.