Page 70 - Catalysing Chemicals WIP (Version 2.0) FINAL ARTWORK.cdr

Chemicals such as Soda Ash and of environmental legislation.
Sodium Bicarbonate are widely
used to ensure environmental Light soda ash converts bicarbonates
compliance, including neutralisation in hard water into precipitates and
of gaseous emissions and the neutralises the acids in water thus
treatment of industrial process. improving the quality of water
required for manufacturing
Sodium bicarbonate is increasingly
used for the treatment of acidic flue purposes. It also reduces the
gases, in response to the requirements instances of corrosion, a major
environment hazard.

Chemplast Sanmar :
ZLD Plant - A Unique Process Model

In 2003, Chemplast Sanmar invested in a proto type Reverse Osmosis (RO). After gaining initial
experience and understanding the need for pre treatment the company set up a ZLD facility at a capital
cost of Rs 280 million. The pre-treatment of effluent is part of the operating plant.
“Zero Liquid Discharge” plant adopted an innovative technology which converts the dissolved salts in
effluent in their sodium salts. This enables a very high efficiency of ~87% in the next stage. A two stage
reverse osmosis ensures easy evaporation of rejects, given that there are no hard scale creating calcium
and magnesium salts.

Apart from zero discharge of effluents, this ZLD plant leads to a complete recycle of effluents. It has
resulted in substantial reduction in specific water consumption and a reduction of 22~24% in total
water withdrawal at its Mettur Complex. At Cuddalore plant, nearly 40~45% of the total water
requirement is recycled.
Chemplast Sanmar has also installed the more expensive air cooled condensers instead of conventional
cooling towers. In a conventional cooling tower, water is cooled by process of evaporation. The air
cooled condenser, where water is cooled by atmospheric air, helps Chemplast Sanmar save close to
3000 m3/day of water.

Expanded Polymers :
In Pursuit of SDGs

With a keen awareness of the fact that certain chemicals can deplete the ozone layer and also contribute
to global warming, Expanded has been using ODP substances in their processes. Thus they manufacture
materials free of ozone depleting substances. Expanded has developed a unique process which brings
down the use of petro chemical derivatives from 100% in some of their products. The company intends
to patent the process that reuses a combination of vegetable oils (56%) and petro chemical derivatives
(44%).
Expanded has been successful in converting PET bottles scrap in to usable “polyol” for making rigid
foam, which in turn is used for thermal insulation applications.

66 Chemistry Everywhere
In Pursuit of Sustainable Development