Project Page Views: [ 760 ]
| Project Metadata Element | Details |
| Project Title | Zero Effluent Stretch Target (ZEST) |
| Research Area | Water |
| Project Acronym | ZEST |
| Principal Investigator or Lead Irish Partner | Brian Walsh |
| Lead Institution or Organisation | FMC Biopolymer Ltd. |
| Lead Country | Ireland |
| Latitude, Longitude (of Lead Institution) | 51.89756, -8.36414 |
| Lead Funding Entity | Environmental Protection Agency |
| Approximate Project Start Date | 06/12/2004 |
| Approximate Project Finishing Date | 06/09/2006 |
| Project Website (if any) | |
| Links to other Web-based resources | |
| Project Keywords | Biopolymer Manufacture; Pharmacuetical Industry; Water recycling; Public awareness |
| Project Abstract | FMC BioPolymer manufactures several grades of microcrystalline cellulose (tradename Avicel PH) for use in pharmaceutical manufacturing. The Cork operation is part of a US multinational specialising in chemical manufacturing with headquarters in Philadelphia. This project initiated in November 2004 is concerned with the critical examination of water usage at FMC BioPolymer in Cork. It set out to maximise the internal recycle of water by characterising the process streams seeking consistent optimal operation and applying recovery measures as appropriate to the streams.The overall impact on site water usage since the beginning of the project as can be seen with reference to the figure below is a water reduction of 30%.The projects that have been fully implemented are a scrubber water recycle, a cooling water recycle, an atomiser water recycle and a water balance.These projects do not account for 30% of the water usage however. An increase in awareness on site of the value of water has led to a different approach to water usage. Leaks are being repaired and hoses are not left running; these are only two examples of a wiser approach to water usage. |