Project Page Views: [ 666 ]
| Project Metadata Element | Details |
| Project Title | Cognis - Environmental Sustainability through solvent and energy recovery technologies |
| Research Area | Water |
| Project Acronym | |
| Principal Investigator or Lead Irish Partner | Frank Mc Donnell (IE); Timoney Weston (IE) |
| Lead Institution or Organisation | Cognis Ireland Ltd. |
| Lead Country | Ireland |
| Latitude, Longitude (of Lead Institution) | 51.90360, -8.35320 |
| Lead Funding Entity | LIFE |
| Approximate Project Start Date | 20/11/1999 |
| Approximate Project Finishing Date | 20/11/2002 |
| Project Website (if any) | |
| Links to other Web-based resources | |
| Project Keywords | Solvent; Clean technology; Chemical industry; Alternative material |
| Project Abstract | Background: The manufacturing process employed to manufacture Cognis LIX involves the use of large quantities of toluene (16,000 tonnes per annum) as the reaction solvent. During the process, methanol and methyl formate are generated as impurities, which remain in the toluene rendering it unfit for reuse without pre-treatment. This pre-treatment is traditionally achieved by washing the tuolene with water at 45-50C in a static mixer to reduce the impurity levels to an acceptable level for recycle; the water wash is then processed in the biological treatment plant. As a consequence of the treatment process for this stream up to 1,500 tonnes of solids are sent for landfill pla, and 700 tonnes of COD pla are generated for treatment in the waste treatment plant. Combined with the fact that the wash water (up to 17,000M cubed) is heated to 45-50C (equivalent to 386.2 x 106 KJ of energy), the treatment process generates a significant impact on the environment. This process is widely used throughout the chemical industry as a whole, and also applied extensively in other industries such as the food and beverage industry, and the electronics sector. Therefore, the potential for transferability of any alternative approaches that can reduce the environmental impacts from the operations of these industries is quite significant. Objectives; The life span of the project including implementation and dissemination was three years. During the project itself, one of the principal pathways for local and national dissemination was expected to be the partners and other interested organisations. This project was intended to replace the existing flashed toluene wash system with a solvent purification distillation step. While solvent distillation was not in itself unique, the use of the resulting distillate as part of fuel requirements on-site was. A skid mounted distillation plant was required to strip such reaction by-products from the toluene stream. Resulting from the project, the following benefits were expected ;-Environmental Effect Reduction, on per annum flows Reduction to Landfill 140,000Kgs Reduction to Effluent 700,000Kgs Reduction in Water usage 2,640M cubed Reduction in Energy usage 386.2 x 106 KJ Reduction in Air emissions 50,000Kgs The project addressed the following issues:- *Treatment of waste water *Changes in processes to reduce environmental impacts, including air emissions, waste water, use of water and landfill *Recycling of waste as an energy source The project aimed to disseminate its findings via: 1. International presence on the web 2. Conferences 3. Engineering Consultants 4. Plant Tours 5.The Henkel Annual Environmental Report. It was also anticipated that through dissemination the project would achieve:- *The effective and widespread dissemination of results within the chemical sector both nationally and trans-nationally. This would occur through the dissemination process. *The effective and widespread dissemination of results within other sectors which use a similar manufacturing process, such as the food and beverages sectors, and the electronics industry. *The adoption of the technique by others within the Henkel group, which was easy to quantify as a measure of success for the project as a whole. |