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Dr. Kathrin Rbberdt
Tel. ++49 (0) 69 / 75 64 - 2 77
Fax ++49 (0) 69 / 75 64 - 2 72
e-Mail: presse@dechema.de
February 2015
How well does industry manage water resources? The general tendency today is to
take a holistic systems approach. More process water is being recirculated and
industrial producers are recovering reusable substances and water treatment
chemicals. Companies are also taking a new approach to effluent management.
Partial flows are being diverted at an early stage, making treatment easier and less
expensive. Technology is even available which can virtually eliminate effluent.
Industrial water management will be one of three focal topics at ACHEMA 2015 on
June 15th 19th in Frankfurt/M.
Plants, animals and humans depend on water for survival, but water is also an essential
technical resource for industry whether as cooling agent, transport medium, solvent or
process water in a range of qualities from industrial water to softened or demineralized
water to highly purified water for the pharmaceutical industry.
Industrial water consumption is not free. Inlet water normally needs to be conditioned, and
treatment costs money. Circulation pumps consume energy. Post-treatment is also normally
required so that the water can be re-circulated or discharged into receiving watercourses.
For cost and environmental reasons, it is advantageous to reduce water movement, water
heating and water contamination, and this is where industrial water management has a role
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DECHEMA Gesellschaft fr Chemische Technik und Biotechnologie e.V.
Theodor-Heuss-Allee 25 60486 Frankfurt am Main Germany T + 49(0)69 75 64-0 F +49(0)69 75 64-201 presse@dechema.de
www.dechema.de
to play. The goal is to supply water at a defined quality level while keeping the costs
(including disposal) under control.
Technological complexity is lower in regions where there is an abundance of water
compared to parts of the world where water is scarce making every drop that enters the
process a precious commodity. The costs of closed-loop recirculation or even water-free
production are more acceptable there than in countries like Germany. Whatever the water
supply situation, production and water technology are always closely interrelated, creating
the need for integrative technologies and water management systems.
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DECHEMA Gesellschaft fr Chemische Technik und Biotechnologie e.V.
Theodor-Heuss-Allee 25 60486 Frankfurt am Main Germany T + 49(0)69 75 64-0 F +49(0)69 75 64-201 presse@dechema.de
www.dechema.de
4/6
DECHEMA Gesellschaft fr Chemische Technik und Biotechnologie e.V.
Theodor-Heuss-Allee 25 60486 Frankfurt am Main Germany T + 49(0)69 75 64-0 F +49(0)69 75 64-201 presse@dechema.de
www.dechema.de
The French startup Magpie Polymers has developed a highly efficient filtration method for
capturing re-usable substances even if they are only present in minute amounts. Various
filters made of polymer beads are installed, and the metals form selective bonds with the
beads. The technique is already being deployed at several European companies to filter out
minute amounts of precious metals.
The chemical group Lanxess also provides techn ology for recovering re-usable materials.
Ion exchangers function as selective adsorbers for fine purification of wastewater flows and
process electrolytes. Heavy metals and other substances such as boric acid, chromate,
arsenate, fluoride and ammonia in salt solutions can be selectively captured.
Little use has been made so far of wastewater as a heat source. In the past, utilization of
this energy was seldom possible, one of the constraining factors being the 65C flow
temperature limit for heat pumps. Ochsner now markets high-temperature heat pumps with
flow temperatures up to 100C, opening the door to totally new industrial and commercial
heat pump applications.
5/6
DECHEMA Gesellschaft fr Chemische Technik und Biotechnologie e.V.
Theodor-Heuss-Allee 25 60486 Frankfurt am Main Germany T + 49(0)69 75 64-0 F +49(0)69 75 64-201 presse@dechema.de
www.dechema.de
6/6
DECHEMA Gesellschaft fr Chemische Technik und Biotechnologie e.V.
Theodor-Heuss-Allee 25 60486 Frankfurt am Main Germany T + 49(0)69 75 64-0 F +49(0)69 75 64-201 presse@dechema.de
www.dechema.de