Sustainable chemicals: make the Circular Economy happen
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What do construction materials, cosmetics, biogas, paper, glass and flowers have in common? They are all products that have been produced or generated using residuals from drinking water treatment. These are marvellous examples of how the principles of a circular economy are practised. Ecocalor GmbH in cooperation with the Dutch Allied Waters and AquaMinerals: jointly we take the lead to make it happen in Germany.
CIRCULAR ECONOMY AND UPCYCLING
Can sustainability and viable economics go hand in hand? Our answer is yes! A circular economy is founded on the principle of ‘circular by design’. Products and processes are designed with their maximum reuse in mind. ‘From use to reuse’: that’s the essence of this paradigm change.
Chemicals are an indispensable part of the production and purification processes. Certain residuals from the water industry have the potential for beneficial use in specific (industrial) applications. This is what we call ‘upcycling’.
TURNING RESIDUALS INTO RESOURCES
Drinking water plants are designed to produce high-quality water. On top of this, residuals (or byproducts) are generated. These residuals include, amongst others, lime pellets from softening plants, coagulation/flocculation sludges from surface water plants (ferric or aluminium based), and ferric precipitates from groundwater treatment.
How can these residuals be given a second life? Upcycling involves a complicated process of matching the supply and demand of residuals on a continuous and reliable basis. The key factors include identifying suitable applications, marketing, an objective assessment of supply and demand, quality assurance, legislation/permits, logistics and costs. And this is where we come in!
Residuals from drinking water installations have been successfully upcycled in the Netherlands for decades. A solid reference case has been built up over the past years, and many lessons have been learned (the do’s and don’ts of upcycling business). And new applications are continuously being developed, as innovation is a natural part of the concept.
ABOUT US
Ecocalor GmbH (www.ecocalor.gmbh) is a specialist in upcycling residuals for various industries in Germany and abroad, now including the water sector. AquaMinerals (The Netherlands, www.aquaminerals.com) stands for over 25 years of experience in upcycling residuals from the water sector. Allied Waters (The Netherlands, www.alliedwaters.com) is an innovator working under the motto ‘driving the circular economy’.
Giving a second life to residuals resulting from water treatment processes in France, and make the circular economy happen. That’s why the French company Seitiss, a subsidiary of Strane Innovation, has started a cooperation with the Dutch AquaMinerals and Allied Waters.
Circular economy thinking has been growing over the past years: moving from linear towards circular use of materials. Allied Waters’ partner Ecocalor makes it happen in Germany. Following multi-year efforts, Ecocalor has developed several industrial applications for lime pellets, a by-product from drinking water treatment. And this is just a start!
