The Port of Antwerp-Bruges has launched a study in collaboration with VITO, umbrella organisation Essenscia, the Flemish Environment Agency, and Antea Group to determine the feasibility of purifying wastewater from large chemical companies for reuse.
“The impact of climate change means that an adequate water supply is not always guaranteed,” the Port Authority said in a press release on Tuesday. “Therefore, we are seeking long-term solutions.”
The initial phase of the study will assess the amount of water needed by the companies and the volume of wastewater they currently discharge. It will then explore which clusters of companies would benefit most from shared wastewater reuse solutions.
The study will also compare different technologies required for water purification. This should culminate in a pilot plant to test the purification of wastewater streams from various companies.
Additionally, the research will investigate how certain substances in the wastewater could be repurposed as raw materials for other processes.
According to the Port Authority, this would be the first time the feasibility of decentralised circular water networks using industrial wastewater in a port environment has been evaluated on such a scale.
Water is crucial for chemical production processes, serving as a coolant, for steam generation, or as a raw material.
The CHERISH2O Project’s total cost is €730,000, funded by the project partners and the Flemish government.
Participating companies include Ashland, BASF, Bayer, Borealis, Envalior, Evonik, ExxonMobil, Ineos, Lanxess, 3M, Monument Chemical, and TotalEnergies.
