Case Study: PORESEP Membrine Solution

Brine Recovery in a Sugar Refinery

In the sugar refining industry, the process of decolorizing raw sugar with high ICUMSA value is crucial. Traditionally, two methods have been employed for color removal: granular activated carbon (GAC) and ion exchange resin. While GAC is effective in removing color, it is energy-intensive to regenerate. On the other hand, ion exchange resin removes color along with inorganic contaminants but generates large quantities of colored liquid effluents during regeneration. To address this challenge, the sugar refinery explored various technologies for recycling effluent water, eventually opting for brine recovery using PORESEP Membrine Solution.

Challenges

1. High energy consumption in GAC regeneration.

2. Generation of colored liquid effluents during ion exchange resin regeneration.

3. Inefficient brine recovery with conventional reverse osmosis (RO) processes.

4. Loss of caustic during brine recovery due to neutralization process.

Solution

PORESP Membrine Solution offers a revolutionary approach to brine recovery in sugar refineries. Unlike conventional systems, this solution does not require neutralizing the brine, minimizing the need for additional caustic makeup. The process utilizes modified membranes designed to withstand high temperatures and pH levels up to 13, ensuring efficient separation even in challenging environments. With PORESEP Membrine Solution, the refinery can achieve up to 75-80% recovery of caustic brine, significantly higher than traditional methods.

Benefits

1. Minimal Chemical Consumption: By eliminating the need for neutralization, the PORESEP Membrine Solution reduces chemical consumption, resulting in cost savings.
2. High Brine Recovery Rate: With the capability to recover up to 75-80% of caustic brine, the solution maximizes resource utilization and minimizes waste.
3. Efficient Color Removal: The Membrine process removes colors from effluents at high temperatures and pH levels, resulting in low effluent loading and precipitated colors for easy disposal.
4. Energy Savings: Compared to traditional methods, the PORESEP Membrine Solution reduces energy costs associated with GAC regeneration, contributing to overall operational efficiency.
5. Customizable Options: The process offers flexibility, allowing the refinery to further recover color concentrate, potentially increasing caustic brine recovery to 90-95%.

Implementation

The implementation of the PORESEP Membrine Solution involves a series of pre-treatments followed by the Membrine process itself. During this process, colors are efficiently removed from the effluents at high temperatures and pH levels, ensuring optimal performance and resource utilization.

Conclusion

By adopting PORESEP Membrine Solution for brine recovery, the sugar refinery achieves significant improvements in efficiency, cost savings, and environmental sustainability. The innovative approach not only addresses the challenges associated with traditional methods but also offers additional benefits such as reduced chemical consumption and efficient color removal. With PORESEP Membrine Solution, the refinery sets a new standard for sustainable brine recovery in the sugar refining industry.

Diva Filtec is an engineering company specializing in diverse process improvement technologies for various industries.

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