AFRY achieving greater value from mill’s water resource
WATER cious both in communities and industry and is forcing compa nies to look at ways to better is becoming increasing pre- - capture value on multi-levels such as reusing water in mills and reusing the spent water in areas outside the mill such as on forest lands.
AFRY was called in to provide such sustainable water solution for Araucos’s Licancel pulp mill in Chile. Arauco requested AFRY to develop different scenarios of how the treated effluent could be reused in the pulp mill itself. AFRY was able to target the expansion of water reuse in the pulp production line as part of the company’s sustainability objectives.
Arauco’s project aimed to guarantee the continuity of the plant’s operation during periods of drought and low flow of the Mataquito River, when it is not possible to collect water. In more severe drought situations, it is impossible to return the treated effluent to the river.
The AFRY Chile team, with the support of specialists from Brazil and Finland, developed a series of scenarios so that the treated effluent could be reused in the pulp mill itself. Among the alternatives developed by AFRY, Arauco chose to implement one reusing 50% of the treated effluent in production and sending the other 50% for the irrigation of a forest area belonging to a company next to the plant.
To make the reuse of the effluent feasible, occasional modifications to the production line were necessary, mainly involving the replacement of chemicals to reduce the percentage of sulfates. These are a natural component present in the river water but are concentrated in the effluent. Once treated, the effluent returns to the raw water reservoir, which has a capacity of 1.2 million cubic meters. From there, it enters the pulp production process again, creating a closed system and reducing the amount of water needed from the river.
“AFRY is in a unique position to help solving business challenges of Chilean companies, with our deep knowledge of the process industry and our experience in engineering and consulting projects, with a focus on sustainability, that brings innovative solutions for the future” said Rodrigo Brisighello, head of business of AFRY Chile’s process industry division.
AFRY is a leading European company with a global reach in technology, design and consulting and works to accelerate the transition to a sustainable society.
