INTERNATIONAL CLEANER PRODUCTION INFORMATION CLEARINGHOUSE

CASE STUDY # 189

1.   Headline:  Controlling Reaction Rate Reduces The Quantity
     of Raw Materials Wasted

2.   Background:  See below.

3.   Cleaner Production Principle:  process modification

4.   Description of Cleaner Production Application:  A
     conductivity meter was installed to continuously monitor
     changes in composition during a chemical reaction.
     Previously, the composition of the material was measured
     periodically in a laboratory.  Under these conditions, raw
     materials were being disposed of as waste because of the
     incomplete reaction.  By installing the conductivity
     meter, the reaction is allowed to go to completion, thus
     reducing the quantity of raw materials wasted.

     Cross-Industry Application - all chemical manufacturing
     industries

     Case Study Summary

                    Incentives:   economic incentives

                              Results of Application:
                              2,591,000 lb/yr waste prevented

5.   Economics

      Investment cost:            $1,900 (1988)

      Payback time:                   0.007 years (3 days)

6.   Advantages:

     Economic benefits: 273,250 $/yr net annual savings

     Liability reduction:  Reduced liability resulting from
     reduced quantity of waste generated

     Regulatory compliance: source reduction

7.   Constraints:  No information provided.

8.   Contacts and Citation

     Citation:

     Author:  Waste Advantage, Inc.
     Title:  Industrial Waste Prevention.  A Guide To
     Developing An Effective Waste Minimization Program.

     Date of Publication:  April 1987

9.   Keywords:  United States, USA, chemicals, process
     modification, conductivity meter.

10.  Reviewer's Comments:  This case study was originally
     abstracted from the publication cited above for the US
     EPA's Pollution Prevention Information Clearinghouse.  It
     underwent a UNEP IE funded review in 1994 for quality and
     completeness.  It was edited for the ICPIC diskette in
     July 1995.

( Docno UNEP 12: DOCUMENT NOT AVAILABLE 12-07 )