INTERNATIONAL CLEANER PRODUCTION INFORMATION CLEARINGHOUSE

CASE STUDY #253

1.  Headline:  Process modification in a terpene manufacturer

2.  Background:  Les DÆrivÆs RÆsiniques et TerpÆniques (DRT)
carried out an audit of their production and pollution removal
units in 1992. The inventory and characterization of the
effluents, have led to the implementation of a programme of
works aiming to decrease the COD polluting flow by 30 % within
the framework of an agreement with the River Agency concerning
the decrease in effluents.

3.  Cleaner Production Principle:  Process modification

4.  Description of Cleaner Production Application:

    Washing of terpenic water in a workshop manufacturing
terpine.

    Information about the process and wastes

    This workshop manufactures terpine through the
hydrogenation of alpha-pinene in an acid environment. The
pollution caused by this activity mainly stems from the terpine
washing and drainage operations. It is due to the presence of
soluble compounds in the effluent : terpene and terpenic
alcohols, and represents a COD of 4.5 t/d before treatment.

    For a flowrate of 45 m3/d, about 450 kg/d of oil is
recovered, which will be burnt in a boiler. Concerning the
workshop, the result is that the COD is decreased by 80 %.

    The average COD of the plant's raw effluent is decreased
by 15 to 18 %.

    These soluble compounds are transformed under heat into
insoluble compounds and then treated using settling.

    Processes used include:

    -recovery of effluents in a watertight tank,
    -continuous feeding of a reactor, with stirring, regulated
heating and introduction of pure sulfuric acid at a constant
flowrate,
    -continuous settling, and
    -storage of recovered oils.

    Material / energy balance and substitution

    Recovery of 150 tons of insoluble oil a year and
incinerating in a boiler.

5.  Economics:

    Cost of direct investment

    Tanks-piping      1 030 000
    Equipment           330 000
    Civil engineering    230 000
    Electricity         110 000
    Miscellaneous       100 000

    Total            1 800 000FF (1993)

6.  Advantages:  Recovery of 150 t/year of oil incinerated in
a boiler in the factory.  Decrease of the COD flowrate by 3,5
tons/day.

7.  Constraints:  No information provided.

8.  Contacts:

        Agence de l'Eau Adour-Garonne
        M. GARIADOR
        TEL: 33  61.36.37.38

        M. LAGUIAN
        In Charge of the Environment - DRT
        TEL: 33  58.47.95.95

        Les DÆrivÆs RÆsiniques et TerpÆniques
        40560 VIEILLE-SAINT-GIRONS - France
        TEL: 33 58.47.95.95
        Fax: 33 58.47.95.50

    M. Maton
    M. Chatenet
    Office International de l'Eau
    Direction de la Formation et des Etudes
    rue Edouard Chamberland
    87065 Limoges Cedex, France
    TEL:  33  55114770
    FAX:  33  55777115

9.  Keywords:  ISIC 3513, France, oil, terpene, process
modification, COD

10. This case study was submitted to UNEP IE in 1994 by the
French Office International de l'Eau. It has not undergone a
formal technical review.