INTERNATIONAL CLEANER PRODUCTION INFORMATION CLEARINGHOUSE

Case study #265

1. Headline: New technology is applied in design of a new

French chemical plant.

2. Background: The firm HEXACHIMIE built a new

pharmaceuticals production plant to complete a unit

already existing in TONNEINS. The principles of clean

technology were applied. This case study was carried out

in 1993.

3. Cleaner Production Principle: New technology

4. Description of Cleaner Production Application:

Information about the process and wastes

The new unit would discharge 1,5 tons/day of COD, 600

kg/day of BOD and 15 tons/day of salts if it followed the

traditional design.

The synthesis workshop of a derivative of nicotinic acid

discharges 1600 m3/year of parent liquors, which are

purificated in order to be reused.

This treatment consists of 2 stages :

--Alkalization of acid effluents ; settling of an organic

phase and conveyance of the settled water to the following

phase ; distillation and recycling of the organic product.

--Distillation of the water settled during the first phase

and recycling for the cooling process ; crystallization of

the concentrate's salts and chipping and sanitary

landfill.

Material / energy balance and substitution

Former design New

design

COD

1.5 tons/day

0

Salts

12 tons/day

0

Phosphate

200 kg/day

0

Volume of effluents 200 m3

process water

0

2800 m3

dilution

water 0

5. Economics:

Costs of direct investment

Concentration unit 5 880 000

Other equipment 1 950 000

Electricity - Regulation 1 000 000

Pipes and miscellaneous 2 120 000

Engineering 500

000

Total amount 11 450

000 FF (1993)

Operation and maintenance costs

Cost of the raw materials required for the treatment :

Former process 9 700 000

New process 5 800

000 FF (1993)

6. Advantages: No more liquid industrial wastes and removing

the salinity (6500 tons/year) avoids any biological

treatment of wastewater and washing water which go to the

treatment plant separately.

7. Constraints: No information provided.

8. Contacts:

Agence de l'Eau Adour-Garonne

M. GARIADOR

TEL: 33 61.36.37.38

M. PILLION

HEXACHIMIE S.A.

Z.I. Laville

47240 BON-ENCONTRE - France

TEL: 33 53.69.13.00

FAX : 33 53.69.13.10

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 3522, France, chemical, pharmaceutical,

new technology, COD, BOD, salt, acid, alkalization,

distillation

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.