Envirogen Eco MultiPro now delivering ultrapure water at Kemira Bradford

Envirogen handled the design, supply and commissioning of its bespoke water treatment plant – along with full project management to ensure a smooth rollout and seamless integration into Kemira’s operations. Comprising a compact, skid-mounted MultiPro Reverse Osmosis-Continuous Deionisation (RO-CDI), and carbon dioxide (CO2) degas membrane, the plant signals a transformation in water treatment at Kemira.

Kemira’s revamped operations include a switch to an improved process for the production of polyacrylamide flocculants. For that, the company required a more reliable and higher-capacity source of demineralised water than its existing ion exchange system could provide. 

"After evaluating several options, we turned to Envirogen’s MultiPro for the answer," explained Graham Scarborough, plant manager at Kemira Bradford. "High-quality, ultrapure water is strategically important and fundamental to our manufacturing process. Because it helps to ensure product consistency, process efficiency and long-term performance, it was crucial that we partnered with the most appropriate supplier for our particular needs."

The needs are critical to Kemira as its polyacrylamide flocculants are used globally across a range of industries to remove suspended solids and pollutants from water and wastewater, improving treatment efficiency and enabling a cleaner, more compliant discharge.

"The MultiPro will meet Kemira’s objectives of providing a treated water flow rate of 25 cubic metres per hour, with an outlet water quality of less than 0.5 Microsiemens per centimetre (μS/cm)," said Ben Phillips, regional sales manager at Envirogen. 

Comprehensive pre-treatment and membrane performance

Mains water is pumped through Envirogen-supplied 5-micron cartridge filters to remove particulates and protect the reverse osmosis (RO) membranes from premature fouling or blockages. The filtered water is then chemically conditioned to protect the membranes and maintain system performance.

In the next stage, the water is processed by the MultiPro’s RO system, where 96-98% of all dissolved salts within the feed stream are rejected. This is followed by a continuous electro-deionisation (CDI) polishing stage, bringing total salt rejection to over 99% and producing high-purity water in line with Kemira’s conductivity specifications.

Three stage, chemical-free treatment and smart control

The MultiPro system features a three-stage, chemical-free core process: reverse osmosis, degas membrane, and continuous electro-deionisation (CDI) as part of the RO-CDI system. These technologies work together to consistently achieve an outlet water quality of less than 0.5 μS/cm, without the use or storage of strong regeneration chemicals - reducing health and safety risks and fume corrosion, with no need for waste neutralisation.

The system is designed for easy, low-cost operation, with a programmable logic controller (PLC) and touchscreen human-machine interface (HMI) for monitoring and control. Remote monitoring technology is also included to support efficient performance management and system oversight - particularly valuable for systems housed in shipping containers that are not continuously attended.

"Envirogen’s involvement reflects our broader role in supporting manufacturers with tailored, high-quality water treatment solutions that align with long-term operational goals and strategic objectives. This includes improved performance, reliability, and sustainability of water treatment systems," Phillips stated.

www.envirogengroup.com