Building begins on innovative plant to create biomaterials from process water

Rossdorf, Germany: – Holistic water management specialist EnviroChemie is playing a leading role in a project that marks a major step forward in closed-loop water recycling for sustainability.

EnviroChemie has signed a four-way agreement with partners Paques Biomaterials (a fellow member of the Skion Water group), Dutch construction engineers Jorritsma Bouw, and ultimate client, cardboard and carton manufacturer ESKA, also based in The Netherlands.

PHAs from process water

The agreement formally launches the engineering phase of Project Gecko to build a large-scale plant for an innovative water treatment and recycling solution using process water to create PHA (polyhydroxyalkanoate) biomaterials. These will then be incorporated by ESKA into its environmentally friendly packaging.

The current planning phase should be complete by third quarter of 2025, so that investment decisions can be made before the end of the year.

The process wastewater from ESKA production will be completely purified, with most of the organic load (COD) being converted into biomaterial instead of biogas.

Scaling up innovative technology

This unique new technical solution has been pioneered by Paques, but this is the first time it has been applied on a large scale. EnviroChemie is responsible for integrating the PHA biomaterials process into the new closed-loop water recycling and treatment plant.

When complete, the Project Gecko plant should make a significant contribution to ESKA’s sustainable business model, with the biomaterials produced used to manufacture biodegradable packaging, for example. At the same time, the entire plant will ensure a reliable closed-loop water treatment to reduce environmental impacts.

The pioneering project also makes a major advance in making process water part of the circular economy model in which re-use and recycling are maximised and waste minimized at each stage of production, which is necessary for long term environmental sustainability.

Decisive moment

Paques Biomaterials CEO Joost Paques said the project represented a decisive step for the company’s PHA technology.

“This is the transition from scale-up to commercial production – a real milestone,” he emphasized.

For ESKA, Head of Operations Solid Board Business Area Brian Oost welcomed the commencement of engineering phase as a ‘significant success’ for the manufacturer.

“It is a remarkable moment to turn our sustainability goals into reality with such strong partners,” said Mr. Oost.

About EnviroChemie

EnviroChemie GmbH has established a reputation for reliable and innovative technology for water and wastewater treatment and water recycling, specializing in developing and implementing tailor-made for customers in the pharmaceutical industry and life sciences.

This engineering and service company was founded in 1976 and offers a holistic range of “Made in Germany” branded products and services based on chemical-physical, biological and membrane filtration processes, whose pedigree relies on its long list of research achievements and patents.

EnviroChemie adopts a partnership approach in which client specialized needs and characteristics form the basis for individual design, planning, engineering, building and commissioning of pharmaceutical wastewater treatment plants. In terms of plant operation, EnviroChemie offers comprehensive services, operation management, contracting and water treatment chemicals.

With more than 30,000 plants sold worldwide, EnviroChemie can apply unrivalled experience to continuous development of innovative and reliable industrial water and wastewater technologies.

EnviroChemie is a member of the EnviroWater Group, a network of companies that specialize in a broad range of solutions for sustainable water treatment. This in turn is a leading group component of German-based Skion Water, which is a technology and solution provider, as well as a plant manufacturer, in both municipal and industrial water and wastewater technology.

Further information at: www.envirochemie.com and www.skionwater.com

Resources

Click on Successful Kick-off: large-scale PHA plant for process water treatment for further information and resource links.

EnviroChemie is a leading expert in holistic industrial water management, primarily serving industries across Europe. Partner with EnviroChemie for innovative, eco-friendly solutions tailored to your needs.