Reducing Water Consumption in Industry using VSEP Membrane Technology – Pilot Trials

Australian Hardboards (AHL) own and operate a wet process hardboard manufacturing plant in Queensland, Australia, that generates a significant quantity of process water effluent during the production of Masonite. AHL management recognised that there were significant opportunities to reduce water and energy usage in the process without adversely affecting product quality. Sinclair Knight Merz (SKM) was commissioned by AHL to examine various technologies for treating and recycling this process water effluent. SKM and AHL have designed an effluent treatment system based on the latest available membrane technologies to enable almost 100% reuse of 1 ML/d of effluent. The technologies that were assessed included standard cross-flow membranes, the Vibrating Shear Enhancement Process (VSEP), a membrane bioreactor (MBR), evaporation and standard biological systems. Extensive laboratory and pilot plant trials were conducted to assess the VSEP ystem. Economic analysis was conducted to determine the best option. The VSEP system was found to be the treatment option of choice due to cost, footprint and reliability considerations, as well as the ability to produce a high solids concentrate which has positive calorific value and is suitable for boiler fuel or possibly a supplement for animal feedstock.