Coronavirus has become the most disruptive force for businesses globally. One of them being the paints and coating industry. Talking about the Indian scenario, the industry has seen a nosedive in demand in an unexpected manner.

● However, since the lockdown has been lifted, several producers have started the paint production process, yet the rising number of cases and falling demand has become a matter of concern for most of them. 
● According to Coatings World - a leading research house for the global paint industry, the Indian paint and coatings industry, which was expected to reach $8 billion in the financial year 2019-20 (ending March 31, 2020), registered one of the worst performances in recent years.
● With the industry already facing the after-effects of the lockdown, we, at Roserve, have come up with a fool-proof plan to assist them in getting back to their feet. 
 

Where does the Paint Industry need our assistance?

● Paint can be conceptualised as a film or a layer of polymer to protect, signal and illuminate, and embellish the subject on which it is applied. 
● This polymeric compound is formed by elements such as resin, pigments, fillers, solvents and additives.
● As a result, wastewater in this industry varies through a number of products produced in a day, a week or a month’s time. 
● The frequency of discharge may be irregular in small units - operating one or two batches per day, but in the case of medium and larger units, the discharge of wastewater is continuous.  
● Preserving water and recycling the wastewater is the need of the hour. Here, we step in to develop methodologies for its treatment.
● To achieve this, we put in our valuable research to identify the various sources of wastewater in the paint industry and evaluate the most suitable technologies to treat it. 
● This evaluation process involves the proposition of strategies to recover valuable compounds to a large extent and make the wastewater reusable.
 

Characteristics of the Wastewater generated in a Paint Industry

● Some of the organic and inorganic compounds used in the production of paint are characterised as toxic and hazardous. Substances such as Chromium, copper, lead, zinc, ethylbenzene, di-(2-Ethylhexyl) phthalate, tetrachloroethylene and toluene are usually found in high concentrations.
● Wastewater from the paint manufacturing industry generally tends to be alkaline, and contains some oil, grease and Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) and Suspended Solids (SS).
● Wastewater from caustic cleaning - This wastewater contains suspended solids in the range of 200 to 600 mg/l, BOD ranges from 475 to 2400 mg/l and the COD is between 1100-3800 mg/l. The oil and grease are within a range of 32-150 mg/l. The phenolic concentration of this waste-water is 12.5 mg/l.
● Wastewater from resin house - In this phase, the suspended solids range from 240 to 400 mg/l. The BOD ranges from 225 to 60,000 mg/l and COD varies from 240 to as high as 78,000 mg/l. The phenolics are between 6 and 86 mg/l. The oil and grease are within a range of 14-25 mg/l.
● Wastewater from stiff paints - In this phase, suspended solids range from 400 to 700 mg/l, a large fraction of which is settleable. BOD ranges from 380 to 980 mg/l and COD ranges from 1215 to 6000 mg/l, and the phenolic content varies from 6.4 to 100 mg/l. The oil and grease content of this wastewater is 252 mg/l.

 

Total Combined Wastewater Composition

(Source: Environmental Pollution)

The Process

Primary Treatment

  • Oil and Grease Removal - Wastewater from all units is passed through an oil and grease removal device.
  • Equalisation-cum-Neutralisation - An equalisation-cum-neutralisation tank is provided with an agitator. Effluent from stiff paint is mixed with the neutralised wastewater, along with coagulant and sent forward to flash mixer.
  • Clariflocculation - The effluent is then purified in clariflocculator and then subjected to biological treatment.

Secondary Treatment

  • Extended Aeration - The domestic wastewater from the factory premises and residue from the clariflocculator is mixed and is biologically treated through the extended aeration process.
  • Secondary Clarification - The mixed liquid from the aeration tank proceeds to the secondary clarifier. The settled sludge is recycled continuously through return sludge pumps to the aeration tank.
  • Sludge Drying - Sludge from oil and grease, clariflocculator and secondary clarifier is dewatered on sludge drying bed.

Tertiary Treatment

  • This is the final step where the remaining wastewater is recycled through high-efficiency Reverse Osmosis systems.
  • The process mentioned above achieves 90-95 per cent efficiency in removing pollutants.

How can Roserve help?

  • Being a business enterprise ourselves in the field of wastewater treatment, we understand the difficulties being faced by the paint industry in getting back to starting its operations.
  • Therefore, we are introducing our very efficient and convenient - Plug & Play Recycling Model, which we have come up with after thorough evaluation and research.
  • For existing RO_ZLD systems, you can look at us as an energy-saving solution provider with proven technologies and consistent results.
  • Moreover, with the application of our highly advanced technologies, we assure to provide 95% wastewater reusable quality for the paint industry with the feed TDS in the range of 1000-5000 ppm.

Highlights of our Plug & Play Recycling Model

  • Ready to use equipment
  • Quick Mobilization
  • Pay per use model
  • Rental options on Zero Liquid Discharge
  • Flexible renting solutions along with short-term rental options

This Plug & Play Recycling model has been initiated by us to provide a strong foundation for the Paints & Coating Industry to ensure they achieve their sustainability norms, while at the same time are able to control their impact on the environment.

When it comes to wastewater management for your company, as per your tailored needs think of us!  Roserve - A cost-effective way to reuse and recycle the water, LEASE wastewater treatment equipment with us and grow your business while meeting environmental regulations, all at the same time. A One-Stop-Shop for all your wastewater management woes!!! Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn for more updates and announcements.