Cost-saving by Nanofiltration Plant for Sugar Industry in Mauritius

In Mauritius there are two large sugar refineries – for one of them WEHRLE has already delivered a containerized Nanofiltration unit in 2009. Now WEHRLE gains a further order of this type - this time for the other large sugar refinery.

In the production of sugar, the brown sugar molasses is decolourized or rather whitened by adsorbers. For the regeneration of the adsorbers large quantities of sodium chloride solution are necessary which have to be discarded after the regeneration. Using WEHRLE’s Nanofiltration technology the sodium chloride solution can be treated for reuse. Hereby the client profits by saving material and process costs so that the plant will be paid off in less than three years.

The used brine contains appr. 7,000 mg/l of COD (molasses colourants) and 50,000 mg/l NaCl at pH 12. By using the Nanofiltration the organic compounds (mainly the molasses colourants) will be retained and disposed whereas the permeate containing NaCl will be recycled.
The plant is designed for a throughput of 72 m³/d and 90 % recovery. The commissioning on site is expected to take place in May 2017.

ABOUT WEHRLE Umwelt

Since more than 35 years WEHRLE sets benchmarks as pioneer and technology leader for the treatment of very complex (waste)waters, such as landfill leachate or industrial effluents.

The wide range of available process technologies allows intelligent process combinations under comprehensive consideration of investment and operating costs, to fulfil the requirements and expectations of the client as good as possible. WEHRLE consults, plans and builds plants and offers corresponding services as Water Mapping, laboratory tests, piloting, efficiency optimization, retrofit of existing plants up to full plant operation. The WEHRLE employees are dedicated to the company’s history: as a 100% family-owned company in 6th generation reliability, longevity and openness with clients and partner are the top priorities. The clients of WEHRLE trust in this philosophy – in over 40 countries and on 5 continents.