Witco, Inc.

Year Submitted: 2003

Process: Process Cooling Water

Industry: Chemical Manufacturing

Wastes Reduced: Wastewater

Equipment: Interrupt Spray

Location: Marshall TX

No. of employees: 60

Contact: Bill Childers

Phone: (903) 938-5142

Description:

Witco produces organic peroxides and peroxyesters for the plastics and fiberglass industry. The product is washed with a KOH solution to remove impurities and separated in a centrifuge. A water mist system is used in the centrifuge to cool the system to prevent product decomposition. The separated water is hazardous for pH and organic content and is sent to deep well injection for disposal. By measuring cooling water use, temperature and product quality it was determined that the continuous water mist could be replaced by an interrupt system reducing water use significantly.

Environmental Benefits:

Reducing water use in the cooling system reduced the total quantity of hazardous waste water that was being generated by over 1 million gallons a year.

Details of Reductions

Additional Information :

The interrupt system cost $5,000 to install, but saves Witco $26,000 a year in water use and disposal costs.

Source: TCEQ