{"id":9169,"date":"2022-06-13T11:22:46","date_gmt":"2022-06-13T09:22:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.alsys-group.com\/?p=9169"},"modified":"2025-11-03T15:04:05","modified_gmt":"2025-11-03T14:04:05","slug":"spent-caustic-recycle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.alsys-group.com\/en\/membrane-en\/spent-caustic-recycle\/","title":{"rendered":"Spent caustic recycle"},"content":{"rendered":"

Spent caustic recycle<\/h2>\n

CeraMem<\/a> proposes to spent caustic recycle and surfactants using tangential filtration CeraMem\u00ae ceramic membranes.<\/p>\n

\"CeraMem\u00ae<\/a>CeraMem\u00ae Ceramic Membrane in housing<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/h3>\n

The Client<\/h2>\n

PRO-TEC Coating Company was established as a joint partnership in 1990 and is strategically located in Northwestern Ohio.<\/p>\n

Their 730,000-square-foot plant, located near Leipsic, Ohio, produces high quality coated steel products with output of over 1.1 million tons annually.<\/p>\n

PRO-TEC is recognized as a leader in Advanced High Strength Steels (AHSS) in the United States.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Project Background<\/h2>\n

PRO-TEC\u2019s plant in Leipsic is one of the largest facilities in North America producing hot-dipped galvanized\/galvannealed steel products. The process of galvanizing\/galvannealing begins with high-quality, cold rolled steel coils.<\/p>\n

\"PRO-TEC<\/a>PRO-TEC Coating Company\u2019s plant in Leipsic<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Rolled Steel Preparation<\/h2>\n

Management of Spent Caustic recycle<\/h3>\n

Prior to surface treatment, the raw steel is cleaned with a caustic degreaser. This process results in substantial quantities of spent caustic cleaner that contains oils and greases, grit, water, and other solids. The spent cleaner is collected and sent to disposal offsite.<\/p>\n

The disposal of the spent cleaner represents a significant expense in not only disposal, but also in the costs of replacing the caustic degreaser for production.<\/p>\n

Despite several attempts to solve this issue, a cost-effective and technically feasible solution could not be achieved. PRO-TEC contacted CeraMem to explore alternative technologies and processes. The solution required that both certain cost and performance objectives be met.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Performance Testing<\/h2>\n

Chemical Recovery and Waste Reduction<\/h3>\n

CeraMem proposed a system comprised of CeraMem\u00ae ceramic membranes. CeraMem membranes are ideal for this application due to the ability to tolerate high operating temperatures, aggressive cleaning regimens, and resistance to high pH levels. After some initial laboratory testing, a full-size, crossflow membrane system was designed and built in 2009. The goal of the system was to recover the spent caustic degreaser to a specified rate and quality, in order to vastly reduce the amount of waste generated.<\/p>\n

Download CeraMem\u00ae technical datasheet (PDF): ALSYS – US0602 – CERAMEM CERAMIC MEMBRANES AND MODULES – Data Sheet – V11.25<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"CeraMem\u00ae<\/a>CeraMem\u00ae Ceramic Membrane System<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The design criteria of the caustic recovery system\u00a0 were the following:<\/h3>\n