Periodic Reporting for period 2 - REGMAX (An innovative and sustainable process for reducing the environmental impact of stainless steel production, enabling impressive recovery rates and cost savings.)
Berichtszeitraum: 2019-06-01 bis 2020-05-31
Before the waste acid can be discharged into the environment, it is typically diluted with water and neutralized with Ca(OH)2 forming calcium fluorides and calcium nitrates as well as metal hydroxides. The fluorides and the hydroxides precipitate and can be separated through a filtration process. As a result, toxic sludge and nitrate-containing wastewater is generated. The sludge needs to be transported to a landfill for hazardous waste. Depending on the environmental limits, the nitrate-containing wastewater needs to be processed further in a wastewater treatment plant or can be directly disposed into the environment.
With the REGMAX® technology, this is no longer an issue. For the first time ever, it is possible to transform all waste acid components into valuable resources - creating a closed loop of resources. By implementing REGMAX® technology, it is not only making the world a better one, but also reducing pickling costs. Neither sludge nor wastewater is generated and no DeNOx unit is needed. Recovery rates are >99% for HF and >98% for HNO3.
This project has enabled Sustec to advance towards their mission to eliminate waste acids from the stainless steel industry. This project marks a major stepping stone in the development of the company, and for the development of the stainless steel market as a whole.