(BAT) Reference Document for the Production of Chlor-alkali ...

Chapter 3
Table 3.31: Yearly waste Waste generation and final treatment at the Hydro Polymers AB
chlor-alkali plant in Stenungsund (Sweden) (chlorine capacity 120 kt/yr;
production based on vacuum salt)
Waste type
Waste
amount in
t/yr
[tonnes/year]
Brine sludge 20 – 25
Waste water
treatment sludge
Hg Mercury
content before
treatment in
g/kg
0.050 – 0.100
50 – 100
mg/k
g
5 – 15 5 – 10 g/kg
Carbon sludge 2 – 3.5 150 – 450 g/kg
Decomposer carbon 0.5 – 1 150 – 300 g/kg
Rubberlining 0.5
Steel/iron
construction parts
Concrete and other
construction waste
Source: [ 75, COM 2001 ]
10 – 15
1 – 3
0.010 – 0.400
10 – 400 mg/kg
Landfilled
Treatment
Distilled
Landfilled after
stabilisation
Distilled
Landfilled after
stabilisation
Distilled
Landfilled after
stabilisation
Acid bath
Incineration
Acid bath
Sold as scrap
Landfilled after
stabilisation
Annual plant capacity: 120000 tonnes of chlorine. Production based on vacuum salt.
3.1.2.1.4 Mercury contained in products
Final
mercury
content in
[mg/kg]
WORKING DRAFT IN PROGRESS
TB/EIPPCB/CAK_Draft_1 December 2011 127
< 10
20 – 200
20 – 200
Hydrogen and caustic soda from amalgam chlor-alkali plants contain a certain amount of
mercury. The mercury level in chlorine is negligible, i.e. less than 0.001 g/tonne. No mercury
removal processes are used for this product. Traces of mercury in chlorine may be due to the
presence of mercury in the sulphuric acid used to dry chlorine. As regards sodium and
potassium hydroxides and hydrogen, purification techniques are needed before the products are
sold. Mercury content in sodium and potassium hydroxides remains the most important
compared to other products.
Mercury losses to products in 1996, as reported by OSPARCOM, varied from 0.01 to 0.93 g per
tonne chlorine capacity, corresponding to 612 kg emitted. These figures correspond to the sum
of mercury in chlorine gas, in alkalis and in hydrogen which is sold for further processing or
use, but which is not sold as a fuel. {This information is contained in Section 3.5.8 on emissions
via products.}
3.5.10 Mass balance calculation
{The following paragraph was moved to Section 3.5.3. For a better understanding, it should be
described at the beginning of the section why figures are expressed per capacity and not per
actual production.}
Reported figures
As regards mercury outputs, figures are expressed and reported by the industry in terms of
chlorine capacity rather than real production. This is quite specific to the mercury chlor-alkali
300
< 15