8/13/2019 Abstract Dissertation Industrial Symbiosis JJ
Morales-ESE May'13
1/1
Identification of Industrial Symbiosis opportunities of
treated water from Chilean waste water treatment plants.
Juan Jose Morales. MSc ESE student. Dissertation Project
proposal.
Abstract. According to literature, industrial symbiosis
development in water industry has beenfocused on water use
efficiency, recycling, reuse, desalinisation and cooling purposes.
Some succeed
experiences about industrial water reuse synergies have been
reported in Australia (e.g Kwinana -
Western Australia). These experiences were developed due to
increasing scarcity of fresh water in
the country. With up to 50 existing water synergies among 30
different companies in Kwinana have
been identified and they have been recognised as a world leading
example. Demineralised water,
cooling water, potable water and waste water are some raw
materials exchanged among different
firms such as industrial chemical and fertilizer producer, coal
and gas fired station, oil refinery, water
supply and treatment plant. This regional project has been
supported both for private organizations
as government authorities.
In addition, researchers have pointed out that treated water is
also a potential innovative resource
to be developed. Agricultural sector could be extensively
benefited for example whether treated
water from waste water treatment plants is reused in farms
either by irrigation or as fertiliser by
direct sludge applications in lands taking advantage of their
high nitrogen and phosphor contents.
Furthermore, some energy issues can be exploited such as
gasification process by sludge anaerobic
digestion and heat exchange processes and electricity
generation. In Chile, Industrial symbiosis
concept has already not been incorporated both in the water
industry and in waste water treatment
plants. However, despite the fact that firms have independently
worked for reducing water use,
maximizing water efficiency; there are several examples given by
companies which can be
considered as a forward of industrial symbiosis such as sludge
used as fertilizer in to agricultural
applications, methane sold to gas firms to provide households
and treated water to mining industry
for their productive processes.
The main objective in the dissertation project is looking for
opportunities of Industrial Symbiosis in
the treated water from Chilean waste water treatment plants. In
terms of Chilean water situation,
94% of the Chilean water market is under private management,
roughly 87% of domestic waste
water is treated and they are regulated by government policies.
According to this, treated water
from water treatment companies seem to be suitable for focusing
on the research of exchanging of
materials, energy and by-products with other firms as mentioned
due to they are they are looking
for new sustainable business ways to improve their incomes in
the future.
Methodology.To achieve objectives proposed, the following
methodology is suggested:
- Literature review related with industrial symbiosis and
exchanges of material, energy, water and
by-products from water treated.
- Looking for Chilean experiences and programmes related with
clean production and water
synergies between industries.
- Identify volume and quality of treated water from a
national/regional perspective.
- Identify uses of treated water and their by-product (final
disposal, reuse, etc).
- Examples of companies who are working on that.
- Identify main stakeholders and proposing surveys or interviews
to know new green business
initiatives.
- Flow diagram about potential opportunities of treated water
from a national/regional point of view
Information sources. Supervisor of Water and Sanitation Chile
(public information), water
companies national association, Sustainability reports,
Environmental impact studies, stakeholders
interviews and surveys.
