Water Recycling and Capacity Expansion in Cosmetics Production

Water Recycling and Capacity Expansion in Cosmetics Production

The production of cosmetic products generates complex wastewater streams with high organic loads and surfactants. At a manufacturing site in Mexico, the existing wastewater treatment system was specifically upgraded to increase capacity, enable water reuse, and at the same time ensure safe discharge into a receiving water body.

What we did

EnviroChemie planned and implemented the expansion of the wastewater treatment plant by combining chemical-physical pre-treatment using dissolved air flotation (Flomar®) with a membrane bioreactor stage (Biomar® OMB). During the construction phase, two EnviRent rental units were deployed to ensure continuous wastewater treatment without interrupting ongoing operations. In addition, the plant was integrated into the digital service platform WaterExpert.

Task
Solution
Benefits

Task

Due to the expansion of production, both wastewater volumes and organic loads increased significantly. Different wastewater streams with varying COD concentrations and surfactant levels resulted in a high overall load. The objective was to increase capacity to up to 80 m³/h, make maximum use of the existing infrastructure, and achieve an effluent quality that meets discharge requirements while also enabling water reuse.

Solution

The upstream dissolved air flotation system Flomar® serves as an effective pre-treatment step, reducing solids and organic loads. In the downstream membrane bioreactor stage Biomar® OMB, biomass is retained in the system via ultrafiltration, allowing for high sludge concentrations and stable biological degradation performance. The resulting permeate is free of suspended solids and suitable for reuse within the production environment.

Benefits

The system enables a significant increase in capacity while maintaining high treatment performance and stable operation. Membrane technology ensures consistently high water quality, reducing the demand for fresh water. The rental units safeguard operations during the construction phase without any production downtime. Digital services provide greater transparency, improve operational efficiency, and support the sustainable use of resources.

Contact

General contact

General contact

+49 6154 6998 100