Wanhua Chemical teams up with French partner on seawater desalination project

As a global chemical new materials company, Wanhua Chemical relies on innovation in core technologies, industrial equipment and efficient operating models to provide customers with more competitive products and solutions.

Adhering to the philosophy of "Advancing Chemistry, Transforming Lives!", Wanhua Chemical has explored new models in environmental protection. Currently, the company has made a handful of attempts in the comprehensive management of water resources.

In the field of water reuse, Wanhua Chemical employs various advanced processes such as reverse osmosis and ultrafiltration to concentrate the treatment of reclaimed water. About 73 percent of reclaimed water is reused in its parks.

One particular example is MDI waste brine circulation technology, which won the Chemical Week 2022's award nomination for sustainable development. Industrial waste brine has been a major challenge in global chlorine and sodium-consuming industries, due to its high impurity and complex composition. While this technology has opened up a new frontier for the zero discharge of waste brine in the isocyanate industry, with advantages such as efficient waste utilization, zero discharge, simple process and stable treatment results. The total amount of recycled waste brine reaches about 3 million tons and a reduction of carbon dioxide emissions exceeding 140,000 tons per year.

As for waste water treatment, a facility was set up at Yantai Industrial Park, covering an area of 18.7 hectares. The water is sent to the park's recycled water station for replenishment, Currently, it serves Yantai Industrial Park with a total processing capacity of nearly 4,000 cubic meters per hour and the total recovery rate can reach 75 percent.

In this case, representatives of the three parties agreed that they will use the project as an opportunity to leverage their respective strengths in the field of seawater desalination; deepen research on the integrated utilization of seawater desalination technology; strengthen technological exchanges and cooperation; and achieve advantages through resource integration and industrial linkage. Together, they will work to promote China's ecological transformation.

The three parties have also expressed an intention to broaden cooperation in fields on the basis of the agreement, establish a platform for the exchange of talent, technology, and resources, in a bid to create high-quality brands and boutique projects under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative and boost high-level opening-up.