Mobile Water Treatment And Wastewater Management At BP Lingen

"The BP refinery in Lingen faced strict limitations on water consumption and wastewater discharge," says Sebastian Blinn, Sales Manager at Mobile Water Solutions. "To comply with complex regulations and operate more sustainably, we delivered a mobile water treatment unit that recycles and reuses wastewater."

The solution combines ultrafiltration, activated carbon filtration, and reverse osmosis, enabling the purification of wastewater to a quality suitable for reuse in production processes. One key advantage of this mobile water solution is its rapid deployment.

"Our units are modular, like a Lego system," Blinn explains. "We combine technologies such as ultrafiltration, reverse osmosis, and ion exchange to provide tailored solutions. Within just a few weeks, we can install a complex, fully operational system on-site – or even within a few hours in emergency situations."

Technical Challenges
Treating and reusing wastewater comes with technical challenges, especially due to fluctuating water quality. "The composition varies depending on the refining process and can have high conductivity, up to 3,000 microsiemens per centimeter," says Blinn. "In addition, organic substances may be present that can interfere with the filtration process."

The mobile water treatment system from Nijhuis Saur Industries addresses these challenges with a combination of advanced filtration technologies. "The system is fully mobile and scalable. The units are housed in containers and trailers, making them easy to deploy on-site. This enables companies to quickly improve their water management without major investments."

Reduced Chemical Usage
In addition to water savings, BP has also reduced its use of chemicals. “Previously, BP used ion exchangers to produce demineralized water, which required frequent regeneration with chemicals. Thanks to our reverse osmosis solution, regeneration is now needed ten times less often. This not only reduces costs but also minimizes environmental impact,” Blinn explains.

Moreover, BP has reduced its wastewater discharge by approximately 10%. “This means less demand for clean water and lower costs for wastewater treatment and disposal.”

The first mobile water treatment system has been operational since 2021 with satisfying results, and BP is now considering expanding the solution further. “They want to double the capacity to reuse even more water and achieve additional cost savings. This shows that mobile water solutions are a profitable and sustainable investment for the industry.”

Wastewater Treatment
A few years ago, Nijhuis Saur Industries built a new wastewater treatment plant for this refinery, equipped with technologies such as Dissolved Nitrogen Flotation (DNF), biological treatment, and sand filtration. This facility processes 325 cubic meters of water per hour. Part of the water treated by this plant is further purified by the mobile water system for reuse.

“The mobile solution focuses on water reuse, while our wastewater treatment plant ensures compliance with discharge standards,” says Erwin Rietman, Sales Director at Nijhuis Saur Industries. “Refineries generate various wastewater streams containing oil, chemicals, metals, and other contaminants. We ensure this water is safely discharged.”

The fixed installation uses Dissolved Nitrogen Flotation (DNF), in which nitrogen is injected into the water to separate contaminants. This process is combined with chemical treatment for more efficient particle removal.

After flotation, the water undergoes biological treatment, where bacteria break down organic pollutants. The system includes three parallel treatment lines to enhance reliability. “If one line temporarily fails, the plant remains operational. This is crucial in a refinery, where continuity is essential,” Rietman explains. Finally, sand filters remove the remaining particles before the water is discharged.

Stricter Environmental Regulations
Blinn emphasizes that water conservation and reuse are becoming increasingly important. “Our mobile solutions offer flexibility and speed without compromising water quality. With growing pressure on water resources and stricter environmental regulations, this is an innovative way to operate more efficiently and sustainably.”

The industry is also facing tighter environmental regulations from government authorities. “Think of stricter standards for nitrogen, PFAS, and other micro-pollutants, which are being implemented across Europe,” says Rietman. “Our solutions help companies comply with these regulations without impacting their production.”

Remove, Reduce, Reuse and Recover
Nijhuis Saur Industries offers solutions for sustainable and resilient water (re)use, as well as energy and resource recovery for both light and heavy industries, utilities, and commercial buildings worldwide.

“We follow the 4R principle: Remove, Reduce, Reuse, and Recover. First, we ensure reduction and/or removal, then reuse, and finally recovery. In this way, we help close the water loop.”