Paper Industry Water Hub In Eerbeek And Nijhuis Saur Industries Set New Global Standard Maximizing The Reuse Of Water By Launching Innovative Pilot Plant

Industriewater Eerbeek (IWE), a subsidiary of three Dutch paper mills focusing on wastewater treatment, has started a pilot plant for the reuse of its wastewater, based on the solutions and technology provided by Nijhuis Saur Industries, NX Filtration, Pure Water Group and REDstack.

Circular water concept ‘Waterrotonde’
This summer various heat records were broken. Despite the relatively wet spring, drought is a growing concern for our society. William Suijkerbuijk, project director of the Waterrotonde adds: "The paper industry is very aware of the current ground-water consumption and the impact on our local environment. We now want to do everything necessary to reduce groundwater extraction. With this in mind, the Waterrotonde was born last year”. The Waterrotonde can contribute to a sustainable ecosystem and anticipate upcoming regulations regarding discharges on surface water. Since the 1960s, IWE has been purifying surplus process water from three paper mills (Stora Enso De Hoop Mill, Folding Boxboard Eerbeek and Neenah Coldenhove) in Eerbeek, the Netherlands. As a first in the global paper industry, IWE now aims to close the water loop, using the groundbreaking solutions, technology and expertise of Nijhuis Saur Industries and integrating the technology provided by Pure Water Group-REDstack and NX Filtration.

The pilot
In only ten months, the project team has been able to go from concept designs to starting up the first processes in the pilot. After a first technology workshop held in September ‘22, Nijhuis Saur Industries conducted an i-CONSULT feasibility study involving the main stakeholders (paper mills, technology providers, and IWE) to understand how fully closing the water loop impacts water quality, the water- and the heat balances. In parallel, the pilot was engineered to produce 10 m3/h of product water. The current effluent from IWE needs to be upgraded to meet the mills' process water requirements. Firstly, NX Filtration’s direct nanofiltration technology is used to remove organic pollutants, color, turbidity, sulphates, and hardness. The filtered water then passes through an optional Nijhuis activated carbon filter to ensure that the next step, Electrodialysis Reversal (EDR), can perform optimally. PureWater Group’s EDR system uses highly efficient stacks built by REDStack to separate salts from the water. The degree of desalination is flexible, making sure the operating costs are optimized. The desalinated water is then ready to be used by the paper mills.

The objectives of the pilot are:

• Demonstrate that the product water meets the quality requirements of the paper mills
• Producing reject- and brine streams to test brine treatment techniques and define the best brine treatment strategy
• Generate a set of starting points for the design of the “full-scale” water plant based on insights from the pilot

Through its integration of services and partnerships, Nijhuis Saur Industries was able to rapidly deploy the required rental units for the pilot. With IWE supporting the installation works and laboratory analyses on site, the project team could start up the pilot technologies in a phased and controlled approach. In this way, the team is constantly obtaining insights to increase the reliability and reduce the TOTEX of the full-scale design.

Full-Scale plant
Until the end of 2023, several innovative water treatment technologies will be extensively tested in the pilot. Based on the test results and financial feasibility, a choice of Nijhuis Saur Industries' implemented technology will be made in early 2024. In case of a positive follow-up, construction of the plant itself will most likely start in 2025. Thereafter, the various paper mills will be connected step by step to create one of the largest hubs for water reuse in the global paper industry.

About Industriewater Eerbeek
Industriewater Eerbeek is a frontrunner in the field of circular resource usage. By setting up collaborations with stakeholders, innovative integrated solutions are developed and applied. This way, we contribute to a sustainable society and encourage others to follow our example. For more information, visit www.waterrotonde.nl / www.iweerbeek.nl.

About NX Filtration
NX Filtration is a provider of direct nanofiltration membrane technology for producing pure and affordable water to improve quality of life. Its direct nanofiltration technology removes micropollutants (including pharmaceuticals, medicines, PFAS and insecticides), colour and selective salts, but also bacteria, viruses and nano plastics, from water in one step whilst offering strong sustainability benefits. For more information, visit www.nxfiltration.com.

About Pure Water Group
Pure Water Group designs water treatment systems for a reliable continuous operation without compromises. Optimum solutions are created based on your unique needs and goals. Watching your smile at handover is worth all effort. And still we stay committed to going beyond your expectations. In engineering, building and service, quality matters.

Pure Water Group is a leading manufacturer of advanced and sustainable water purification equipment and highly specialized in environmentally friendly technologies such as Electro Deionization (EDI), Membrane Degassing (MD) and Electro Dialysis Reversal (EDR). For more information, visit www.purewatergroup.com

About Nijhuis Saur Industries
Founded in 1904, Nijhuis Saur Industries provides solid and adaptive solutions for sustainable and resilient water use, energy- and resource recovery. Since the inception of Saur’s Industrial Water platform in 2019 more than 12 companies have been successfully acquired and integrated into one global operating company supporting municipal and industrial clients in over 140 countries with engineering and consultancy services, EPC / DBFOM project execution, mobile water solutions and O&M site services. With an extensive portfolio of innovative technologies and game-changing solutions, Nijhuis Saur Industries is now delivering local, scalable, and circular water-on-demand solutions to more than 5,000 references around the world and contributing to a more sustainable and resilient future. Our purpose is to be an advocate for water, ensuring everyone gives water the value it deserves. With our unique Customer for Life approach, we protect water resources, contribute to the water-, energy- and food transition, and help to restore and close the water loop. We call it #MissionWater. For more information, visit www.nijhuissaurindustries.com