Economically and Ecologically Efficient Water Management in the European Chemical Industry (E4Water)

The main objective was to develop, test and validate new integrated approaches, methodologies and process technologies for a more efficient and sustainable management of water in chemical industry with cross-fertilization possibilities to other industrial sectors.

E4water united in its consortium large chemical industries, leading European water sector companies and innovative RTD centers and universities, active in the area of water management and also involved in WssTP and SusChem European Technology Platforms and collaborating with water authorities.

E4Water has built on state-of-the-art and new basic R&D concepts. Their realization, improvement, utilization and validation, with the compromise of early industrial adaptors, are clearly innovative. E4Water has realized this by:

• creating water loop interfaces, synergies and symbiosis: (a) in industry (b) with urban & agricultural water management,
• developing and testing innovative materials, process technologies, tools and methodologies for an integrated water management,
• providing an open innovation approach for testing E4Water developments with respect to other industries,
• implementing and validating the developments in 6 industrial case studies, representing critical problems for the chemical industry and other process industries,
• implementing improved tools for process efficiency optimization, linking water processes with production processes and eco-efficiency assessment.

Impact

• Reduction in water use (≥ 40%)
• Reduction in waste water production (≥ 20%)
• Reduction in energy use (up to 20%)
• Economic benefits (up to ~ 30%)
• Policy compliance ensured