1. National Chlorine industries Co. Ltd
A. SUMMARY of the report
Summary of the problem definition, analysis, conclusions & recommendations andfollow up(½ page**).
This summary can be used for communication purposes.
B. PROBLEM DEFINITION
1. Description of the company
National chlorineIndustries Co. Ltd (from here NCI) was founded in 1991,the plant was
commissioned in November 1995. The plant is located about 40 km south east of Amman city.
NCI produces Caustic Soda liquid 32% (5,000 tons per year), Caustic Soda flakes (10,000 tons),
liquified chlorine gas (12,000 tons), Hydrochloric acid HCl (9,000 tons), Hydrogen gas H2 (300 tons)
and Sodium hypochloride NaClOl (9,000 tons).The products are alsoexported to neighboring Arab
countries(Iraq, Syria,Egypt, Lebanon. Saudi Arabia and Yemen.
The plant was set-up to latest technology of membraneprocesses, licensed by UHDE (W-Germany).
NCI is certified for Quality management in compliance with ISO 9001:2000 and for Environmental
management in compliance with ISO 14001.
NCI has an own fleet of ISO-tankers up to 20 tons for the transportation and in Cylinders of 1 ton,
50 kgs and 65 kgs.
NCI has about 165 employees, from whom about 40 engineers with different skills.
2. Description of the problem
NCI has a big wastewater problem.Basic products for the plant arewater and sodium chloride
(dry) which comes from the dead sea.
The consumption of process water is 400 m3/d ( cooling water and product water).Part of the water
is being demineralized.
The excess wastewater is about 5,5 m3/d containinghigh concentrations of sodium chloride, high
TDS and pH. This water is put in evaporation bonds wherethe stored water evaporates and the
residuals are removed by a contractor and dumped to a landfill. Because the evaporation capacity is
insufficient, especially in winter,someof the wastewater is directly transported and spread over
land elsewhere.
C. PROJECT DEFINITION
[Recommend solutions to reduce the amountof wastewater. ]
D. ANALYSIS
During October 12 and 13 meetings were arranged with thefollowing persons:
Mr Eng. Mahmoud J. Abu Aqel (General Manager)
Mr. Eng. Anwar A.K. Zu’bi (AdministrativeManager)
Mr. Eng. Mohammed Abu Awwad(Safety and Environmental Engineer)
Mr. Eng. Hassan Rajab Abbasi (Operational Manager)
Mr. Yousef Bader ( Quality Assistant Manager)
NCI produces several products derived from NaCl and water in several factories. The end products
are Caustic Soda NaOH in liquid(32%) and flakes, Liquified Chlorine gas Cl2, Hydrochloric Acid
HCl, Hydrogen Gas H2 and Sodium hypochloriteNaClO. The factories produce 7days a week, 24

2. hours.
The process water (PW) is needed in amounts to about 14,5 m3/h and the amount of Salt is 2,9 tons
NaCl per hour. The greater part of the process water needs to be purified to a very high quality.For
that a demineralization unit (DM) is present,with an output of about 12 m3/h.
Also thesolution of the salt which is done with demineralized water.But becauseof impurities that
come with thesalt an extended purification is needed for the saturated salt solution (= brine).
This purification consists of precipitation of impurities by adding Na2CO3 and BaCl2. That results in
precipitates like CaCO3, BaSO4 and Mg(OH)2 which after mixing with flocculants will settlein a
clarifier.The settled sediment of that clarifier is collected and via a filterpress the cake is collected
and brought to a landfill. The filtratereturn tothesaturation pit.The clarified brineis then filtered
in an anthracitefilter,candle filters, dechlorinated and brought to a temperatureof 70 oC. This lean
brinenow is ready to go to thefactory i.e. the electrolysis.
Wastewater is collected in the actual situation mainly from 3 flows:
1. the sewer system
2. the wasteof the Reverse Osmosis (RO) that clears the water out of the cooling circuit and the
wastefrom DM
3. wastefrom thebrinecleaner, in particular thecollection of thesediments and pumping device
to the filterpress
The wastewater is collected in a pit and from there transported toevaporation bonds (total surface
3200 m2, content 4000 m3). The water evaporates,theresiduals settledown and after some time the
bond is emptied, the sediment is collected and removed to a dumping site.
In thefigure below theprincipal flowsheet of this water lineis visualized as well as mass balances
for water and salt in this flowsheet.
[It must be emphasized that the figures for salt are at this moment different from the scheme because of
production is raised. They can be adjusted for the actual situation as long as the overall balance still is a closed
one]

3. Several photo’s, taken at the filterpress and clarifier sites,illustratethesituation that leads to the
spill of sediment rather than being processed to thepress. The hose pump which transports the
sediments to the press sometimes is failing or has shortage of pumping capacity.Because of that the
collecting pit is emptied once a day (18 m3) by pumping it intothe sewer that leads to the

4. wastewater pit and from thereto the evaporation bonds. From the scheme it can be read that with
that spill about 0,26 tons/h of NaCl together with the residuals (CaCO3 , Ba2SO4, Mg(OH)2) will go to
the wasterather than goto the fliterpress whereit can be concentrated in the cake and the filtrate
brought back to thesaturation pit..This is more than 10% of the daily salt intake.
Another phenomenon is that under the clarifier the sediment comes in open lines that can overflow
and spread over the pavement. This sediment is then cleaned up with water and ends up in the
sewer also.
At several other sites dried salt is visibleand again that spilled salt will at last reach thesewer. It is
believed that good-housekeeping will be able to lower these spills. In general spilling must be
avoided and if so dry cleaning before wet cleaning should be encouraged.
If these actions would be successful the amount of wastewater,which is now estimated to be about
5,25 m3/h (being 36% of the daily need) can be lowered by at least 1 m3/h or more.
The loss of salt can be significantly lower
The evaporation capacity ofthe bonds is now exceeded and therefore carriers takea great part of
the wastewater and bringit to a sitewhere it is spread over land
E. CONCLUSIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS
The following recommendations arediscussed and formulated as follows:
1. The process step in the brinecleaning concerning thesediment collection and filterpress needs
to be upgraded (in the scheme this process part is encircled :
the hose pump section should become double redundant.By that it can be avoided that spill of
sediment occurs.Perhaps new pumps are necessary.
the emptyingof clarifiers via the valves must be controlled in that way that noflooding of the
pavement can occur. The drain of the sediments must be a closed system.Perhaps
crystallization in wintertimecan beavoided by warmingthepipes
2. Good housekeeping regarding spills of salt on the terrain.At several places salt is dried on the
pavement and is cleaned up with water that flows in the sewer.Dry cleaning is better,but
avoiding the spill should be the goal. The amount of water in the sewer as well as the quality
(sodium chloridecontent) of the sewer water can be improved. The amount of sewer water in
the scheme is the greater part of thetotal (about 66%).
3. Separation of the flow from RO and sewer. The RO flow is the least contaminated so if the
choice of direct transport is tobe made, the RO flow can be chosen first.If the sewer water
amount can be diminished thedirect transport probablycan becancelled because the
evaporation can be enough.
Conclusions
The wastewater problems NCIis meeting arebig. The amounts of wastewater tobe stored and
evaporated in the bonds exceed the evaporation capacity.Thereforea substantial part ofthe
wastewater is (in winter)directly brought toa land irrigation with largeconcentrations ofsalt in it,
besides other residues. The care for preventingproduction of wastewater should begiven more
attention than it is now.
Because thelegislation regardingenvironmental careis still poorly in Jordan, dumping of wasteand
residues is common practice.This is maintained by thefact that hardly nolevies are raised for waste
or wastewater todispose of.
A mind shift is needed to give the environmental aspects of production more attention even if the
expenses are raised to avoid strict measures tobe taken in the nearby futureby the authorities.

5. F. FOLLOW UP
1. Explain whatfollow upactivities you find desirable in relation to defined problem.
This could mean a PUMfollow upproject, training or business link, financing opportunities (f.e. Hans Blankertfonds,local banks,
FMO), co-operation with organizations like CBI or EVD, reference to the enabling environmentof the applicant(f.e. branche
organisations, employers organizations),reference to commercial consultants, etc. (max. ½ page).
2. Explain whatfollow upactivities you find desirable in relation to the general situation of the applicantincluding the position in the
market. See the possible activities above (max.½ page).
G. ACTION LIST
List of the appointments you have made with the applicantconcerningfollow upactivities (max. ½ page).
H. ENCLOSURE(S)
Please add your enclosure(s) here.