Archroma has successfully implemented a membrane and oxidation-based Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) system at its dyestuffs manufacturing plant in Mahachai, Thailand.

The ZLD solution was designed and built by Gradiant, headquartered in Woburn, Massachusetts, and marks a major leap forward in water circularity, enabling the recovery of 90-95% of wastewater for reuse and the extraction of valuable minerals for industrial applications.

Located in a water-stressed region near Bangkok, the Mahachai plant now serves as a model for sustainable textile dye production, significantly reducing reliance on local water supplies while improving environmental resilience.

“We believe in reducing water use in production and home laundering and innovate to remove toxins and contaminants from our products, making wastewater treatment easier for our plants and customers,” says Dhirendra Gautam, VP of global marketing and strategy at Archroma. “Our goal is to require our plants to have effective water conservation facilities with a special focus on water stressed areas, contributing to water conservation and helping to combat acute water scarcity worldwide.”

Since 2019, Archroma has evaluated various ZLD solutions to address the growing water challenges in Thailand. Gradiant’s Counterflow Reverse Osmosis (CFRO) was selected as the preferred technology for its ability to treat diverse wastewater compositions with superior efficiency and minimal energy consumption. The modular system seamlessly integrates with the plant’s existing wastewater treatment infrastructure, maximising desalination capacity and water recovery.

In addition to CFRO, Gradiant’s Free Radical Oxidation (FRO) technology has been deployed to remove colour and organics from the RO concentrate, ensuring safe discharge and meeting stringent environmental regulations. The system also enables the recovery of concentrated brine, which is repurposed within the dyeing process or supplied to industry partners for applications such as resin regeneration and chlorine production.

“Water-intensive industries are under increasing pressure to adopt responsible solutions and this partnership with Archroma demonstrates how advanced water treatment can drive sustainability without compromising operational efficiency,” says Prakash Govindan, COO of Gradiant. “Our ZLD solution at Mahachai leverages membrane and oxidation technologies to maximise water recovery, reduce environmental impact and create valuable resource streams.”

Beyond Thailand, Archroma continues to expand its ZLD initiatives globally, including its Sustainable Effluent Treatment (SET) plant in Jamshoro, Pakistan, which has been providing irrigation water to surrounding communities.

www.archroma.com