The innovative feature is a recycling loop that for the first time combines a biological reactor (in which bacteria destroy organic pollution) and a CeraMem™ ceramic membrane filter that retains the solid biomass.
A new water treatment plant at the Essilor industrial site in Sézanne, the result of a partnership between Essilor and Veolia Water STI, treats the water used to make eyeglasses and recycles it directly for use in the production process.
After two years of design work and testing, Essilor and Veolia Water STI, a Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies industrial subsidiary inaugurated a new plant in the Fall of 2011 at the Sézanne industrial site to treat the water used to make eyeglasses, recycling it directly for use in the production process. (The recycled water is generally used for "utility" applications such as washing.)
Its design reflects Veolia Water STI's understanding and optimal management of both the industrial processes and the type of effluents the customer has to deal with.
With a 70% guaranteed recycling rate, the solution meets Essilor's need to shrink its environmental footprint by enabling it to sharply curtail its water consumption. The company expects to eventually deploy it in other countries facing major strains on water resources.
Maurice KOHLER
Manager of the BBGR-Essilor industrial site in Sézanne
« What I take away from the partnership is how much I learned: a one-on-one exchange, a very open, very transparent sharing of skills and expertise. It was really remarkable and I haven't often been involved in such a strong partnership. In terms of learning, it shows that in the future, whenever we want to develop something at industrial sites, it is certainly in our interest to open up our approach, consult outsiders and work in a partnership. It certainly provides assurance of the project's ultimate success. »