COMPONENT LEGISLATIVE SPOTLIGHT Alongside the cost implications of disposal, certain components of the fluids have also come under the legislative spotlight. Committees such as the Oslo and Paris Commission (OSPARCOM) have been created to control the chemical components that might, from a waste disposal view-point, have an effect ultimately on marine life. It has become increasingly important therefore for suppliers of these fluids to be conscious not only of the in-use performance of the water-mix MWFs, but also how the component used may ultimately affect the disposal characteristics of the products. Similarly, from the user standpoint it has been necessary to consider more exacting and cost effective disposal methods to reduce the commercial demands produced by the current and potential legislation .


As a result of these industrial concerns, a two year project was set up under the framework of the European Commission Craft Programme with a consortium of eight partners providing complementary technical expertise and end user experience. These European based partners consist of additive supplier Polartech Ltd; fluid formulators Fimitol GmbH, Zorelor SA, Brugarolas SA and JP lndustrie; and waste treatment technology providers EnviroBac Ltd, Lanstar Ltd and Koch Membrane Systems. The aim of the project is to (i) develop MWFs for low or reduced cost disposal based upon current and potential legislative disposal requirements of the European Union and (ii) develop a cost effective waste treatment system for these products.


This is being approached by two main routes, utilising the expertise of the fluid formulators and the disposal technology providers.


• Development of novel water mix MWFs which are free from components likely to be unacceptable from either a disposal or health and safety standpoint. The selection of components that have been identified as contributing to lower COD and toxicity of the fluid and thus have enhanced treatment capabilities on fluid disposal.


•


Evaluation of innovative and current disposal methods for water mix MWFs with the view to optimising and integrating those best performing technologies to provide a new cost effective route.


Innovative work has been carried out with respect to formulatory concepts of the fluids at both laboratory and pilot scale and a number of novel formulations have been devised . These have


subsequently been evaluated at end user sites to determine their suitability for use prior to being considered from disposal viewpoint.


In tandem, extensive evaluation of the disposal technologies has been completed at the Pera research facility and this has led to the development and design of a prototype hybrid system which could be adaptable across a wide range of user requirements.


SPECIFIC BENEFITS As the project nears completion, the combination of new fluid products and novel disposal treatments will be utilised at workshop sites to confirm the economic and environmental benefits of the study which are expected to arise from:


• Development of MWFs capable of meeting current and future legislative regulations throughout Europe with respect to disposal and health and safety requirements.


• • Reduction in end user disposal costs by improving the quality of


waste and recycling the recovered water phase on site and so reducing the volume of waste.


Greater flexibility in managing waste costs as a result of


maximising product life and minimising and controlling exact disposal outputs.


It is expected that all consortium members will be able to gain significantly from the results of the programme and chairman of the Exploitation Committee, Mr Robert Stubbs of Polartech Ltd is particularly pleased with the progress.


" It has been very refreshing to see the frank and open exchange of views between the members of the consortium in an industry that has been traditionally very secretive about its own in -house technology. This has resulted in a very high level of cross fertilisation of ideas between the fluid formulators and the disposal experts providing some interesting and novel conclusions to the projects goals."


For further details please contact: Tony Lesowiec - Pera, Melton Mowbray, Leics. Tel : 01664 S01501 , Fax: 01664 501556, E-mail: tony.lesowiec@ pera.com


Some of the information used in this article first appeared MWF disposal-the dual approach, Industrial Environmental Management, August 1998.


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.·- . .- . . Today's fluid formulators have been greatly advanced by the development of novel additive packages .


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