| A waste minimization assessment and a follow-up at a pigment manufacturer are described. The plant manufactures organic pigments, inorganic pigment and aqueous dispersions of organic pigments. This study primarily focuses on the organic pigment operation.;The organic pigment operation currently loses approximately 230,000 gal/yr of diazo solution from leaking pumps and water-packing pump seals. Costs associated with this waste equate to about ;Serious considerations and resources are being dedicated to wastewater management and the overall wastewater impact on the Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTW). The facility discharges significant wastewater volumes with appreciable BOD and TSS surcharges. Furthermore, the site occasionally discharges color concentrations that can be seen by the POTW. Although colored discharges have not adversely affected the POTW, the company strives to eliminate significant color releases. Preliminary testing indicates that filtration of organic pigment wastewater may substantially remove color from the facility discharge, and reduce BOD by 60% saving the company about ;Economic analysis indicates that the facility can benefit from implementation of recommendations to alleviate the above wastes. BOD reduction and solid waste reduction are of primary concern to the facility are emphasized due to the economic benefit and significant waste generation rates. The follow-up provided an opportunity to identify which of the original recommendations were implemented, why, and how; to refine original recommendations, and to make new ones. Also described are various process changes that have reduced waste generation, and have been made to the process as it existed at the time of the original assessment. |
