Ilam Petrochemical Complex in Ilam Province produces 700,000 tons of various products annually, though it is operating at 70% of its capacity, the head of the complex said.
“It is the largest petrochemical plant in western Iran and with the completion of the second phase of Ilam Refinery, which supplies the feed for the petrochemical plant, the complex can operate at full capacity,” Behzad Yari was also quoted as saying by IRNA.
With the completion of the development project, the refinery's products, including natural gas for urban and industrial use, sulfur, ethane, gas condensate and liquefied petroleum gas, will increase by 1.5 times. This will lead to the rise in the amount of feedstock delivered to Ilam Petrochemical Complex and consequently help increase output at the plant.
Founded in 2004, Ilam Petrochemical Company is an olefin plant, which produces a wide range of products, including ethylene, high density polyethylene, crystal melamine, ammonia sulfate and sulfuric acid.
The company has recently increased its production of HDPE by 10%. The HDPE unit, which was launched in 2013, originally had a production capacity of 40 tons per hour.
Polyethylene is the world's most versatile and widely produced polymer. High-density polyethylene is a thermoplastic polymer produced from monomer ethylene. Commonly recycled, it is used for producing plastic bottles, corrosion-resistant pipes, geo-membranes and plastic lumber.
HDPE is also used for producing PE-100 pipes that have higher and long-term durability with applications in oil, gas, water and wastewater systems.
Wastewater Recycling
Yari also referred to the plant’s water paucity that has been addressed by recycling wastewater.
The saline wastewater treatment plant of the complex, which uses the zero-liquid discharge (ZLD) system, has been launched recently. It is the most advanced chemical wastewater treatment plant in the country, constructed by domestic experts to help preserve the environment and recover 100% of the waste produced from petrochemical processes in Ilam Petrochemical Company.
Completed at a cost of $7 million, the facility has a capacity to treat 35.5 cubic meters of wastewater per hour.
Water is a key resource for the operation of chemical and petrochemical production processes. Distillation, liquid extraction, washing operations and cooling systems are processes that use water intensively.
Zero-liquid discharge can be defined broadly as a process to achieve maximum water recovery from a wastewater source that would otherwise be disposed of.
The ZLD system will virtually eliminate the return of wastewater from the manufacturing sector into the river and prevents the deterioration of natural resources.
The drivers for zero-liquid discharge include a growing concern by the public about the impact of such discharges on the environment, especially water resources.
ZLD is deemed useful for complexes seeking to reuse their wastewater, though it would be better to adopt strategies that help curb water consumption. This would be especially helpful in complexes far from major resources like sea.
