PROCESS UTILITIES (CHE18140E11)
MODULE 2 (LECTURE 2)
Water as a Utility in Process Industries
BY-
ZAKARIA HALIM
Assistant Professor
Department of Chemical Engineering
Golaghat Engineering College, Golaghat -22
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WATER RESOURCES
For surface
water, resources For ground water,
are rivers, ponds, resources are
lakes and springs, wells.
reservoir water.
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INDUSTRIAL USES AND REQUIREMNTS OF WATER
The variety of consumers of water for industrial purpose is so
great and the specific physical, chemical and bacteriological
requirements cover such broad limits that no standard
specifications for water quality are possible.
Water suitable for one industry may be totally unsuitable
for a dissimilar industry. I.S.I. has promised so far standard for
water for pulp and paper industry, textile industry, tanning
industry, rayon manufacture, food industry and fermentation
industry. 3
1. PAPER AND PULP INDUSTRY
Here water is used in –
➢ Flumes for carrying the bamboos to the chipper.
➢ Compactness of the bamboo chips.
➢ Preparation of the digester liquor.
➢ Counter current washing.
➢ Thinning of the pulp.
• Quality of requirement of process water in manufacturing of
pulp and paper varies with desired quality of product. Fine
paper requires pure water than coursed and crude paper.
• Turbidity and colour effects the brightness and colour of the
paper. Iron and Manganese cause staining and loss of
brightness.
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2. TEXTILE INDUSTRY
Water is used here in –
• Washing wool
• Scouring
• Dyeing
• Finishing
❖Water used in the wet processing of the textile should be
free from turbidity, colour, Iron, Manganese, hardness and
organic growths and also it should not be corrosive.
❖For dying purpose, the quality of water is of great
importance where delicate tints are to be produced.
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3. TANNING INDUSTRY
Water is used here in –
• Soaking the hides and skins,
• Liming
• Deliming
• Bleaching
• Dyeing
• Liquoring
❑For tanning purpose water must be free from Fe & Mn, which
cause stain and discoloration.
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4. FERMENTATION INDUSTRY
Water is used for –
1. Brewing – for boiler feed, keg washing, pasturizing &
cooling. Water quality requirement is same as that
of drinking water. Alkanity caused by carbonates and
bicarbonates are considered to be disadvantageous
to brew water. It should be free from Fe, Mn and
also nitrates. Presence of Ca in Calcium Sulphate is
advantageous. 7
2. Distillation – for mash making, cooling of masher
and condenser and also in boiler feed. Water used
here should be clear, colourless, free from Fe, Mn,
odor and it should be of a good bacteriological quality.
Some amount of hardness is usually desirable in the
water used for mashing and moderate amount of
carbonates are frequently of value as a buffer in
maintaining the proper Ph value during fermentation..
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5. FOOD INDUSTRY
Water is used here for –
▪ Processing
▪ Washing
▪ Boiler feed
▪ Cooling, etc.
❖Quality of water varies from one food industry to
another. The water should be clear, colourless, free
from Fe, Mn, objectionable taste and odour and of
approved bacteriological quality even when the food
is cooked through sterilizing operation.
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6. RAYON INDUSTRY
• Rayon fibers are manufactured by viscose, cupra
ammonia or cellulose acetate process.
• Considerable quantities of water are used in
various steps such as washing and make up
solutions.
• Presence of suspended and dissolved mineral
matters is disadvantageous.
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7. ICE INDUSTRY
▪ Good quality ice, used in food industry and cold storage industry,
should be crystal clear, colourless, free from bubbles and also free
from snowy balls.
▪ Must not be shattered when handled.
▪ Water used for preparation of ice should be free from colour and
suspended matter and it should not contain any metallic impurity.
▪ The saline water contained in it should be low and the water should
be of high degree of organic and bacterial purity expected of drinking
water.
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8. CHEMICAL INDUSTRY
• Chemical plants are the largest users of water and most of
them have their own plants.
• Most chemical plants use large quantities of steam for
heating, boiling, digesting, evaporating, distilling, drying and
other process operations and a variety of products.
• In general, the process water should be clear, colourless, free
from Fe, Mn, and organic growth.
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9. IRON & STEEL INDUSTRY
• Here, water is used in boiler feed, cooling condensers and
furnace and also for general purpose such as pickling,
rinsing operations.
• For steel manufacture, the following conditions of water
should be maintained –
o Temp. should be below 75 C.
o Chlorides should be below 175 mg/L.
o Ph between 6.8 – 7.
o Hardness below 50 ppm.
o Suspended matter below 25 ppm.
o Organic content as low as possible.
o Corrosion potential at the lowest possible level.
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