Around 1.5 million US dollars annual savings in PTA plant with UASBplus upgrade

Purified Terephthalic Acid (PTA) is a key raw material in the production of polyester fibers and Resins. GC-M PTA Company has produced them since 1995. As demand for Purified Terephthalic Acid (PTA) has grown, the plant has expanded its production capacity to 1.46 million tons per year. This has led to higher volumes of wastewater with elevated Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) levels.

UASBplus reactors are designed to treat high-strength industrial wastewater efficiently. This makes them suitable for treating the complex effluents generated during PTA production. At some point, the two UASBplus reactors (ø19m x 12m H) from 2012 weren’t able to fully treat the PTA wastewater from the production lines anymore. The system engineers of GC-M PTA Company thus diverted a portion of the PTA wastewater from anaerobic treatment to aeration.

This aeration treatment led to significantly higher operating costs due to increased electricity consumption, aerobic sludge handling, and elevated carbon dioxide emissions.

So it was a logical choice that GC-M PTA Co. wanted to switch back to a fully anaerobic wastewater treatment system.

GC-M PTA Company still trusted in Paques’ anaerobic technology, especially because of the remarkable success of the first phase of anaerobic implementation. So, the Paques team was asked to supply an additional BIOPAQ^® UASBplus reactor (ø19m x 12m H) to accommodate the increased COD load. With our extensive expertise in PTA wastewater treatment and a well-executed start-up strategy, we achieved an outstanding 90% COD removal efficiency within just three months of start-up, significantly ahead of the one-year target!

For GC-M PTA Company, the implementation & upgrade of our industrial wastewater treatment system has resulted in annual savings exceeding 50 million THB (baht) (1,3 million US$ per year)

Transitioning from aeration to anaerobic treatment offers multiple economic and environmental benefits:

1. By reducing reliance on energy-intensive aeration systems, electricity consumption is significantly lowered, leading to substantial cost savings.
2. Additionally, minimizing aerobic sludge production reduces sludge disposal and handling expenses, further optimizing operational efficiency.
3. However, the key advantage of anaerobic treatment is the increased generation of biogas, a valuable renewable energy source. The additional biogas can be utilized as a substitute for natural gas, effectively reducing the facility's dependence on conventional fuel sources. This shift not only enhances sustainability, but also results in considerable cost reductions.

GC-M PTA Company Limited is a Thailand-based manufacturer specializing in Purified Terephthalic Acid (PTA), a key raw material in the production of polyester fibers and resins.

Established in September 25, 1995, the company operates as a joint venture between PTT Global Chemical Public Company Limited (GC), which holds a 74% stake, and Mitsui Chemicals, Inc., owning the remaining 26%.

The company's production facility is located in Rayong, Thailand, boasting an annual PTA production capacity of approximately 1.46 million tons. This capacity is achieved through the implementation of Mitsui Chemicals' advanced process technology.

GC-M PTA Company Limited, as a subsidiary of PTT Global Chemical Public Company Limited (GC), aligns with GC's comprehensive Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiatives. GC is committed to developing environmentally friendly, health-conscious, low-carbon, and recyclable products, aiming to establish full circularity in its operations. This commitment addresses global concerns such as plastic waste and reflects a proactive approach to environmental stewardship.