Lanran Tech Enables Sustainable Salt Recycling for Fuhua Chemical: A Breakthrough in Waste-to-Resource Innovation
Fuhua Tongda Chemical Co., Ltd., in Leshan, Sichuan Province, China, a global leader in agrochemical production, has partnered with Lanran Tech to deploy bipolar membrane electrodialysis (BMED) technology. This collaboration addresses critical waste salt management challenges while achieving impressive resource efficiency. Ranked among the top 20 global agrochemical companies and the top 10 agrochemical enterprises in China, Fuhua produces approximately 3.5 million tons of chemicals annually. As one of the world’s largest glyphosate manufacturers, Fuhua is also one of the industry’s largest producers of sodium chloride waste, a significant sustainability challenge.
Sustainable Solutions: Recycling Large Volumes of Waste Salt
Glyphosate production generates vast quantities of sodium chloride waste, often contaminated with impurities such as organic phosphates and ammonia nitrogen. With Fuhua ranked third globally and second in China in glyphosate output, managing this waste has become a critical operational and environmental concern. While the company operates its own ion-exchange membrane chlor-alkali facilities, the waste salt’s impurities necessitate costly and intricate pretreatment processes before reuse. Historically, part of the waste salt was sold to smaller processors, but this method posed logistical challenges, incurred high transportation costs, and resulted in underutilization of resources.
To address these issues, Fuhua initiated a collaboration with Lanran Tech in 2021. BMED technology was implemented to convert sodium chloride waste into high-purity hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide—key inputs for Fuhua’s production processes. This closed-loop system not only minimizes waste but also provides valuable resources, significantly reducing costs and environmental impact.
The initial pilot project employed Lanran Tech’s BMED system with a modest annual salt conversion capacity of 1,300 tons. After 10 months of successful testing that demonstrated exceptional system stability and efficiency, Fuhua and Lanran scaled their collaboration significantly:
2022: The first-phase project expanded salt conversion capacity to 9,200 tons annually.
2023: The second-phase project achieved a substantial capacity of 35,000 tons annually.
Lanran Tech’s BMED system efficiently processes sodium chloride brine (140g/L concentration), converting it into industrial-grade hydrochloric acid (~73g/L) and sodium hydroxide (~80g/L). The treated brine is desalinated and concentrated, re-entering the system for further use, ensuring minimal waste and maximum resource recovery.
Key Advantages of Lanran Tech’s BMED Solution
Lanran Tech’s advanced BMED technology provides unmatched efficiency and reliability tailored to industrial-scale challenges:
High Volume Handling: Modular design allows for scalability, ease of installation, and seamless integration into Fuhua’s large-scale operations.
Energy Efficiency: Current efficiency of ≥75% and current density of 700-800 A/m² significantly reduce energy consumption and costs.
Operational Stability: Proprietary bipolar and homogeneous membranes ensure long-term reliability, supported by intelligent hydraulic and control systems for consistent performance.
High-Quality Outputs: The system produces industrial-grade hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide, essential for glyphosate production.
Economic Returns: Producing one ton of sodium hydroxide equivalent (100% purity) consumes ≤2000 kWh of electricity, significantly undercutting market procurement costs and ensuring rapid ROI.
A Transformative Impact on Industrial Waste Management
Lanran Tech’s solution is revolutionizing how Fuhua Chemical manages its waste salt. By turning waste into high-value resources, the project aligns with Fuhua’s sustainability goals and reduces reliance on external raw material procurement.
Lou Yongtong, Chairman of Lanran Tech, highlighted the project’s transformative impact, stating: “This collaboration is a game-changer for industrial sustainability. By turning waste into valuable resources, we are driving a circular economy and unlocking new opportunities for economic and environmental progress.”
Supported by local government agencies, the success of this project exemplifies how innovative technologies can drive industrial sustainability. Beyond waste salt recycling, Lanran Tech’s expertise extends to areas such as carbon capture, lithium battery recycling, and advanced water treatment, cementing its role as a leader in resource-efficient solutions.
About Lanran: Lanran Tech is a pioneering provider of sustainable water treatment and resource recovery solutions. Specializing in advanced ion-exchange membrane and electrodialysis technologies, the company drives innovation in areas such as waste recycling, carbon capture, and lithium battery recovery, supporting global industries in achieving sustainable development.
For more information, visit www.lanrantech.com.
About Fuhua: Fuhua Tongda Chemical Co., Ltd. is a globally integrated chemical enterprise with expertise in mineral resource development, basic chemicals, and fine chemical applications. As one of the world’s top glyphosate producers and a leader in chlor-alkali production in Southwest China, Fuhua has established a full-chain green circular industry model, combining innovation, efficiency, and sustainability.
