United Laboratories (Inner Mongolia) Partners with Lanran Tech to Pioneer Zero-Emission Water Reuse and Solid Waste Resource Recovery
In a bold move to advance sustainability, United Laboratories (Inner Mongolia) has chosen Lanran Tech as a strategic partner to implement one of China’s largest zero-emission water reuse projects in the pharmaceutical industry. This groundbreaking initiative, which successfully began operations in late 2019, has already made a significant impact by reducing water consumption by approximately 11 million cubic meters annually. The project brings substantial environmental benefits, particularly for the Yellow River basin in Bayan Nur. By working with Lanran Tech to develop a cutting-edge solution for the recovery and reuse of concentrated wastewater brine and acid-alkali waste streams, United Laboratories is setting a new standard in industrial sustainability and wastewater management.
Project Overview and Innovation
Phase 1 of the Project began construction in July 2023, with trial operation in January 2024. The high-concentration water of the zero-discharge water reuse system is treated by nanofiltration salt separation and monovalent salt concentration and impurity removal, and then converted into acid and alkali by bipolar membrane electrodialysis technology and reused in the environmental protection system. The produced dialysis water is directly reused in the circulating water system for water replenishment. In this process, BPED treats 16 tons/day (5,280 tons/year) of sodium chloride, with energy consumption for producing alkali kept below 2,150 kWh per ton.
In the second phase of the project, nanofiltration concentrate will undergo concentration and COD removal, followed by freeze crystallization to separate divalent salts. A portion of these salts will be reused in production, while another portion will be processed using bipolar membrane electrodialysis (BMED) to produce acid and alkali for reuse in the production workshop. The BMED system will process 52 tons of dry sodium sulfate per day, totaling 17,160 tons per year, with an energy consumption of ≤2450 kWh per ton of standardized alkali. The residual mother liquor will be concentrated using MVR and then incinerated to ensure complete harmless treatment, achieving zero discharge while enabling full recycling of water and salt resources. Construction of this project began in July 2024, with trial operation expected to commence in February 2025.
With the implementation of this project, the solid waste salt from the zero-discharge system will be effectively recycled and reused, ultimately achieving a balance between resource supply and demand. This truly transforms waste into value, promoting energy conservation and emission reduction while delivering significant environmental, social, and economic benefits.
Mr. Lou Yongtong, Chairman of Lanran Tech, shared his thoughts on the collaboration:
“This project reflects the growing demand for sustainable solutions in industrial wastewater management. By utilizing our advanced bipolar membrane electrodialysis technology, we are addressing key environmental challenges while enabling effective resource recovery, which is essential for the future of industrial production.”
About Lanran
Lanran is an innovative provider of water treatment solutions, specializing in ion exchange membrane and electrodialysis technologies. The company is committed to delivering sustainable, resource-efficient solutions for large-scale industrial projects worldwide. With a focus on clean production across various sectors, including pharmaceuticals, food, and chemicals, Lanran also extends its expertise to carbon capture, lithium battery recovery, and resource recycling.
About United Laboratories (Inner Mongolia)
Founded in 2014, United Laboratories (Inner Mongolia) focuses on the research, development, and manufacturing of pharmaceutical products. The company leads the way in adopting green production technologies within the pharmaceutical industry, driving the integration of sustainable practices across their operations.
