Municipal effluent reuse set for heart of chemical plant

One of the world's largest applications of industrial water reuse from municipal effluence is set to be at the heart of low-carbon chemical production in Mexico after a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Transition Industries LLC and Veolia Water Technologies & Solutions.

MoU will help shape water reuse at expansive chemical plant

The agreement would provide advanced industrial water technology to the Pacifico Mexinol project, in Topolobampo, Sinaloa, northwestern Mexico, which is expected to commence operations in 2028.

The plant will be one of the world’s largest standalone ultra-low carbon chemical production facilities, with an expected output of 6,145 metric tons of methanol (MT) per day. While the plant will be built and operated by Transition Industries, a developer of world-scale, net-zero carbon emissions methanol and hydrogen projects, the MoU will see Veolia develop a ‘purpose-driven water strategy’ that has been designed with Ahome Municipality’s Drinking Water and Sewage Board (JAPAMA).

Tackling water scarcity issues ‘head-on’

The Pacifico Mexinol project's water management approach tackles water scarcity head-on by using a closed-loop system to capture, treat and reuse municipal wastewater onsite. Not only will this avoid the need to extract from local freshwater sources, preserving these resources for local community needs, such as farming, one of its mission priorities is to prevent effluent reaching the Bay of Ohuira; the reuse facility will prevent an estimated 8.5 million cubic meters of wastewater from being discharged into the bay each year, helping to reduce the plant’s environmental impact.

Balmore Brito, Pacifico-Mexinol project director and head of engineering and technology for Transition Industries, told media: “Years of community and municipal engagement has led to the development of a set of purpose-driven design solutions, like our wastewater strategy.”

He added: “The ability to partner with Veolia, a global leader in water solutions, to leverage technology and minimize negative environmental impacts, is foundational to our core values of combating climate change and leading in environmental and social responsibility.”

The water treatment tech behind the agreement

Veolia will design and equip the water treatment facility based on designs created with the local municipality’s sewage and drinking water board and be responsible for operational optimisation. The facility will use advanced technologies such as ZeeWeed 500D™ ultrafiltration membranes, PROflex™ reverse osmosis membranes and E-Cell™ electro deionization.

Anne Le Guennec, senior executive VP for Worldwide Water Technologies at Veolia, told media: “We are very proud to partner with Transition Industries on this transformative project. Our best-in-class water technologies and regeneration processes will enable sustainable methanol production, contributing to the acceleration of decarbonization and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, in full alignment with our GreenUP strategic program commitments.”

Sustainable methanol production at scale

Transition Industries is developing the Pacifico Mexinol plant with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group. When it begins operations in 2028, the Pacifico Mexinol plant is expected to be the largest single ultra-low carbon methanol facility in the world. Its expected production rates are approximately 350,000 MT of green methanol and 1.8 million MT of blue methanol annually, from natural gas with carbon capture.

Methanol is used as a basic component in many products used everyday around the world, in homes, schools and businesses. These include LCD screens, paints, carpets, plastics, clothing, masks, and more.