India Zero Liquid Discharge Market

Production Plants Providing Reliable Services to Customers amidst COVID-19 Crisis

Major trade events of companies in the India zero liquid discharge market have been postponed and rescheduled due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak. Companies have made efforts to maintain steady supply chains for its customers during March, April, and May. Many manufacturers of wastewater-free water have become fully operational in the month of June and are abiding by the restrictions set by the government. Manufacturers in the India zero liquid discharge market are providing constant update about their production and business activities on their respective websites to keep their customers informed.

Manufacturers are keeping themselves well informed about ongoing developments during the COVID-19 crisis. They are increasing efforts to act pre-emptively and adopt best strategies to respond to unforeseen situations. Companies are continuing with their comprehensive measures to maintain the welfare of its employees and their families. As such, there is a need for more information as to how manufacturers are maintaining reliable services for its customers.

ZLD Technology to Manage Waste of Dyeing Unit Owners in Ludhiana

Dyeing unit owners in Ludhiana, India, are adopting the zero liquid discharge (ZLD) technology to prevent dumping of untreated waste in MC sewer lines. This trend is benefitting companies in the India zero liquid discharge market that are offering to attach dyeing units with common effluent treatment plants (CETP). As such, the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) has been directing dyeing unit owners to adopt the zero liquid discharge technique or attach their units to CETPs before December 31, 2020 to avoid action.

The excessive dumping of waste by dyeing units in sewer lines has troubled residents in Ludhiana. Hence, manufacturers in the India zero liquid discharge market are capitalizing on this issue to provide their services for unit owners. This explains why the market is projected to reach a value of US$ 211 Mn by 2026.

High Capital Cost Involving MBR Technology Emerges as Drawback for Fresh Water Production

The membrane bio reactor (MBR) technology in zero liquid discharge is eliminating the need for a secondary clarifier catering to textile industries. However, as suggested by the Gujarat Pollution Control Board, India, the capital cost of the MBR technology is more compared to aerobic biological technologies. As such, more than 85% recovery of water and valuable salts from wastewater justifies its high operational cost. Moreover, manufacturers in the India zero liquid discharge market are capitalizing on new production techniques such as combining membrane distillation (MD) and solid hollow fiber cooling crystallization (SHFCC).

Integrating MD and SHFCC has led to the technique of simultaneous production of fresh water and inorganic salt crystals with the help of sodium chloride (NaCl) brine solutions.

Textile Manufacturers Invest in ZLD Treatment Plants to Adopt Green Production Practices

The textile industry has been a key revenue generator for manufacturers in the India zero liquid discharge market. This is evident since Dollar Industries Ltd.— one of the top hosiery brands in India, is focusing on eco-friendly manufacturing and is pioneering as brand that complies with the zero liquid discharge guidelines. Since there is a huge scarcity of reusable water in India, textile industries are becoming increasingly aware about the ZLD technology to acquire wastewater-free water.

Textile manufacturers are investing in zero liquid discharge effluent treatment plants to boost their credibility in the industry. Equipment companies in the India zero liquid discharge market are benefitting from this shift from conventional waste management processes to ZLD in India. The adoption of environment-friendly practices is rapidly becoming an important trend in the textile industry of India.

Combination of Processes Preferred by Clients in Bio Energy Industry

Since the regulatory norms in India are becoming more stringent day-by-day, companies in the India zero liquid discharge market are increasing the availability of their services for the bio energy sector. For instance, Praj Industries Ltd. in Pune, India, is increasing the availability for its zero liquid discharge solutions catering to the bio energy sector, brewery plants, and bioproducts companies.

The India zero liquid discharge market is expected to progress at a robust CAGR of ~14% during the assessment period. Companies are offering various combination of processes such as evaporation & crystallization or recycle & reuse in ZLD systems. For instance, Aquatech Systems Asia Pvt. Ltd. is providing innovative technologies such as forced circulation crystallizers, solids waste handling, and hybrid systems with membrane pre-concentrators to meet specific requirements of clients. Manufacturers are tapping into business opportunities in the oil & gas, chemicals, and mining sectors.

API Clusters in Hyderabad Trigger Demand for ZLD Solutions

The pharmaceutical industry is estimated to be valued at several billion dollars in India. This has fueled the adoption of zero liquid discharge technology for API (Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient) clusters in India. The annual increase in exports of pharmaceutical products is another key driver, which is boosting the growth of the India zero liquid discharge market.

Companies in the India zero liquid discharge market are focusing on business expansion in Hyderabad, which is the hub of the API manufacturing in South India. Over hundreds of manufacturers in Hyderabad have triggered the demand for ZLD solutions. Since conventional treatment systems are inefficient in treating the high COD content of pharmaceutical effluents, ZLD technologies are gaining increased popularity in India. As such, the treated wastewater from biological treatment systems is passed through reverse osmosis (RO) systems in order to obtain permeate, which is reusable in utilities.

Analysts’ Viewpoint

Companies in the India zero liquid discharge market are increasing efforts to maintain business continuity with its customers amidst the COVID-19 crisis. Scattered dyeing units in Ludhiana are being directed by the PPCB officials to adopt the ZLD technology. However, manufacturers are still facing implementation challenges to recover greater than 95% of wastewater. In order to overcome these shortcomings, manufacturers should conduct accurate analysis of the generated effluent such as assessment of total dissolved solids in wastewater to recover greater than 95% of wastewater. As such, textile industries in India are keener on adopting zero liquid discharge technologies to contribute toward sustainable growth of the textile industry.

India Zero Liquid Discharge Market: Overview

• Under the zero liquid discharge process, the wastewater is purified and recycled leaving zero discharge of water at the end of the treatment cycle. Thus, no liquid waste leaves the facility.
• Zero liquid discharge is a leading wastewater treatment method. It includes reverse osmosis, ultrafiltration, crystallization & evaporation, and fractional electrode ionization

Environmental Regulations Regarding Wastewater Disposal to Drive India Zero Liquid Discharge Market

• Industries, such as chemicals, oil & gas, petrochemicals, mining, pharmaceuticals, and municipal waste produce vast quantities of wastewater. This wastewater is largely directed to evaporation ponds, surface water bodies, or in some cases, deep wells. However, this results in environmental pollution. Therefore, the Government of India has enacted regulations on wastewater discharge.
• Various environmental agencies and government authorities have imposed regulations in order to reduce water pollution and promote water conservation. In some areas in India, wastewater generated from various industries is discharged into public water sources. However, rules and regulations have been enacted to avoid such practices and develop water treatment facilities. This is estimated to drive the India zero liquid discharge market in the near future.

High Capital and Operating Costs to Hamper India Zero Liquid Discharge Market

• Installation of even a small scale zero liquid discharge plant requires significant capital investment vis-à-vis that required for other wastewater treatment technologies
• Commonly used zero liquid discharge processes are based on thermal processing. These processes include energy-intensive evaporation process that helps recover reusable water from wastewater stream. Therefore, the usage of custom-designed zero liquid discharge plants built according to end-use requirements entails substantial operating and capital costs.
• Cost and efforts linked with management and handling of solid waste generated at the end of the treatment further hamper the adoption of these units across industries. The space constraint is another major factor in the installation of zero liquid discharge plants.
• Recovery cost of zero liquid discharge plants is significantly high. This is expected to adversely affect the India zero liquid discharge market in the near future.

Government Mandate to Provide New Opportunities for India Zero Liquid Discharge Market

• India accounts for 2.45% share of land area and 4% share of water resources in the world; however, the country has 16% of the global population. The population in the country is likely to cross the 1.5 billion mark by 2050. The Government of India has estimated the demand for water to increase from 710 BCM (Billion Cubic Meters) in 2010 to almost 1180 BCM in 2050; industrial and domestic water consumption is projected to rise almost 2.5 times during this period.
• Sources of freshwater are declining and water pollution is increasing in India. Growth in population, rapid urbanization, increase in industrialization, and rise in agricultural development are adversely impacting the quality and quantity of water in the country. The Central Pollution Control Board has enacted stringent laws and regulations that mandate in-house wastewater treatment plants for industries such as oil & gas, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, textiles, power generation, and food & beverages.
• Zero liquid discharge is one of the leading wastewater treatment processes with recovery of about 90% to 95% of water from effluents. Thus, the installation of this process has been gaining momentum since the last few years. The recovered water can be reused for industrial or non-potable applications or can be safely discharged into the environment.
• Thus, the presence of government mandate and high recovery rate of the zero liquid discharge process are likely to provide new opportunities to the India zero liquid discharge market

Recent Developments, Expansions, Acquisitions, and New Contracts in India Zero Liquid Discharge Market

• In May 2018, Aquatech International LLC supplied a zero liquid discharge (ZLD) plant to Adani Wilmar Ltd. Adani Wilmar Ltd. is one of the leading agri-business groups in Asia. Its business activities include oil palm cultivation, oilseed crushing, edible oil refining, and sugar milling and refining; manufacture of specialty fats, biodiesel, and fertilizers; and grain processing. Aquatech International LLC is projected to supply two 15.3 GPM zero liquid discharge systems, each consisting of a crystallizer and double-effect TVC.
• In July 2018, GEA Group Aktiengesellschaft supplied a zero liquid discharge plant to Abengoa in Mexico. The zero liquid discharge  plant is used to convert a salt-laden wastewater into pure water for internal recycling and dry solids for disposal. The company has offered thermal and non-thermal technologies for zero liquid discharge applications such as centrifugal separators, membrane concentrators, evaporators, crystallizers, and dryers.

West Zone to Dominate India Zero Liquid Discharge Market

• Based on zone, west zone dominated the India zero liquid discharge market in India in 2017. The zero liquid discharge market in the zone is expected to create an incremental opportunity of US$ 42.87 Mn during the forecast period. This can be primarily ascribed to the scarcity of fresh water sources and implementation of strict environmental policies regarding wastewater in the zone.
• North Zone held vital share of the India zero liquid discharge market in 2017. The zero liquid discharge market in the zone is anticipated to expand at a fast pace, creating an incremental opportunity of US$ 32.18 Mn during the forecast period. This can be primarily ascribed to the increase in demand for zero liquid discharge in the zone in lieu of the Namami Gange project and the ongoing governmental efforts to curb water pollution in the river Ganga.
• South Zone also constituted important share of the India zero liquid discharge market in 2017. The zero liquid discharge market in the zone is likely to create an incremental opportunity of US$ 37.53 Mn during the forecast period.

Highly Competitive India Zero Liquid Discharge Market

• The India zero liquid discharge market is highly fragmented. It is marked by the presence of large number of local players.
• Key players operating in the India zero liquid discharge market include
  • Praj Industries
  • Arvind Envisol Limited
  • Kelvin Water Technologies Pvt. Ltd.
  • Austro Chemicals & Bio Technologies Pvt Ltd
  • Bionics Advanced Filtration Systems (P) Ltd
  • Veolia, GEA Group Aktiengesellschaft
  • Aquatech International LLC

India Zero Liquid Discharge Market Segmentation

TMR’s research study assesses the India zero liquid discharge market on the basis of process, end user, and zone. This report presents extensive market dynamics and progressive trends associated with different segments, and how they are influencing the growth prospects of the India zero liquid discharge market.