Solvents, which are generally toxic liquid substances, fall into the category of hazardous waste. Widely present in products used in pharmaceutical, automotive, cosmetic, coating and cleaning activities, they often present a significant danger to people and the environment. In this regard, handling and recycling them requires a number of precautions.
With more than a thousand solvents in existence, there are many different types of use (degreasers, solvents, strippers, cleaners, etc.), but also the associated risks. They can be inhaled, swallowed or enter the body through the skin, pollute the environment, contribute to the greenhouse effect or cause explosions. Solvents are dangerous therefore, but nevertheless valuable, substances. Depending on their properties, they can be recovered and regenerated and become competitive secondary raw materials.
Who are our customers?
Industry
Veolia solution
Veolia guarantees the quality and safety of its expertise in solvent recovery and regeneration:
- Provision of containers adapted to requirements
- Removal by pumping or collection of contaminated solvents in conditioned tanks and transport with built in traceability
- Sample analysis
- Treatment with, in particular, thin-film evaporators for the separation and recovery of solids and equipment for the distillation and separation of the solvent and impurities
- Recycling or regeneration
- Return to manufacturers for reuse or sale to third parties
By regenerating solvents, Veolia can supply its customers with low-cost, high-quality secondary raw materials.
Benefits for our customers
Optimized cost
The supply of a cheaper high quality secondary raw material equal to the virgin material
Regulatory compliance
They chose this solution
Switzerland
As part of its contract with Novartis for the management of its industrial utilities, production support services and services to the occupants of fifteen of its largest sites in Europe, Veolia regenerates more than 20,000 metric tons of solvents per year.
France
SPR which is part of Sarpi, a subsidiary of Veolia, processes 18,000 metric tons of solvents per year with the car manufacturer Renault as its main customer. Consequently, by reusing raw materials it avoids 22,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions annually.
United States
With 4 sites dedicated to solvent recycling in the United States (Azusa in California, Henderson in Colorado, Middlesex in New Jersey and West Carrollton in Ohio) and technologies guaranteeing the best results, Veolia meets the needs of a large number of businesses (refineries, chemical industries, hospitals, etc.).
How and why, at glance