DSM Nutritional Products’ vitamin C and the environment

The Dalry site and vitamin C production process have been accredited to ISO14001:2004, and a continuous improvement cycle is in place. This includes clear objectives, annual reviews and regular audits.

Minimizing environmental impact
The production process has been fully characterized in order to identify the effluent discharges, air emissions and solid wastes that it generates. Waste hierarchy principles are applied to minimize environmental impact. Pollution Prevention principles have been adopted at source, including the elimination of chlorinated solvents, the capture and recycling of solvents, and the recycling of process materials so as to minimize raw material consumption. Where process waste is unavoidable, those components which are of value are separated out and recovered.
For example, sulphate-rich effluent streams produce a valuable by-product for use in the detergent and glass industries, and a waste sugar stream is recovered and used in an animal feed. Our entire production process is regularly analyzed with a view to yet further minimizing unavoidable waste.

On-site utilities
The production process itself is supported by a wide range of on-site utility services.
The key utilities relate to the provision of energy from a Combined Heat & Power plant and a chemical and biological effluent treatment system that achieves a very high level of biodegradation of process effluents. The final effluent is discharged to a public sewer and passes through a treatment works serving the local population and industry, before finally being discharged into the sea via a long outfall. This discharge is not classed as significant by the relevant regulatory bodies. No aqueous process discharges enter any land-based surface water or groundwater body. The infrastructure of the site is subject to routine checks to ensure protection of the environment.

Regulation
The Vitamin C production facility is regulated by the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency under an Integrated Pollution Control authorization which establishes conditions that limit emissions of prescribed substances to air, water and land. The site is currently awaiting its Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control Permit.

Water supplied to the site is of drinking water standard and is supplied from a dedicated reservoir which is under the control of the local water authority.

Approximately 45% of the bulk raw materials are supplied to the Dalry site by rail, thus reducing road traffic and its related impact. This underpins the site’s general
‘good neighbor’ approach to the local community.

The combined gas heat and power plant has a joint capacity of 248 MW and is a fully authorized process complying with applicable legislation. Excess electricity generated is exported to the national grid network and represents a relatively clean energy source.

Waste water treatment in Dalry