Finnish company Kemira, which specialises in sustainable chemistry for water-intensive industries, is implementing a plan to expand its plant in Tarragona. In addition to the construction of a new aluminium hydrochloride production line, announced last year, new facilities will be built to reactivate the granular activated carbon it supplies to its customers in the Iberian Peninsula for water purification.

The Tarragona Water Consortium began using granulated activated carbon filters for water treatment in 2008. To do so, it uses 2,240 cubic metres of mineral activated carbon, which helps remove organic compounds, toxins and heavy metals from the water it treats. Kemira has supplied this material since the consortium first began using it, and has reactivated it on three occasions. It is one of the customers Kemira will continue to serve from its new facilities.

Strategic expansion plan
The new plant will significantly increase the company’s capacity to reactivate activated carbon for the region’s drinking water and wastewater markets. This operation forms part of Kemira’s strategic expansion plan to double its water-related revenue in the long term.

The project is currently in the pre-engineering phase, and the aim is for the plant to be operational by the end of 2029, with an investment of around EUR 20 million. The technology used must comply with strict regulations to ensure that the material produced efficiently removes all contaminants from both drinking water and wastewater.

Growing demand
As Tuija Pohjolainen-Hiltunen, Executive Vice President of Water Solutions at Kemira, points out, the construction of this new plant “will strengthen our local water treatment offering, enabling us to capitalise on the growing demand in the region.”

Activated carbon is the most common technology for removing odour and taste from drinking water, as well as micro-contaminants and other substances that are harmful to the environment. Reactivation regenerates these granular or pelletised activated carbons and leaves them ready for reuse.

New aluminium chlorohydrate line
The other project currently underway at Kemira’s Tarragona plant involves the construction of a new production line for aluminium chlorohydrate (ACH), a high-performance coagulant used primarily in the treatment of drinking water. Its main advantage is its high efficiency in removing colour and particles from raw water, particularly during heavy rainfall and flooding. It is also an efficient and environmentally friendly solution, according to the company.

This new line is due to come on stream in 2028, with the planned investment also amounting to around EUR 20 million.

^{Photo: Tarragona Water Consortium}