A socio-technical network analysis on the industrial symbiotic performance of water within chemical parks

Abstract

Freshwater is becoming an increasingly scarce resource globally. The chemical industry is the second largest freshwater consuming industry and the largest wastewater producer. To reduce the freshwater consumption sustainable measures are introduced within the industrial sector, of which Industrial Symbiosis (IS), has gained prominence. Specifically for water, this involves one company utilizing the residual wastewater of another company based on the differences in water quality requirements However, the chemical industry lags behind in embracing IS practices. Two important reasons cause this trend. Firstly, it is technically challenging to recycle water because of all the different water qualities used and produced in chemical parks. And secondly, the industrial symbiosis initiatives have to start with the stakeholders involved in the chemical park themselves in bottom-up regulated countries, while currently, many stakeholders decide not to join an IS water network. This research focuses on the feasibility of implementing IS water networks within chemical parks, considering stakeholder behaviour (wanting to join or not join an IS water network). A model is developed to measure the optimal performance of an IS water network, encompassing technical optimization and stakeholder decisions. The study reveals that the potential for industrial symbiosis in chemical parks relies heavily on existing treatment facilities and stakeholder participation. The type of treatment facility structure, with in-house or separate treatment facilities, impacts costs and water recycling capabilities, with chemical parks with separate treatment facilities exhibiting higher costs and higher recycling potential. Key decision criteria for stakeholders include revenue growth, compliance to regulations, trust among stakeholders, and awareness of water recycling possibilities. Recommendations to enhance industrial symbiosis of water include technical adjustments and construction efforts to the IS water network within the chemical park, and policies addressing stakeholder concerns. The contributions of this research lie in integrating technical and social aspects in the design of optimal IS water networks, providing insights into decision criteria that facilitate or hinder industrial symbiosis in specific chemical parks and how to address them to recycle most water as possible with least amount of costs.