RESULTS OF PILOT PROGRAM TO REUSE INDUSTRIAL BIOSOLIDS AT THE DUPONT, VICTORIA, TEXAS PLANT

The DuPont Victoria, Texas plant (DuPont), an industrial plant producing nylon intermediates and specialty products, is completing a 130 million improvement program that represents over a decade of commitment to environmental stewardship excellence. This program includes 13 process changes in operating units to recover and recycle valuable process materials. The remaining dilute waste streams are subjected to treatment at a biological wastewater treatment plant (Biotreatment) that results in the discharge of high quality water and wasted microorganisms designated as biosolids.A portion of the biosolids are beneficially used in a land application pilot program. This paper presents the results of three years of pilot program activity. Information including: biosolids applications and hay harvests; biosolids, soil, groundwater, and forage monitoring; markets for the high quality hay; and communications with Plant employees, near neighbors, and local communities is presented.The beneficial land application program has demonstrated the following.Biosolids from an industrial process can be beneficially used to produce high quality hay, reducing consumption of landfill space;A well defined, effectively implemented industrial biosolids land application program benefits both industry and the community; andInvolvement of the community throughout the development and implementation of the land application program is a key element in achieving acceptance for the beneficial reuse of biosolids.