Reduction of pollution caused by waste from the titanium dioxide industry

EU legislation on pollution caused by waste from the titanium dioxide industry is now governed by Directive 2010/75(EU) on industrial emissions (integrated pollution prevention and control).

ACT

Directive 2010/75/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 November 2010 on industrial emissions (integrated pollution prevention and control).

SUMMARY

Titanium dioxide waste can give rise to serious air and water pollution. For this reason, Directive 2010/75/EU devotes a specific chapter to titanium dioxide waste and sets stringent limit values for emissions.

Prohibition of disposal of waste

The following forms of waste must not be disposed of into any water body, sea or ocean:

• solid waste;
• mother liquors arising from the filtration phase following hydrolysis of the titanyl sulphate solution from installations applying the sulphate process (containing overall more than 0.5 % free sulphuric acid);
• waste from installations applying the chloride process (containing more than 0.5 % free hydrochloric acid and various heavy metals);
• filtration salts, sludges and liquid waste arising from the treatment of the waste applying the two abovementioned processes and containing various heavy metals, but not including neutralised and filtered or decanted waste containing only traces of heavy metals and which, before any dilution, has a pH value above 5.5.

Control of emissions into water

Limit values are set for emissions into water (Annex VIII, Part 1).

Prevention and control of emissions into air

Emission of acid droplets from installations must be prevented.

Limit values are set for emissions into air (Annex VIII, Part 2).

Monitoring of emissions

EU member countries must ensure that emissions into water and air are monitored and that the conditions laid down in the installation’s permit to operate are fully met (e.g. preventive measures are taken against pollution; best available techniques (BATs) are applied; waste is reduced, recycled or disposed of in the least polluting manner; energy efficiency is maximised).

Monitoring must be carried out in accordance with CEN (or other recognised standards that ensure the provision of data of an equivalent scientific quality). Specifications regarding the monitoring process are included in Annex VIII, Part 3.

Last updated: 11.08.2014