Connect Challenge #4: GIS
Landfill Diversion and Water Efficiency
Grupo Industrial Saltillo (GIS) is a Mexican manufacturing company that was founded in 1928. It has been publicly listed since 1976.
GIS has offices in six countries and over 8,000 employees. The company manufactures and markets products for auto parts, grey and ductile iron and aluminum castings, machining for brake, engine, transmission and suspension systems, and houseware and ceramic and porcelain tiles.
To learn more about the innovations GIS is seeking from Canadian companies, listen to the recording of the webinar, which was held on Tuesday, March 31, 2020.
>> webinar recording <<
Submit your solution to PepsiCo online here until April 20, 2020:
>> solution submission <<
The First Challenge: Landfill Diversion
Dust and fumes generated from electric furnaces during the iron and steel melting process are collected with an extraction system. The dust and fumes then go to a baghouse that collects the dust.
This dust is classified as hazardous waste in Mexico and is >60% zinc. As part of the GIS waste recovery strategy, the dust is sent to a refinery where they can extract the zinc and sell it.
This challenge seeks efficient means of separating out and retaining valuable materials from GIS waste streams, leaving the other elements to be managed and disposed of safely.
A successful challenge outcome would yield opportunities to investigate one or more interesting technologies that have evolved beyond bench scale prototypes for the extraction of valuable materials from existing waste streams.
The Second Challenge: Water Efficiency
This challenge seeks an efficient means of separating out solids from wastewater from the production of ceramic tiles. The goal is to either recycle some of the treated water back into production or safely release some or all into the environment. Solutions may include:
- Adding specialized chemicals to separate solids and clarify the water;
- Use of novel membrane technologies; or
- Rain or atmospheric water collection.
This is less about managing wastewater, and more about being efficient in terms of the sources of water used.
The Constraints
This Challenge is generally seeking technologies that are either at pilot scale or are available commercially. Technology Readiness Levels 5–9 are preferred.
Submissions must reasonably competitive with existing water management processes. A small premium may be considered on a cost basis if there are demonstrable benefits with regards to more efficient water use, reduction in GHG emissions, or other ancillary outcomes.
Solutions must conform to regulatory standards for wastewater treatment if some or all of the treated water is intended for release into the environment.
About this Program
This program is funded by the Government of Canada and CanExport. It is implemented by the Canada Cleantech Alliance. The goal is to connect Canadian companies with clean technology solutions to overseas companies with sustainability goals that are seeking novel implementation solutions.
