MEMORANDUM 

TO: Ron Jordan, EPA 

FROM: Anna Dimling, ERG 

 

DATE: September 30, 2015 

SUBJECT: Notes from Meetings with GE on Zero Liquid Discharge Technology for 

FGD Wastewater Treatment 

GE met with staff from EPA and ERG and on October 21, 2014 and on March 3, 2015 to 

discuss a zero liquid discharge (ZLD) technology for FGD wastewater treatment. This 

memorandum summarizes the discussion points from both of these meetings. 

Meeting Notes for October 21, 2014 Discussion: 

Table 1 identifies the October 21st meeting participants. 

Table 1. Meeting Participants on October 21, 2014 

Name Affiliation Phone Number Email 

Colin Enssle GE (Power & Water) (202) 637-4535 Colin.Enssle@ge.com 

Todd Langford GE (Power & Water) Not provided Todd. Langford @ge.com 

John Cooper GE Not provided John.Cooper@ge.com 

Jezebele Alicea EPA (202) 566-1755 Alicea.Jezebele@epa.gov 

Phillip Flanders EPA (202) 566-8323 Flanders.Phillip@epa.gov 

Ron Jordan EPA (202) 566-1003 Jordan.Ron@epa.gov 

Jesse Pritts (phone) EPA (202) 566-1038 Pritts.Jesse@epa.gov 

Sharon DeMeo (phone) EPA/ Region 1 (617) 918-1995 DeMeo.Sharon@epa.gov 

Anna Dimling (phone) ERG (703)-633-1692 Anna.Dimling@erg.com 

TJ Finseth (phone) ERG (703)-633-1698 Thomas.Finseth@erg.com 

Introduction

[Redacted] In EPA’s proposed Steam Electric Effluent Guidelines (ELG), regulatory 

option 5 was based on FGD wastewater treatment with a chemical precipitation system followed 

by a vapor-compression evaporation (VCE) system. EPA assumed the VCE system contained 

softening equipment, a mechanical vapor compression brine concentrator, and forced-circulation 

crystallizer. In the meetings described in this memorandum, GE described [Redacted]. 

Development of the ZLD System

GE started installing full-scale VCE systems [Redacted] and has constructed more than 

[Redacted] systems worldwide. The VCE traditional system includes softening equipment, a 

brine concentrator and a crystallizer (see Figure 1). 
Memorandum 

September 30, 2015 

Page 2 

Figure 1. Process Flow Diagram for a Traditional VCE System 

To design a more efficient ZLD technology, [Redacted] realized [Redacted] needed to be 

determined. Furthermore, while working with [Redacted] was tasked with creating a solid matrix 

[Redacted] from [Redacted] that could be managed in a landfill. This project provided a bench 

testing approach which was used to develop the Optimized System. This approach allowed 

[Redacted] to designate what reagents and the addition ratios to achieve a pozzolanic reaction 

and produce a final material that meets the landfill criteria. 

Disposing waste in a landfill requires the material to meet certain criteria that ensure the 

substance is safely and efficiently managed. The pass/fail landfill performance criteria include: 

 Unconfined compressible strength;

 Material must support its own weight and able to be used with equipment,

 Material must withstand 10 psi pressure,

 Paint Filter Test (PFI);

 Material must contain no free water,

 Hydraulic conductivity;

 Material must shed water (must not absorb liquid),

 The material’s hydraulic conductivity must be less than 110-6cm/s,

 Leachability;

 Material cannot contain hazardous-waste that can be leached from the material.

Therefore, using the pass/fail landfill performance criteria and [Redacted] bench testing 

approach, GE [Redacted]. 

GE Optimized ZLD System

Design 

[Redacted] made several modifications to the traditional VCE system to develop a 

simplified ZLD system [Redacted]. First, GE noticed [Redacted]. The [Redacted] introduces 

[Redacted] into the system so that [Redacted] (see Figure 2). 
Memorandum 

September 30, 2015 

Page 3 

Figure 2. Process Flow Diagram for an Optimized System 

Therefore, GE’s system contains an [Redacted]. GE is planning to perform a pilot study 

[Redacted] (See Figure 3). 

 

Figure 3. A) Process Flow Diagram for Solidification/Stabilization System; B) Image of 

Solidified Matrix Provided at Meeting 
Memorandum 

September 30, 2015 

Page 4 

Meeting Notes for March 3, 2015 Discussion: 

Table 3 identifies the March 3rd meeting participants.

Table 3. Meeting Participants on March 3, 2015 

Name Affiliation Phone Number Email 

Colin Enssle GE (Power & Water) (202) 637-4535 Colin.Enssle@ge.com 

Lanny D. Weimer GE (Power & Water) Not Provided Lanny.Weimer@ge.com 

Phillip Flanders EPA (202) 566-8323 Flanders.Phillip@epa.gov 

Ron Jordan EPA (202) 566-1003 Jordan.Ron@epa.gov 

Anna Dimling (phone) ERG (703)-633-1692 Anna.Dimling@erg.com 

TJ Finseth (phone) ERG (703)-633-1698 Thomas.Finseth@erg.com 

Modularization Advancements

In the second meeting, GE stated that the optimized ZLD system has been improved 

[Redacted]. The Optimized System is designed to be constructed [Redacted] and each system 

takes [Redacted] to construct. [Redacted] 

GE noted that [Redacted]. Table 4 presents GE’s comparison of [Redacted] (chemical 

precipitation followed by biological treatment) [Redacted] (as shown in Figure 1), and to the 

Optimized System (as shown in Figure 2). 

Table 4. Total Installed Cost Comparison for the Treatment of FGD Wastewater at 

[Redacted] per Minute 

Cost Element Treat & Discharge Zero Liquid Discharge 

[Redacted] [Redacted] [Redacted] [Redacted] 

[Redacted] [Redacted] [Redacted] [Redacted] 

[Redacted] [Redacted] [Redacted] [Redacted] 

[Redacted] [Redacted] [Redacted] [Redacted] 

[Redacted] [Redacted] [Redacted] [Redacted]

[Redacted] [Redacted] [Redacted] [Redacted] 

*EPRI Comments on Proposed Effluent Limitations Guidelines Rule – 20 September 2013; Appendix A 

Source: GE Water & Process Technologies FGD Blowdown Treatment Solutions: Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) 

(DCN SE05686A1) 

GE’s Optimized ZLD System’s O&M costs are estimated to be [Redacted]. GE indicated 

that the main driver of the O&M costs is [Redacted].