Circular economy in practice: MEGA technology for recycling water and raw materials

Circular economy in practice: How MEGA technologies help close material and water cycles

Circular economy is a term that resonates across both the industrial and public sectors today. However, it is not just a buzzword, but a systemic approach that fundamentally changes the way we use raw materials, water, and energy. The circular approach seeks to maximize the use of resources, reuse them, and minimize losses throughout the entire life cycle of a product or production process.

What is the circular economy?

The circular economy is an economic model that seeks to maximize the value of materials and energy throughout their life cycle. It is based on:

reducing the consumption of primary raw materials,
reusing materials and water,
renewability of inputs,
reducing waste.

In practice, this can mean, for example, the regeneration of process fluids, the recycling of chemicals, the reuse of water in production, or the energy recovery of waste streams. The key is suitable technology and a system solution that allows these principles to be applied specifically in the conditions of a given company.

How do we approach the circular economy at MEGA?

We develop and supply technologies that enable our customers to separate, clean, reuse, or recover valuable substances and water in a gentle and efficient manner. The key are electromembrane processes and RALEX® membranes, which we manufacture at our own plant in Stráž pod Ralskem, Czechia. Unlike conventional methods, membrane technologies are more environmentally friendly, less energy-intensive, and do not require large volumes of chemicals for cleaning or regeneration. In practice, they enable the implementation of a circular model even where recycling or material recovery would otherwise be complicated or economically inefficient.

Examples of MEGA circular solutions

1. Water reuse and the Zero Liquid Discharge principle

The ZLD principle – i.e., zero wastewater discharge – is applied especially in areas where there is a shortage of water or high costs for wastewater disposal. Our electrodialysis allows salts, organic substances, and other contaminants to be separated from process streams. The resulting water can then be returned to production or used in another step of the process. However, sometimes it is not possible to achieve complete ZLD. In such cases, the MLD (minimum liquid discharge) or Near-ZLD process is used. Our solutions are currently used in the energy, chemical, pharmaceutical, an d food industries – wherever water quality and availability are critical factors.

2. Recycling glycols in industrial practice

Used glycols, for example from cooling or heating systems, are a classic example of a substance that can be regenerated. With the help of MEGA's electrodialysis, glycol can be cleaned, contaminants removed, and reused—reducing both costs and waste. CLASSIC Oil has been using our technology in its operations since 2017. The result is not only economic savings, but also a significant reduction in the environmental impact of the operation. This technology is used not only in the petrochemical sector, but also in the automotive industry, energy sector, and public services.

3. Biogas treatment – a valuable source of energy from waste

The processing of organic waste into biogas is an established technology. What is less well known, however, is that with the help of RALEX® BU membrane units, MEGA can separate biomethane with a purity of up to 99.7% from biogas without the need for chemicals or drying. The treated gas can then be used as fuel for vehicles (BioCNG), as a source of heat and electricity, or further processed into biohydrogen. In practice, this means converting biological waste into high-value fuel with minimal operating costs. MEGA has already implementedpiloted such solutions in Brno and Pustějov, for example.

4. Increasing drought resilience

Drought and the associated uncertainty of water availability is one of the main risks that will affect industrial production in the future. Large operations with high water consumption, such as power plants, are facing pressure to become more self-sufficient and minimize their dependence on external sources. One specific solution is a project implemented at the Prunéřov II Power Plant, where MEGA supplied comprehensive technology for water treatment and recycling. The aim was to significantly reduce the need to draw river water from the Ohře River while ensuring a stable supply of high-quality demineralized water for the power plant's operation. The result is a system that:

treats both surface water and internal recirculates,
combines sand filtration, ultrafiltration, and reverse osmosis,
enables long-term and stable water use even during periods of hydrological drought.

This project shows that the introduction of membrane water treatment technologies can be an effective tool for adapting to climate change. From the perspective of circular economy principles, this is a typical example of processing and reusing "waste" or raw water that would otherwise be unsuitable for use.

MEGA and sustainability: Technology and corporate culture

For MEGA, the circular economy is not just an offer to our clients—it is also a fundamental pillar of our direction. In 2023, we won third place in the Company of the Year competition for our approach to sustainability and innovation. Within the framework of ESG:

we manufacture technology in-house, reduce our logistics footprint,
collaborate with academic institutions to develop new solutions,
reinvest in research and development of membrane processes,
and help smaller companies implement a circular model in production.

Circular solutions as an advantage – not just ecological

The circular economy is not just a "green" topic. From a practical point of view, it brings the following specific advantages:

savings in operating costs (lower consumption of water, chemicals, raw materials),
lower dependence on external suppliers,
increased operational safety (less handling of waste and chemicals),
fast return on investment (in some cases within 1–2 years),
better position in meeting legislative and ESG requirements.

Sustainability as a functional part of your operations

The circular economy is not a distant ideal, but a practical approach that already pays off today – both ecologically and economically. MEGA technologies enable this approach to be implemented in a concrete, modular manner according to the needs of each operation.