The Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) has mooted a plan for establishing a hydrochloric acid (HCL) recovery plant.

The objective is recovery of spent hydrochloric acid in a scientific and environmentally sound manner in Punjab.

The PPCB, after studying such HCL recovery plants in Maharashtra, has invited expression of interest to set up one such plant in Punjab.

PPCB chairman Adarsh Pal Vig said there were several acid pickling units (using HCL) on the periphery of Ludhiana.

“Though they send the spent acid for treatment to a facility in Ludhiana’s Phase 8 Focal Point for treatment, it is not enough as the acid is not properly treated. The HCL recovery plant will recover the HCL from acidic waste and it will be provided back to the concerned consumers (for reuse). This model is successfully working in other states,” he said.