A study of inline chemical coagulation/precipitation-ceramic microfiltration and nanofiltration for reverse osmosis concentrate minimization and reuse in the textile industry

Abstract Reverse osmosis concentrate (ROC) is one of the major drawbacks in membrane treatment technologies specifically due to the scale-forming ions. It is important to remove these ions from ROC to enhance total water recovery and reuse in the textile industry that is the largest water-consumer and polluter industry. In this work, coagulation/high pH precipitation (CP) integrated with ceramic microfiltration (CMF) was studied as a pretreatment method followed by nanofiltration (NF) to increase the efficiency of water recovery. To prevent organic fouling, ferric chloride (FeCl3) was applied at a concentration of 3 mM, and ceramic membranes were used for the removal of non-precipitating crystals and/or suspended solids (at high pH) before the NF processes. The CP-CMF method successfully removed calcium (Ca2+), magnesium (Mg2+), silica (SiO2), and TOC up to 97, 83, 92, and 87% respectively, which resulted in higher performance of the NF process. Moreover, this method provided higher flux at lower pressure that ultimately increased overall water recovery of the NF process to achieve near-zero liquid discharge (n-ZLD). A cost-benefit estimation showed that a high-quality effluent (COD<5 mg/L; conductivity 700<μS/cm; negligible residual color) can be generated and recycled in the textile industry at an economical cost (approximately 0.97 USD/m3). Therefore, ROC minimization and water recovery can help to achieve n-ZLD using CP-CMF/NF method.

Download Full-text

Forward osmosis for the treatment of reverse osmosis concentrate from water reclamation: process performance and fouling control

Water Science & Technology ◽

10.2166/wst.2014.138 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 69 (12) ◽

pp. 2431-2437 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

C. Kazner ◽

S. Jamil ◽

S. Phuntsho ◽

H. K. Shon ◽

T. Wintgens ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Reverse Osmosis ◽

Water Reuse ◽

Membrane Filtration ◽

Inorganic Compounds ◽

Forward Osmosis ◽

Building Blocks ◽

Water Recovery ◽

Liquid Discharge ◽

Quality Water ◽

A Minor

While high quality water reuse based on dual membrane filtration (membrane filtration or ultrafiltration, followed by reverse osmosis) is expected to be progressively applied, treatment and sustainable management of the produced reverse osmosis concentrate (ROC) are still important issues. Forward osmosis (FO) is a promising technology for maximising water recovery and further dewatering ROC so that zero liquid discharge is produced. Elevated concentrations of organic and inorganic compounds may act as potential foulants of the concentrate desalting system, in that they consist of, for example, FO and a subsequent crystallizer. The present study investigated conditions under which the FO system can serve as concentration phase with the focus on its fouling propensity using model foulants and real ROC. Bulk organics from ROC consisted mainly of humic acids (HA) and building blocks since wastewater-derived biopolymers were retained by membrane filtration or ultrafiltration. Organic fouling of the FO system by ROC-derived bulk organics was low. HA was only adsorbed moderately at about 7% of the initial concentration, causing a minor flux decline of about 2–4%. However, scaling was a major impediment to this process if not properly controlled, for instance by pH adjustment or softening.

Download Full-text

Ceramic membrane overview and applications in textile industry: a review

Water Science & Technology ◽

10.2166/wst.2021.290 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Meltem Ağtaş ◽

Mehmet Dilaver ◽

İsmail Koyuncu

Keyword(s):

Textile Industry ◽

Ceramic Membrane ◽

Textile Wastewater ◽

Ceramic Membranes ◽

General Information ◽

Water Recovery ◽

Treatment Techniques ◽

Textile Wastewater Treatment ◽

Real Scale ◽

Made In

Abstract The importance of water recovery and reuse is increasing day by day. Therefore, the use of advanced technologies is applied for the treatment and recovery of textile wastewater. The fact that ceramic membranes are resistant to the challenging characteristics of textile wastewater makes the use of ceramic membranes useful. Within the scope of this review, general information about the textile industry and treatment techniques are mentioned, as well as the properties of ceramic membranes and textile wastewater treatment. In the literature review made in this study, recent studies on the production of ceramic membranes and laboratory applications have been compiled. However, it has been observed that although the real-scale studies are relatively higher in industries such as the food and petrochemical industry, it is rather limited in the textile industry.

Download Full-text

Compliance to zero liquid discharge norms in Indian distilleries: technical challenges and solutions

Sugar Industry ◽

10.36961/si15944 ◽

2014 ◽

pp. 610-616

Author(s):

Sanjay V. Patil

Keyword(s):

Waste Management ◽

Reverse Osmosis ◽

Pollution Control ◽

Anaerobic Treatment ◽

Effluent Treatment ◽

Advanced Technologies ◽

Liquid Discharge ◽

Integrated Waste Management ◽

Treatment Technologies ◽

Technical Challenges

Molasses based distilleries in India are now classified as ‘Red Category’ because of the pollution caused by vinasse. The stringent norms being enforced by the pollution control authorities have posed many technical challenges and resulted in the development of advanced and cleaner technologies for effective and economical disposal of vinasse. There has been a shift from the end of pipe treatment to an integrated waste management in order to achieve zero liquid discharge. Anaerobic treatment to generate biogas, aerobic surface composting to manufacture bio-compost and reverse osmosis or multiple effect evaporation systems for concentration of vinasse are now well established. Advanced technologies such as concentrated vinasse incineration, and co-processing of vinasse in cement plants are also being investigated. This paper presents an overview of the latest technologies employed for fermentation and distillation, advantages and limitations of the various effluent treatment technologies and prospects for implementation of emerging technologies. The paper also provides recommendations for further improvement in established technologies for vinasse treatment.

Download Full-text

Membrane condenser as emerging technology for water recovery and gas pre-treatment: current status and perspectives

BMC Chemical Engineering ◽

10.1186/s42480-019-0020-x ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 1 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Adele Brunetti ◽

Francesca Macedonio ◽

Giuseppe Barbieri ◽

Enrico Drioli

Keyword(s):

Current Status ◽

Innovative Technology ◽

Water Recovery ◽

Treatment Unit ◽

Treatment Stage ◽

Treatment Technologies ◽

Pre Treatment ◽

And Control

Abstract The recent roadmap of SPIRE initiative includes the development of “new separation, extraction and pre-treatment technologies” as one of the “key actions” for boosting sustainability, enhancing the availability and quality of existing resources. Membrane condenser is an innovative technology that was recently investigated for the recovery of water vapor for waste gaseous streams, such as flue gas, biogas, cooling tower plumes, etc. Recently, it has been also proposed as pre-treatment unit for the reduction and control of contaminants in waste gaseous streams (SOx and NOx, VOCs, H2S, NH3, siloxanes, halides, particulates, organic pollutants). This perspective article reports recent progresses in the applications of the membrane condenser in the treatment of various gaseous streams for water recovery and contaminant control. After an overview of the operating principle, the membranes used, and the main results achieved, the work also proposes the role of this technology as pre-treatment stage to other separation technologies. The potentialities of the technology are also discussed aspiring to pave the way towards the development of an innovative technology where membrane condenser can cover a key role in redesigning the whole upgrading process.

Download Full-text

Using Reverse Osmosis Membrane at High Temperature for Water Recovery and Regeneration from Thermo-Responsive Ionic Liquid-Based Draw Solution for Efficient Forward Osmosis

Membranes ◽

10.3390/membranes11080588 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (8) ◽

pp. 588

Author(s):

Eiji Kamio ◽

Hiroki Kurisu ◽

Tomoki Takahashi ◽

Atsushi Matsuoka ◽

Tomohisa Yoshioka ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ionic Liquid ◽

High Temperature ◽

Energy Saving ◽

Osmotic Pressure ◽

Reverse Osmosis ◽

Forward Osmosis ◽

Solution Temperature ◽

Water Recovery ◽

Temperature Dependent ◽

Draw Solution

Forward osmosis (FO) membrane process is expected to realize energy-saving seawater desalination. To this end, energy-saving water recovery from a draw solution (DS) and effective DS regeneration are essential. Recently, thermo-responsive DSs have been developed to realize energy-saving water recovery and DS regeneration. We previously reported that high-temperature reverse osmosis (RO) treatment was effective in recovering water from a thermo-responsive ionic liquid (IL)-based DS. In this study, to confirm the advantages of the high-temperature RO operation, thermo-sensitive IL-based DS was treated by an RO membrane at temperatures higher than the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of the DS. Tetrabutylammonium 2,4,6-trimethylbenznenesulfonate ([N4444][TMBS]) with an LCST of 58 °C was used as the DS. The high-temperature RO treatment was conducted at 60 °C above the LCST using the [N4444][TMBS]-based DS-lean phase after phase separation. Because the [N4444][TMBS]-based DS has a significantly temperature-dependent osmotic pressure, the DS-lean phase can be concentrated to an osmotic pressure higher than that of seawater at room temperature (20 °C). In addition, water can be effectively recovered from the DS-lean phase until the DS concentration increased to 40 wt%, and the final DS concentration reached 70 wt%. From the results, the advantages of RO treatment of the thermo-responsive DS at temperatures higher than the LCST were confirmed.

Download Full-text