What You Need To Know About Membrane Systems

By Leslie Ball


Recently, development in technology have given rise to breakthroughs in treatment of wastewater and reclamation of water for reuse. Membrane systems is included in this progress. It has risen up as an important innovation for reclamation and treatment in addition to being a leading in upgrade and expansion of the wastewater plants.

Around thirty years past is when the first membrane wastewater treatments got put into practice. A prompt rise in wastewater volumes being treated in the previous decade has however been seen to turn out being of great standards and being of reusing purposes only. By facts, majority of municipal facilities on wastewater are embracing this great technology in large extents as the technology has an ability of providing unparalleled capabilities to meet the vigorous needs.

This membranes processes is able to meet the requirements of large amounts of separation owning to its ability to separate at molecular levels to a point that particles can vividly be seen without any external aid. At most times, this technology rarely requires phase changes in a bid to make separations. This consequently leads to low requirements of energy not unless a need for much more amounts of energy arises in order to boost up the steam pressure much required to drive the infusing components through the membranes.

Membranes uniquely stand out being the best option as they are able to get rid of contaminants that other technologies have struggled to remove. They come very pocket friendly in cost compared to other alternatives. Less area in relation to land is also required compared to the competing brands. Their ability in replacing various units of processes of treatment with single unit has made this possible.

In application to wastewater treatment, membranes are currently getting used as tertiary advanced treatments in the removal of some dissolved species. This species are usually comprised of; phosphorous, nitrogen species, organic compounds, human pathogens, and various others. Technologies which have adopted to the use of membranes include; high and low pressure membranes and the membrane bioreactors.

The major technical challenge in using membranes for treatment of wastewater is the fouling potential which is high. Membrane fouling is usually caused by colloids, microorganisms which are not well removed using conventional pretreatment method, and the soluble organic compounds. This fouling increases the feed pressure and there is need for frequent cleaning of the membrane.

The above leads to a reduction in efficiency in addition to shortening the life span of the membranes. Other technical barriers that may come along the way may include complexity and expensive costs of disposing the concentrate or the residual from the membranes which are of high pressure. In addition membranes may have chemical incompatibilities with the process solution leading to the system weakening to an extent their lifetimes become unacceptably short.

Membrane method of water treatment is getting favored at very quick rates. The selection is not only feasible but also smart move especially to those having plans on upgrading their plants or expanding their capacities. Benefits in situations that are land locked such as, salinity obstacles and groundwater recharge; industrial/urban reuse; agriculture; and in expansion of water supplies meeting minimal effluent nutrients.




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