Reclamation of the wastewater from an industrial park using hollow‐fibre and spiral‐wound membranes: 50 m³d⁻¹pilot testing and cost evaluation

Abstract

The feasibility of reclaiming effluent from industrial park wastewater treatment plants through a membrane process was evaluated in three phases. In phase 1 we selected nine wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), each with a design capacity exceeding 10,000 m3 d(-1), and analyzed the corresponding effluent composition. 'Potential recycling percentage', R, ranged from 50% to 80% for the industrial park WWTPs, indicating a high feasibility for the reuse of effluent. In phase 2, a 50 m3 d(-1) pilot plant was installed in one of the selected WWTPs and underwent testing for one year. The quality of the reclaimed water was suitable for general-purpose industrial use. In the two ultrafiltration (UF) modules tested, the hydrophilic polyethersulfone hollow-fibre module was more tolerant to variable properties, and had higher recycling percentages than those of backwashable hydrophobic polyvinylidene difluoride spiral-wound module. Using the spiral-wound UF module helped reduce the cost for producing 1 m3 of reclaimed water (US$0.80) compared with a hollow-fibre module (US$0.88). In phase 3, we evaluated the negative effects of refluxing the reverse osmosis retentate, containing high total dissolved solids and non-biodegradable organics, with the biological treatment unit of the upstream WWTP. Biological compactibility tests showed that the refluxed retentate ratio should be reduced to maintain the conductivity of mixed liquor in the aeration tank at less than 110% of the original value.

Wastewater polishing using membrane technology: a review of existing installations

“…plant, however, is in Kuwait: the 320 MLD plant (Plant G) which provides ∼20% of the world's IMS wastewater ( Figure 2). The recovered water has a number of applications, including industrial process water [7], indirect potable reuse [8] via a reservoir [9], groundwater recharge [1] or river, direct potable reuse [9], conservation and increase of environmental flow [10], barrier against seawater intrusion [11], non-potable reuse [12] and irrigation [13]. Recovered water quality is however affected by the source, even within the domestic environment [14].…”

Assessment of Municipal Effluent Reclamation Process Based on the Information of Cost Analysis and Environmental Impacts

“…Reclamation of effluent from municipal wastewater treatment plant has been considered as a feasible solution as the effluent quality is usually stable and acceptable [1,2]. The reclaimed effluent can then be used to supply the requirement, especially for those from industries with enormous water consumption [3,4]. Successful experiences of the large cases also show that this solution is feasible, such as "NEWater" in Singapore (microfiltration-reverse osmosis-ultraviolet), "Groundwater Replenishment System" in Orange County, California, USA (microfiltration-reverse osmosis-advanced oxidation), and "Water Reclamation and Management Scheme" in Sydney, Australia (microfiltration-reverse osmosis-chlorine disinfection).…”

“…This is called the "dual membrane process". In Taiwan, a variety of local studies also showed its feasibility and the performance stability [3,4]. On the other hand, electrodialysis reversal (EDR) has been less applied in this field.…”

Adjusting Chlorine Dosage and to Prevent Bio‐Growth and Minimize Trihalomethanes in Reverse Osmosis Filtrate in a Wastewater Reclamation Process

“…The successful experiences in the NEWater project of Singapore [2] (indirect potable use) and the GWR project in Orange County, California, United States [3] (groundwater recharge and seawater invasion blockage) have proved that the combination of ultrafiltration (UF) and RO is capable to produce safe and stable reclaimed water for various purposes. Many local studies in Taiwan applied similar hybrid membrane process to desalinate the effluent from WWTP of industrial parks, and obtained acceptable results [4][5][6]. In these pilot-plant cases, the TDS and chemical oxygen demand (COD) of the WWTP effluents were 3000 and 50 mg/L, and after desalination the values decreased to 50 and 5 mg/L, respectively.…”