Application ro techniques with "open channel" membranes to treat wastewater for recycling and reuse: modern methods of environmental protection and water resources management

Abstract

The solution to contemporary ecological problems such as wastewater reuse requires rational water resources management, and in turn, rational water resources management requires the development of new, more efficient techniques. The modern concept of rational water resources management requires the development of new efficient techniques that provide wastewater treatment and reuse. For many local industries, the problem of wastewater treatment and discharge into surface reservoirs can’t be solved through the use of conventional biological treatment techniques. Current discharge standards require very strict removal of a number of impurities such as ammonia, nitrates, phosphate, etc. To reach this level of removal, expensive reagents and sorbents are used. As RO membranes simultaneously reject all dissolved impurities such as BOD, TDS, ammonia, phosphates etc., they become very attractive for the direct treatment of wastewater without biological stage. To treat wastewater, specially designed membrane "open channel" modules are used that do not possess "dead areas" that cause fouling or require pretreatment. A solution to the concentrate disposal problem is presented that consists of reducing of initial wastewater volume by 100 times. Concentrate is withdrawn from membrane unit as sludge humidity. Local utilities and privately-held industrial sites are encouraged to reuse wastewater and reduce freshwater intake, thereby prompting rational water management and reducing environmental pollution.