MUNICIPAL WASTEWATER REUSE

TTRO (Tertiary Treatment Reverse Osmosis)

Tertiary Treatment RO refers to the process of using reverse osmosis (RO) technology in the tertiary treatment stage of wastewater treatment.

Tertiary treatment is the final stage of wastewater treatment, following primary and secondary treatment. Its primary objective is to remove any remaining stubborn contaminants from the water that were not removed by the previous stages, before it is discharged into the environment or reused.

Tertiary treatment usually involves advanced treatment processes such as filtration, disinfection, membrane filtration, reverse osmosis, activated carbon adsorption, and chemical precipitation. These processes remove any remaining suspended solids, organic matter, nutrients, and pathogens from the water.

Tertiary treatment using RO technology has become increasingly popular as a method of producing high-quality treated water for reuse. It can effectively remove a wide range of contaminants from the water, including pathogens, heavy metals, and organic pollutants. RO technology is also known for its efficiency and low energy consumption, making it a cost-effective option for producing high-quality water.

Tertiary treatment is an important part of wastewater treatment as it helps to protect public health and the environment by ensuring that treated water is safe and free from contaminants.

PFRO (Pulse Flow Reverse Osmosis)

Conventional RO operates in stable hydraulic and osmotic conditions, increasing the tendency for scaling and fouling. In addition, these stable conditions enable microorganisms to thrive on the RO membranes and thus form biofouling. IDE Technologies’ proprietary Pulse Flow Reverse Osmosis (PFRO) technology utilizes mechanical and chemical techniques to solve these common RO challenges. It does so by constantly changing the flow regime and the osmotic and hydraulic pressure. As a result, the PFRO system enables an increase in water recovery rate without increasing membrane cleanings or replacements.

How does it work?

Each cycle of PFRO includes two modes: production and flushing. During the production mode, the brine valve is closed, and there is no brine discharge, which means that 100% of the feed flow is passing to the permeate side. During the flushing mode, the brine valve opens for a short period of time, enabling brine to discharge at a high velocity. This creates short and rapid pulses with a high shear force that helps keep the membranes free from fouling.

The result?

PFRO simplifies RO design from a multistage to a single-stage system while allowing operation at a higher flux of up to 50% compared to standard RO systems, leading to CAPEX savings of up to 20%. The PFRO improved ability to address membrane fouling eliminates the need for chloramine in municipal water reuse applications.

Technology Advantages of IDE Eco-Reuse PFRO

ENERGY EFFICIENT –  About 35% less energy consumption in the UV/AOP stage. In addition, lower head loss thanks to a single-stage design and proprietary cleaning mechanism.

SIMPLE DESIGN AND MAINTENANCE – Single-stage design, less piping, no interstate boosters.

REDUCED SCALING AND BIOFOULING – Intermittent flow, higher shear force, and unique preventive maintenance mechanism keep the membranes constantly clean.

SAFER  – Chloramine free translates to no formation of harmful disinfection by-products such as NDMA.

COST EFFICIENT –  Optimized CAPEX is enabled thanks to higher flux RO operation.

HIGH RECOVERY RATES –   90% recovery and higher.

FAT (Fully Advanced Treatment)

FAT is the conventional solution for municipal wastewater reuse facilities.

The treatment, which is common in the United States, uses an additional step of treatment to the TTRO and includes three stages; UF/MF, standard multi-stage RO and UV/AOP. UV AOP, the process of using ultraviolet light with an oxidant to break down environmental contaminants in water, is an essential part of the potable reuse treatment scheme.

Drinking water sources we rely on every day are increasingly contaminated with chemicals. Several of these contaminants are harmful or carcinogenic and must be removed for the water to be considered potable.

FAT produces water that meets the strictest regulations for water reuse. It includes a dosage of chloramine, which helps control biofouling of the membranes but is also a precursor to the formation of disinfection byproducts such as NDMA – a dangerous organic contaminant and a suspected carcinogen.

IDE offers these two FAT solutions:

FAT with RO

A modular traditional three stages RO with standard recovery rates.

FAT with PFRO which delivers:

High recovery rate & high flux solution

High fouling and biofouling resistance

Cleaning In Operation & recycling chemical wash water

High availability

Chloramine free

Simplified single stage small footprint design