{"id":4008,"date":"2021-08-15T13:56:40","date_gmt":"2021-08-15T13:56:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ide-tech.com\/?p=4008"},"modified":"2025-02-23T16:04:29","modified_gmt":"2025-02-23T16:04:29","slug":"how-to-cut-your-industrial-wastewater-treatment-costs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/staging.ide-tech.com\/en\/blog\/how-to-cut-your-industrial-wastewater-treatment-costs\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Cut Your Industrial Wastewater Treatment Costs"},"content":{"rendered":"

There is no industry that will deny wanting to reduce its industrial wastewater treatment costs if asked, but most need a driving force to actually make the changes. There are three main forces driving industries to search for new water treatment approaches and\/or technologies \u2013 the cost and availability of water, the cost of effluent disposal, and the need to comply with ever stricter environmental regulations <\/a>governing the discharge of industrial effluents<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

These factors have made it critical for industries to implement technologies to reduce the amount of fresh water withdrawn from natural sources and effluent discharged to the environment, and reduce the operational cost of water treatment while complying with regulations. There is a growing need to maximize effluent treatment recovery and reuse of water in the industrial facility while minimizing disposal costs.<\/span><\/p>\n

In this post, we take a closer look at some innovative technologies developed by IDE Water Technologies to address these very issues, and how these overcome the issues faced by conventional RO and other technologies when treating industrial wastewater<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

What challenges do industries face today?<\/span><\/h2>\n

One of the greatest challenges facing the water industry is addressing the brine or industrial effluents that are byproducts of core processes in industrial facilities. These effluents are typically characterized by challenging water chemistry, which limits the ability to reach high recoveries due to the risk of scaling and fouling. <\/span><\/p>\n

While seawater chemistry is well known, and can be treated to a certain extent within the mechanical limitations of the membrane, treating industrial effluents presents a new set of challenges. Industrial effluent generally contains high levels of suspended and dissolved impurities that must be addressed prior to discharge of said effluent.<\/span><\/p>\n

While membrane technology is also limited by the osmotic pressure limit, when using membranes for industrial water treatment, the limiting factor of water chemistry becomes a challenge way before the osmotic pressure is reached. <\/span><\/p>\n

Most solutions attempt to tackle the membrane limitation when treating industrial effluents, but addressing the water chemistry is an entirely different kettle of fish, and often overlooked!<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Industrial \u201cWhen looking at industrial effluent, water chemistry is a completely different challenge. This type of water might contain everything. This can and does affect the ability to provide clean water, and requires the right expertise to effectively achieve this\u201d.\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Tomer Efrat, Director, Business Development & Product Management at IDE Water Technologies.<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

<< Watch our “Solving the Power Industry Water Challenges” on-demand webinar >><\/a><\/p>\n

Common practice today<\/span><\/h2>\n

Reverse Osmosis membranes are subject to fouling and biofouling by dissolved and suspended substances that are present in industrial effluents. Therefore, good pretreatment<\/a> is a prerequisite for the efficient, long-term operation of any membrane treatment system, as well as for better plant efficiency<\/a> and increased membrane life. Many solutions adopt the age-old adage (with poetic liberty) \u2013 cleaner in, cleaner out. <\/span><\/p>\n

This is indeed an option for a partial solution \u2013 robust pretreatment results in higher quality water entering the industrial wastewater treatment membrane system. But, and there is a “but”! This is an expensive option for high recovery applications, especially if the pretreatment is used to remove dissolved solids!<\/span><\/p>\n

For example \u2013 if your effluent stream has high alkaline content, you can dose acid to the stream, which converts the alkaline to CO2 that can be removed from the water. Yes, you will reduce the alkalinity. And here’s our “but” again! But, you will need to address the requirements for a hazardous substance, and facilities to transport, store and handle the acid and, of course, \u2013 bear the cost of this. <\/span><\/p>\n

You can use lime treatment for salts with high scaling<\/a> potential, but the process creates a sludge byproduct that will then have to be further treated before disposal. You will need additional equipment to treat the sludge, large vessels, centrifuges \u2013 all resulting in higher Capex and Opex, not considering the lime system itself, as well as more complex operation. Further, the costs of sludge disposal <\/a>are typically very high, and often unsustainable.<\/span><\/p>\n

Are there alternatives? Yes, there are. IDE Water Technologies has developed two innovative technologies for treating industrial wastewater \u2013 MaxH2O Desalter<\/a> and MaxH2O PFRO<\/a>, and they come with an additional bonus! Both systems keep the membranes clean, resulting in less frequent need for CIP procedures, which of course, means less downtime and higher plant availability. The financial advantage of this is clear!<\/span><\/p>\n

Contact One of Our Experts for More Information >><\/a><\/p>\n

The IDE alternatives<\/span><\/h2>\n

Firstly, we understand your need to reduce costs. However, we also maintain that cost is not the only consideration. You need the right solution to meet the challenges you<\/strong> face \u2013 whether these are only water chemistry, organic fouling, biofouling, scaling or sparingly soluble salts. The solution is not a one fits all! There are two alternatives:<\/span><\/p>\n