Water. desalination + reuse

SHOWCASE | 30 | Desalination & Water Reuse | November-December 2014 GE launchEs biofuEl-producinG mEmbranE for industrial watEr rEusE Industrial conglomerate GE has targeted the industrial water reuse market with its launch of a membrane-based wastewater treatment technology that combines biogas production with GE's enforced hollow-fibre ZeeWeed 500 membranes. According to GE, the product – the anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR) – reduces the need for costly, high chemical and biochemical oxygen demand treatments of industrial wastewater. This saves energy and reduces sludge production. The anaerobic digestion (AD) component uses microorganisms to break down organic matter and includes renewable biomethane as one of its products which can be used to generate electricity. GE claims the bioreactor overcomes the shortfalls in effluent quality, process sensitivity, biomass growth rate, retention of methane producing microbes, and sludge settlement - all characteristic of existing AD systems. "Our industrial customers are yearning for more energy reduction in wastewater treatment, and GE's MBR will give them a way to generate renewable energy from their wastewater," said GE Power and Water general manager, Yuvbir Singh. As industrial customers seek greater water reuse, while facing more stringent discharge limits, an MBR offers lower costs, better performance and the ability to generate renewable energy from industrial wastewater, said GE. adsorbant dEcimatEs rEvErsE osmosis biofoulinG A new technology that starves microorganisms of vital nutrients could prevent biofouling in brackish and seawater reverse osmosis pretreatment systems and extend membrane life tenfold according to its manufacturer BiAqua. The Netherlands-based start-up company has developed a phosphate adsorbent technology that it claims can reduce phosphate concentration to less than one part per billion. The heart of PRT technology is a nanostructured phosphate adsorbent that can capture phosphate and store it until it is released during regeneration. "Our portfolio includes a range of both bio-based and inorganic adsorbents, with varying capacities, to address specific customer needs. We have shown that we are able to consistently remove over 95% of the phosphate from feedwater with levels ranging between 0.1 and 25 mg/l," said BiAqua's chief executive officer, Lute Broens. In addition to being used in conjunction with a membrane pretreatment system, the PRT process can be used in cooling water systems, surface water discharge or to prevent reservoir souring in the oil and gas industry. BiAqua's research and development manager, Monica Paravidino, said, "Pilot-scale studies have confirmed that with phosphate limitation using BiAqua adsorbent materials, the membrane lifetime could be extended at least ten times compared to the use of biologically activated carbon filters as membrane pretreatment." She added: "As a consequence, there are less frequent membrane cleanings, lower energy and chemical consumption, reduced labour costs and less downtime. The overall reduction of treatment plant operating expenditure is resulting in a typical payback of two years." BiAqua has developed pre-engineered PadEx phosphate adsorber exchange systems for capacities of 2.5 - 32.0 m 3 /hr, and existing granular media filter systems can operate with PRT. ozonE trEatmEnt clEans touGh pollutants Water technology company, Xylem, has launched wastewater treatment technology that combines ozone treatment and a biologically active filtration system that it claims will remove currently difficult-to-treat pollutants including pharmaceuticals and hormonally active substances. Xylem's Leopold Oxelia optimises wastewater treatment for water reuse and discharge into sensitive waters for direct potable reuse according to the Switzerland-based company. Xylem claims pollutants like personal care products, active pharmaceuticals, and hormone disrupting compounds can be removed cost effectively from a water stream using Leopold Oxelia. The company said this multi-barrier removal opens up more options for water reuse, including industrial use, groundwater recharge, agriculture, and even direct potable reuse. The system uses ozone to oxidise organic pollutants to be digested by microorganisms in the filtration system. "The compounds are not just concentrated in another waste stream - they are destroyed," said product manager with Xylem, Anton Callery. Xylem claims the new system makes effluent suitable for direct discharge into the most sensitive aquatic ecosystems. It claims also that ozone-enhanced, biologically active filtration has lower capital costs than reverse osmosis-based systems and, because the ozone technology produces no added waste stream, operations are simpler and more cost efficient. It says Leopold Oxelia is suitable for municipal wastewater tertiary applications of more than 5 Ml/d. black and vEatch sElEctEd for dpr watEr quality study The Water Reuse Research Foundation recently awarded funding to the Black and Veatch Corporation to conduct a study into direct potable reuse (DPR) water quality. The study will evaluate upstream wastewater treatment impacts on DPR water quality and process. It will also assess the impact of hydraulic control mechanisms on influent water quality and flow variations that stress the DPR process. The principal investigators will be Alan Rimer and Sunny Wang of Black and Veatch Corporation. This study will be funded through the Foundation's California DPR Initiative. Black and Veatch was selected to conduct the research after responding to The Water Reuse Research Foundation's request for proposals. mEt-pro Global launchEs vErtical pump for rEvErsE osmosis CECO Environmental subsidiary, Met-Pro Global Pump Solutions, has launched a vertical turbine pump series for use in reverse osmosis plants. According to the manufacturer, its fibreglass-reinforced plastic Fybroc Series 8500 technology features four fluid-handling sizes designed for use with seawater intake, brackish water reverse osmosis, brine, and various recirculation and transfer applications. President and chief executive officer of CECO, Jeff Lang said: "This new technology will allow us to expand our product reach into new applications, including the desalination and water reuse markets." The product has been added to Met-Pro's GPS application- critical fluid handling products.

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