Water. Desalination + reuse
Issue link: https://fhpublishing.uberflip.com/i/513849
| 20 | Desalination & Water Reuse | May-June 2015 projects _________ Trevor Loveday, editor D&WR ___ Since developing an energy-saving reverse osmosis membrane to address the once inherent quality compromise, Dow Water & Process Solutions has used it to spearhead its foray into the burgeoning global brackish reuse market. D&WR spoke to Dow's Americas market lead, Felipe Pinto, to fnd where the business is coming from and going to. WATER REUSE is growing in importance in the industrial and municipal sectors. During the next fve years, the technologies associated with turning wastewater and brackish sources into potable or high- quality process water are poised to become pivotal elements in the challenges of addressing water scarcity and improving energy effciency in water reuse. High-effciency reverse osmosis (RO) membranes for water treatment have been available for some years but technological limitations have dictated a trade off between permeate quality and energy saving. In recent years Dow has invested in the development of its Filmtec Eco membrane chemistry and technology to curb the quality trade off in a low-pressure RO Less is more In perspective: Latin America's largest water reuse plant has lopped a third off its energy demand. membrane that offers signifcant energy savings. Another trade off is in play here between capital cost and operational outlay related to the membrane assets. Energy savings and other operational effciencies attributed to Filmtec Eco reduce operating expenditure, which can release funds to cover the capital cost over the lifetime of the asset. Dow has exploited this opportunity to offer new fnancing opportunities for funding membrane systems. Dow market manager for the Americas, Felipe Pinto, emphasizes the company's view of the importance of energy saving technology: "It is key to acknowledge the importance of the brackish water market in the entire water industry – it is probably the largest market we're