Experience of Applications of Membranes for Industrial Water Reuse in Various Industries

Membrane technologies such as microfiltration/ultrafiltration and reverse osmosis have been used successfully for treatment of municipal wastewater effluent for indirect potable reuse for nearly 20 years. The use of these membrane technologies are not as prevalent for industrial effluent reuse due to variable water quality and cost considerations. However, there are successful membrane-based water reuse projects that can help to conserve water in arid areas while providing good economic viability. This presentation presents three industrial water reuse case studies from three different industries: petrochemical, steel manufacturing, and food processing. Impetus for reuse, feasibility, testing, implementation and cost analysis are presented.