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Reverse osmosis (RO) for industrial effluent treatment is a hero in the purification of contaminated water produced from manufacturing processes. However, not many people understand the process behind the effectiveness of these systems in the treatment of industrial effluent. Did you know that this wastewater is eventually discharged through the municipal drainage system? It is hard to believe, considering how rich in toxins it is. Thanks to RO systems, industries can purify contaminated liquid waste right at the source to meet stringent discharge levels as set by environmental agencies. The system removes up to 99% of contaminants to produce liquid waste that is safe for the environment and meets the required standards. If you want some fast facts about RO systems, read on. 1. It was Discovered in the Mid-1700s The RO system, as we know it, is a complex system with various components; it utilises high-end technology to effectively remove contaminants. However, when it was first discovered in the mid-1700s, by the French clergyman and physicist Jean-Antoine Nollet, it was a simple method that purified water using a pig’s bladder. This simple method didn’t employ osmotic pressure, though, which is vital in today’s RO system. As science, research, and technology improved, two scientists working at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in the 1950s and 1960s brilliantly developed the RO technology, i.e., the filtering membrane that is widely popular in this era. Thanks to their work, the system was commercialised; hence, we now have RO industrial effluent treatment plants, and it has continued to evolve over the years. 2. RO Industrial Effluent Treatment Plant Removes a Very High Percentage of Contaminants Effluent from manufacturing industries has high levels of toxins, depending on the type of industry. Regulations, however, require prior treatment to reach a discharge level that’s acceptable to the appropriate authorities and is safe for the environment. The RO system is installed right at the source to remove up to 99.9% of contaminants across a wide range of industries. The system can effectively remove the following contaminants: heavy metals such as chromium, mercury, cadmium, lead, and others normally found in mining and extraction of liquid waste. It also removes dissolved solids (salts, minerals and metals) microorganisms, and non-metallic contaminants such as chlorine fluoride, sulphates, nitrates and nitrides, as well as dissolved gases. 3. It’s Simple But Very Effective Due to its effectiveness, you might probably think that it is complicated; however, that is not the case. Below are simple steps outlining how it removes contaminants. The contaminated liquid waste is fed into the system and forced through a semi-permeable membrane at a pressure higher than the osmotic pressure. (Osmotic pressure is the minimum pressure required to prevent the flow of liquid across a semi-permeable membrane due to osmosis.) This high pressure forces water molecules to pass through the membrane to produce a cleaner effluent, also called permeate, but it also blocks the contaminants that accumulate on the feed side of the membrane. The accumulated contaminants after purification are called brine. Permeate is collected in storage tanks, where it can either be reused to supply manufacturing processes or discharged. Contaminated brine is treated further to meet the disposal contamination level and is disposed of accordingly. RO industrial effluent treatment plant is effective for removing contaminants from liquid waste across a wide range of industries, to produce purified wastewater that meets the required standards. The effectiveness of this method is due to technology that has continued to evolve since its first discovery in the mid-1700s. For a system that performs optimally and produces the required results, consult a reputable company for installation and maintenance. Author Plate Sean Clifford is an advisor at AllWater Technologies Ltd, a wholly independent company providing consultation, water treatment equipment, and industrial effluent treatment plant, including reverse osmosis water systems. Bringing together a host of experience and specialist knowledge, the company is committed to building and maintaining long-term relationships and creating maximum value and benefit for their customers.
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