R. Ben Aïm
"Membrane technology has a role to play for a more sustainable water management"
Scientists, engineers, companies, governments are all looking at a more sustainable development. Water sector is strongly concerned: is it possible to provide the growing amounts of water needed for domestic consumption, for agriculture, for industry? Is it possible to treat the increasing amounts of domestic wastewater and industrial effluents at the high level of quality required?
We need a better management of water and we need simultaneously new sources of fresh water. Seawater is presently the first source but domestic wastewater and industrial effluents are more and more considered as a potential source of water through recycling and reuse.
Several examples show the feasibility of this approach that requires an optimization for complying with the simultaneous need of sustainability. For desalination, membrane technology (RO) is definitely the best solution but there is room for improving the sustainability of the process.
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For drinking water production, membrane technology appears more and more as the best available technology due to its performance concerning microorganisms and micro pollutants removal.
For domestic wastewater and industrial effluents, Membrane Bioreactor is today a mature technology in rapid expansion. The treated effluent is ready for reuse following an additional step of treatment depending upon the kind of application. Several industrial sectors are presently involved in this process of “Zero Liquid Discharge” or “dry plants”.
Can we do better? Looking at energy neutral drinking water production plants or wastewater treatment plants: is it a dream?
Producing New Water in acceptable economic conditions and with the minimum level of CO2 production: this is the challenge!
Through some examples, this presentation will show what looks possible and in what field more research and innovation are required if we want to reach the Sustainable Development Goals.