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Industrial processes produce wastewater rich in contaminants and toxins that require proper waste management before disposal into the environment or the public drainage system. This is why it is important to install effluent treatment plant, to ensure that wastewater meets the required environmental standards, as outlined by the Environmental Agency (EA) in the UK. Various methods are deployed to purify effluent, and one of them is reverse osmosis (RO). This method is very effective, as it has been proven to remove up to 99% of ions, or dissolved solids, bacteria, and particles. However, RO is not the be-all and end-all of effluent treatment methods, due to its inability to remove certain types of contaminants. Find out which contaminants and toxins RO won’t remove and, subsequently, alternative methods. What is an Industrial Reverse Osmosis Effluent Treatment Plant? This is a treatment method employed in industrial and commercial settings to remove up to 99% of impurities and dissolved solids. To achieve this, effluent is subjected to high pressure to drive water through a semipermeable membrane. Purified effluent (which has successfully passed through the membrane) has fewer toxins, and it is called permeate, while water rejected by the membrane full of toxins is referred to as concentrate. This, in a nutshell, is how an RO system purifies wastewater. As mentioned, the RO system doesn’t remove certain impurities, and below is the list that explains which ones. Dissolved gases Dissolved gases, such as hydrogen sulphide, carbon dioxide, methane, and radon, will pass through the RO membrane during the purification process because this method is unable to remove odours. Further purification methods such as chlorination, carbon filtration, and de-aeration for instance, get rid of dissolved gases. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) These are liquid and solid chemicals that can also evaporate into gases and can be found in effluent from dry cleaners, oil refiners, automobile repair shops, pharmaceuticals, and furniture refinishers, to mention a few. VOCs are not highly soluble in water, and the membrane is effective for the removal of dissolved contaminants. In addition, gaseous VOCs cannot be removed because gases can pass through the membrane with ease. Some Pesticides and herbicides These are commonly found in agricultural wastewater, and while effluent treatment plant that also utilises RO effectively removes the majority of these contaminants, some can pass through the membrane. This is because the filtering membrane determines what goes through and what is rejected, and pesticides and herbicides smaller than the membrane pore size cannot be filtered. Hence, further treatment is necessary. Bacteria and Viruses Similar to herbicides and pesticides, the membrane is only effective against bacteria and viruses larger than 0.0001 to 0.001 micrometres. However, some microorganisms smaller in size can still pass through the membrane easily. In addition, microorganisms reproduce and multiply further, requiring the disintegration of the DNA system. This can be achieved by methods such as UV irradiation and advanced oxidation. Effluent treatment plant that utilises reverse osmosis can effectively remove toxins and contaminants of different types to achieve wastewater quality that meets environmental standards. However, certain contaminants need further purification methods, and this necessitates knowledge of the appropriate system and purification method specific to your industry. You should always consult a reputable and experienced company for the installation of a wastewater treatment system. Author Plate Sean Clifford is an advisor at AllWater Technologies Ltd, a wholly independent company providing consultation and water treatment equipment, including industrial effluent treatment plant like 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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