R. Rautenbach et R. Mellis, HYBRID PROCESSES INVOLVING MEMBRANES FOR THE TREATMENT OF HIGHLY ORGANIC-INORGANIC CONTAMINATED WASTE-WATER, Desalination, 101(2), 1995, pp. 105-113
In this paper the principles, potential and limits of reverse osmosis,
nanofiltration and ultrafiltration are discussed, using new applicati
ons in the area of waste water treatment as examples. The examples emp
hasize, among others, two features which are essential for membrane pr
ocesses in general: the purely physical nature of the separation princ
iple, and the modular design of membrane processes. These are the feat
ures which make membrane processes potential candidates for a process
integrated effluent treatment, not only aimed at clarification of the
water but at the recovery of the dissolved/suspended components as wel
l. We believe that the potential of the presently available membranes
is not yet fully explored. Modules and processes can and will be furth
er developed with the general task of improving reliability and, simul
taneously, lowering the operation and investment costs.