R. Rautenbach et K. Vossenkaul, Pressure driven membrane processes - the answer to the need of a growing world population for quality water supply and waste water disposal, SEP PURIF T, 22-3(1-3), 2001, pp. 193-208
The number and size of membrane based plants for the production of potable
water and for the treatment of wastewater are increasing rapidly on our pla
net. The processes involved are reverse osmosis/nanofiltration and ultrafil
tration/microfiltration. These plants produce clean water within one of the
following scenarios: (1) Feed source seawater, supply unlimited, product p
otable water, (2) feed source brackish or human-contaminated well water, su
pply limited, product potable water; (3) feed source polluted water from ri
vers or lakes, supply almost unlimited, product potable water; and (4) feed
source waste water, product high quality clean water for farming/gardening
or for discharge into rivers/lakes. For these scenarios examples are prese
nted which call be considered as 'advanced'. Based on these examples the po
tential and the limits of the processes are discussed taking into account a
vailability, safety with respect to product quality and costs. (C) 2001 Els
evier Science B.V. All rights reserved.