Abstract
Much of membrane research in the past decade has centered on reverse osmosis (RO) and the control of scaling, fouling and troubleshooting in RO. The popular acceptance of RO has paved the way for other crossflow membrane technologies that hold great promise for commercialization. The increased use of microfiltration in industrial applications, however, presents new opportunities and challenges for chemical suppliers and end-users alike. Because of its versatility, robust nature, and small footprint, microfiltration could well replace, or at least augment, traditional equipment including clarifiers, media filters, lime softeners, ion exchange units, evaporators, and distillation units. Among the current uses of microfiltration are raw water clarification for municipal and industrial use, RO pretreatment, and general wastewater treatment, primarily for suspended solids removal.
We have successfully combined novel polymeric precipitants with microfiltration for the treatment of metal-containing wastewater in the electronics and microelectronics industries. These applications highlight the potential for polymer-assisted microfiltration. Details of the chemical treatments and potential for future uses will be presented.
