ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the membrane separation technologies of microfiltration, ultrafiltration, reverse osmosis and electrodialysis, and indicates how they applied to industrial and agricultural effluent treatment. All of the membrane processes utilize an engineering design known as "crossflow" or "tangential flow" filtration. In this mechanism, the bulk solution flows over and parallel to the membrane surface, and for microfiltration, ultrafiltration and reverse osmosis, because the system is pressurized, water is forced through the membrane. The turbulent flow of bulk solution across the surface minimizes the accumulation of particulate matter on the membrane and facilitates continuous operation of system. Most industrial and agricultural effluent streams contain a multitude of contaminants in many different forms, the greatest potential for membrane separation technologies is in combination with other technologies such as ion exchange, activated carbon adsorption and anaerobic digestion. Oil-water emulsion effluent streams generated as a result of Heat treating/quenching processes generate oil-water emulsions during the process of removing oily contaminants from metal parts.
