Zwitterionic membrane technology: Revolutionising industrial water treatment and reuseWater stress is rapidly intensifying across the globe, mak...
Published on by Water Network Research, Official research team of The Water Network
Water stress is rapidly intensifying across the globe, making it critical to maximise water treatment, recovery, and reuse. Industrial processes alone account for nearly double the water withdrawals of domestic consumption—20% compared to just 12%, with agriculture accounting for the remainder.
As industries grow and freshwater becomes increasingly scarce, improving the treatment and reuse of industrial wastewater has become essential. Enhanced reuse practices can drastically lower freshwater withdrawals by industry, preserving this vital resource for drinking water and agriculture. Recent studies underscore the urgency of this situation, anticipating that global water consumption could reach 160% of the currently available water supply by 2030. Clearly, significant changes in water management and treatment strategies are necessary.
Enhanced reuse practices can lower freshwater withdrawals by industry, preserving this vital resource for drinking water and agriculture
In response, ZwitterCo’s membranes offer reliable and efficient solutions for water treatment and reuse across many industries. With their growing product lines, these membranes tackle difficult wastewater problems. Industries benefiting from ZwitterCo’s membranes include meat and poultry processing, dairy production, corn ethanol facilities, sugar refining plants, power generation stations, landfills, bioprocessing plants, oil and gas operations managing produced water, food waste digestate facilities, and farms dealing with manure runoff.
Zwitterionic chemistry: A breakthrough in filtration science
To fully grasp the significance of ZwitterCo’s membrane technology, it is essential to understand the science behind these innovations. At the most basic level, membranes are composed of polymers—large molecules made of repeating monomer units. Polymers can be naturally occurring (such as proteins) or synthetic (like polyethylene). Copolymers are a specialised type of polymer that incorporates two unique monomers that create the repeating units. By manipulating these different monomers, scientists can precisely control the material's properties, such as strength, flexibility, and chemical resistance. Common polymers utilised in conventional ultrafiltration (UF) membranes include polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and polyethersulfone (PES).
Common polymers utilised in conventional ultrafiltration (UF) membranes include polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and polyethersulfone (PES)
Zwitterions and zwitterionic copolymers represent a uniquely promising class of polymers due to their dual-charge nature. A zwitterion is a molecule that simultaneously carries both positive and negative charges, making the overall molecule electrically neutral and extremely hydrophilic (“water-loving”). By carefully selecting and combining these zwitterionic monomers with other compatible materials, researchers have created hydrophilic, water-loving copolymers exhibiting exceptional anti-fouling properties.
Attached link
https://smartwatermagazine.com/news/zwitterco/zwitterionic-membrane-technology-revolutionising-industrial-water-treatment-and-reuseTaxonomy
- Industrial Water Treatment
- Industrial
- Industrial Water Reuse
- Agricultural Waste Water Treatment
- water reuse - regulations and permitting
- water treatment