BRINE RECOVERY

Benefits for brine recovery with tubular UF membranes

In order to meet stringent water reuse standards, pharma and chemical industries are looking for finding a cost-effective solution to treat the reverse osmosis (RO) concentrate and improving the overall RO system recovery. Nowadays that zero liquid discharge (ZLD) is attracting more and more attention, the combination of tubular UF with chemical precipitation processes turns up as a successful and efficient solution for brine recovery. 

Cost-efficient​

Cost-efficient chemical process: the implementation of tubular UF instead of the conventional clarifiers allows reducing the chemical dosing and avoids the use of flocculants.

Effluent Quality​​​

Tubular UF removes all the solids and colloids coming from the previous precipitation process. UF permeate is directed to a post-RO system within the ZLD strategy, reaching a minimum discharge and getting a maximum reuse of water.

Compact

Berghof UF systems replace the clarifiers and posterior microfilters. The footprint required is minimized.

Chemical Resistant​

When precipitation at high pH conditions is required, the Berghof CR membranes provide a robust solution, with proven long-term performance and minimum maintenance and replacement costs. ​

Brine recovery for pharma and chemical industry - the process

The brine generated in the production of high-quality process water is recovered in a process combining the chemical precipitation and the tubular ultrafiltration. The first precipitation step is carried out with the addition of chemicals (NaOH, Na2CO3…) for increasing the pH and promoting the precipitation of ionic pollutants (hardness, sulphates…).

The tubular modules with chemical resistant membranes are connected to a concentration tank, producing a permeate with greatly reduced dissolved compounds and a reject containing a high concentration of precipitated species. This reject is dewatered in a filter press. The UF permeate, after neutralization, is treated in a second RO step. The ZLD is therefore achieved: the high-quality RO permeate is reused, and the RO reject returns to the head of the brine recovery process.

Brine recovery PFD pharma and chemical industry

Case Study

Brine recovery | Chemical industry

Kunshan Zhong Yan Company, located in Kunshan City in China’s Jiangsu province, manufactures 600,000 tons of sodium carbonate (also known as “soda ash”) per year. Sodium carbonate serves multiple purposes in both domestic and industrial applications – widely used as a water softener, as a component in the manufacture of glass, a common additive used in swimming pools, and as an ingredient in certain foods, just to name a few.

Project References​

Take a look at our case studies

Water softening | New Material Industry

Project Details

Application: Water softening
Capacity: 200 m3/d
Membrane: 8mm PVDF, CR
Location: Huguan County (China)
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AnMBR & MBR | Dairy Industry

Project Details

Product: AnMBR and MBR in parallel
Membrane: 8mm, PVDF, backwashable
Capacity: 1,900 m3/day
COD load: 9,000 to 18,000 kg/day
Location: Wisconsin
Read more

AnMBR | Creamery

Project Details

Product: AnMBR
Membrane: 8mm, PVDF, backwashable
Capacity: 155 m3/day
BOD load: 1,587 kg/day
Location: Menomonie, Wisconsin
Read more

Manufactured in Germany

Made in a state-of-the art LEAN-production facility, with highly-trained production personnel and materials of the highest quality.

Tubular UF Membrane Modules ​

To prevent fouling and clogging, Berghof Membranes developed its line of robust tubular UF (ultrafiltration) membrane modules based on inside-out crossflow filtration.

Membrane Skid systems​

Berghof Membranes developed B-SMART®, a customizable external membrane filtration system that can be designed with various features and functionalities.

Pilot systems & Lab testing​

Bridging the gap between lab-scale testing and manufacturing. Our experts gives you the confidence to apply the technology for your specific wastewater challenges.

B-CARE® Service and Support

The B-CARE® program is an end-to-end comprehensive program developed to support our OEM partners from the piloting/engineering phase to operational system monitoring.