Cellulose membrane separates water
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News and Views 1993 Membr e and Separations Planning Conference The Inltial programme for the I Ith Annual Membrane Conference, which will be held from October 10-13 in Newton, Massachusetts, includes over 50 speakers covering all aspects of membrane technology, applications, and commercial prospects for mlerofiltrations, ultrafiltrations, reverse osmosis gas membranes and systems forr their applications. The conference is Jointly sponsored by Business Communications Company, Inc. and F11trex Inc. Further ~nformatlon from: Business Communtcatlons Company, Inc, 25 Van Zant Street, Norwalk, CT 06855, USA. Tel.. +1 203 853 4266. Fax: +1 203 853 0348. Cellulose membrane separates water Following the successful introduction of membranes specifically for the removal of sulphate ions, Weir Westgarth has started trlals of a cellulose membrane which can separate water from very fine oil droplets in water / o11 emulsions. The hydrophillc membrane does this more effectively than mechanical equipment such as laminar splitters and centrifuges which typically do not reduce the o11 content below 40 ppm. As the water is removed by repeated passes, the off droplets coalesce into drops large enough to be recovered and recycled or disposed of, leaving water with no slgnlflcant oll content. Where treated water is injected into o11 reservoirs at high pressure to improve the yield, most of the produced water that comes up with the oil is In the form of an emulsion cont~lmng tiny o11 droplets. Before It can be dumped the o11 must be removed to comply with environmental legislation. In the future, however, if the water has already been treated for the removal of sulphates and if the oll can be removed by further treatment, the water wlll be suitable for re-use as injection water. This in effect will glve a closed cycle which is economical and environmentally acceptable because o11 is not discharged into the sea and because little make-up water will be needed. Another promising market is in the disposal of solutions cont~Inlng such toxic chemlcals as benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene and xylene (BTEX's) or the polychlorinated blphenyls (PCBs) produced by industrlal processes such as the manufacture of transformers and printed circuit boards for computers. These wastes are destroyed by Incineration at very high temperatures; but this means consumlng vast amounts of energy to drive off the water in which they are dissolved. If the water is first removed It is easler and less costly both to transport the toxins (in some cases in small drums instead of large tankers) and to destroy them efficiently. Further informatlon from: Emrys Inker, Public Relations Manager, The Weir Group Plc, Cathcart, Glasgow G44 4EX, UK. Tel: +44 (0)41 637 7111. Fax: +44 (0)41 637 2221. Membrane waste-treatment systems The Envlro-X range of waste-treatment systems launched by Kalsep Ltd of Surrey, UK, has been deslgned to provide a cost-effectlve and environmentaUy-frlendly means of disposing of industrial effluents. Incorporating proven hollow fibre membrane technology, the units can treat waste streams as diverse as machlne-shop cutting oils and spent industrlal process waters. Constructed from top-grade materials, the systems are modular, self-contalned and exception~lly compact. They can readily be scaled up from small units treating 25 litres/hour of effluent to large scale turnkey systems. Portable units are also available. The systems reduce waste volumes by more than 90%, with a corresponding reduction in disposal costs. Elther the filtrate or concentrate Is often reusable, producing zero effluent discharge. The systems are backed by Kalsep's full range of technlcal support services, Including expert advice on system selection; comprehensive laboratory and field trlals facfllties; in-house contracting, together with CAD, installation, commissioning and after sale servicing capabilities. Further tnformatlon from: Ka!~ep Lid, Doman Road, Yorktown Industrtal Estate, Camberley, Surrey GU15 3DF, UK. Tel: +44 (0)276 675675. Fax: +44 (0)276 676276. 6 Membrane Technology No. 29
Transcript of Cellulose membrane separates water
N e w s a n d V i e w s
1 9 9 3 Membr e and S e p a r a t i o n s P lanning C o n f e r e n c e The Inltial p r o g r a m m e for the I I t h Annual Membrane Conference, which will be held f rom October 10-13 in Newton, Massachuse t t s , includes over 50 speakers covering all a spec t s of m e m b r a n e technology, applications, a n d commercia l p rospec t s for mlerofiltrations, ultrafil trations, reverse osmosis gas m e m b r a n e s and sys t ems forr their applications.
The conference is Jointly sponsored by Bus iness Communica t ions Company, Inc. a n d F11trex Inc.
Further ~nformatlon from: Bus iness Communtcatlons Company, Inc, 25 Van Zant Street, Norwalk, CT 06855, USA. Tel.. +1 203 853 4266. Fax: +1 203 853 0348.
Cel lu lose m e m b r a n e s epara te s water Following the successfu l in t roduct ion of m e m b r a n e s specifically for the removal of su lpha te ions, Weir Westgar th h a s s tar ted trlals of a cellulose m e m b r a n e which can separa te water from very fine oil droplets in water / o11 emulsions.
The hydrophil lc m e m b r a n e does this more effectively t h a n mechanica l equipment such a s l aminar spli t ters and centrifuges which typically do not reduce the o11 content below 40 ppm.
As the water is removed by repea ted passes , the off droplets coalesce into drops large enough to be recovered and recycled or d isposed of, leaving water with no slgnlflcant oll content .
Where t rea ted water is injected into o11 reservoirs a t high p re s su re to improve the yield, mos t of the produced water tha t comes u p with the oil is In the form of a n emuls ion cont~lmng t iny o11 droplets. Before It c a n be d u m p e d the o11 m u s t be removed to comply with envi ronmenta l legislation.
In the future , however, if the water h a s a l ready been t rea ted for the removal of su lpha tes and if the oll can be removed by fur ther t rea tment , the water wlll be sui table for re -use a s injection water. This in effect will glve a closed cycle which is economical and
environmental ly acceptable because o11 is not d ischarged into the sea a n d because little m a k e - u p water will be needed.
Another promis ing marke t is in the disposal of solut ions cont~Inlng such toxic chemlcals as benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene and xylene (BTEX's) or the polychlorinated blphenyls (PCBs) p roduced by industr lal processes such as the m a n u f a c t u r e of t r ans fo rmers and pr inted circuit boa rds for computers .
These was tes are destroyed by Incinerat ion a t very high tempera tures ; b u t this m e a n s consumlng vas t a m o u n t s of energy to drive off the water in which they are dissolved.
If the water is first removed It is easler and less costly bo th to t ranspor t the toxins (in some cases in small d r u m s ins tead of large tankers) and to destroy them efficiently.
Further informatlon from: Emrys Inker, Public Relations Manager, The Weir Group Plc, Cathcart, Glasgow G44 4EX, UK. Tel: +44 (0)41 637 7111. Fax: +44 (0)41 637 2221.
Mem brane w a s t e - t r e a t m e n t s y s t e m s
The Envlro-X range of was te - t r ea tmen t sys t ems launched by Kalsep Ltd of Surrey, UK, has been deslgned to provide a cost-effectlve and environmentaUy-frlendly m e a n s of disposing of industr ial effluents. Incorporat ing proven hollow fibre m e m b r a n e technology, the un i t s can t rea t was te s t r eams as diverse as mach lne - shop cut t ing oils and spent industr lal process waters .
Cons t ruc ted f rom top-grade mater ia ls , the sys t ems are modular , self-contalned a n d exception~lly compact . They can readily be scaled u p f rom small uni t s t reat ing 25 l i t r e s /hour of effluent to large scale t u rnkey systems. Portable un i t s a re also available.
The sys t ems reduce waste volumes b y more t han 90%, with a corresponding reduct ion in disposal costs. Elther the filtrate or concent ra te Is often reusable, p roducing zero effluent discharge.
The sys t ems are backed by Kalsep 's full range of technlcal suppor t services, Including expert advice on sys tem selection; comprehens ive laboratory and field trlals facfllties; in -house contracting, together with CAD, installation, commissioning a n d after sale servicing capabilities.
Further tnformatlon from: Ka!~ep Lid, Doman Road, Yorktown Industrtal Estate, Camberley, Surrey GU15 3DF, UK. Tel: +44 (0)276 675675. Fax: +44 (0)276 676276.
6 M e m b r a n e Techno logy No. 2 9
