Today, we want to share a specific case from a customer in India that highlights the unique potential of NAGASEP.

The Challenge: 5% IPA in Wastewater

Our client in India reached out with a specific problem. They had wastewater containing oil and about 5% Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA). Their question was simple: “Can NAGASEP handle this and help us recover the solvent?”

The Solution: NAGASEP’s Selective Separation

The short answer? Yes. Depending on the specific conditions, NAGASEP hollow fiber membranes can be adapted to separate and recover organic solvents from water.

To determine the feasibility and the exact scale of the system (number of modules and configuration), we typically look at three key factors:

Flow Rate: How much wastewater needs processing?

Concentration: What is the exact solvent percentage?

Operating Conditions: What are the temperature and pressure levels?

Let’s Start Testing

If you provide us with these details, we can calculate the potential scale and feasibility for your specific needs. We’re always ready to support you—starting from small-scale lab tests to evaluate the performance before moving to full implementation.

The post Recovering Solvents from Wastewater appeared first on NAGASEP.

In the 21st century, water scarcity has become a worldwide problem due to factors such as global population growth, increased water use, and climate change. 2.1 billion people worldwide lacked access to safe water in 2017, and 844 million of them are reported to lack access to even drinking water.

In response to the serious water shortage problem, the water shortage problem can be solved if seawater, which accounts for about 97% of the water present on the earth, can be converted into fresh water necessary for human activities. Desalination of seawater is one of the most promising solutions to the water shortage problem, especially for drinking water.

2. Seawater Desalination

Desalination methods can be broadly classified into evaporation, which utilizes the phase change from liquid to vapor, and reverse osmosis (RO), which does not utilize the phase change while the water remains in the liquid phase. The evaporation method is further classified into the multi-stage flash method (MSF), multiple-effect method (MED), and vapor compression method (MVC). The electrodialysis (ED) method, which does not use phase change, also exists as a desalination technology, although it is less proven.

The number of desalination plants under planning and construction around the world has been particularly high in recent years, with desalination plants currently in operation in more than 120 countries. Reverse osmosis accounts for 65% of the world’s desalination plant capacity, a significant share.

3. water vapor permeation membrane method

Apart from the methods mentioned above, there is the water vapor permeable membrane method, which uses a gas separation membrane to separate water vapor.

Polydimethylsiloxane has high gas permeability among polymer membrane materials due to its high molecular mobility and extremely large molecular chain spacing. Among these materials, polydimethylsiloxane has extremely high water vapor permeability, making it possible to selectively permeate water vapor from seawater to obtain fresh water.

By supplying seawater to the housing side of the silicone hollow fiber membrane module NAGASEP and passing dry air through the hollow fiber membrane, water vapor is permeated from the liquid phase to the vapor phase. Since water vapor moves several hundred times faster than oxygen, the gas phase is quickly saturated with vapor and water can be recovered. By reducing the air flow rate as much as possible, this desalination method consumes less energy.

  At present, adsorption with activated carbon is the most mainstream separation method for recovering organic vapors from exhaust gas. However, adsorption has some problems, such as the need for regeneration system and the large size of the equipment. As the development of simpler and more energy-efficient organic vapor recovery and recycling technology is expected, the recovery method using membrane separation operation has become an attracting choice.

  By supplying ambient air to the silicone hollow fiber membrane module NAGASEP and depressurizing the permeate side, VOCs in the environment can be concentrated and recovered. As an actual application, NAGASEP has been put to practical use in a metering device that collects gasoline vapor leaked at gas stations when refueling. Gasoline vapor leaked into the atmosphere is suctioned through a double-tube refueling nozzle, then concentrated by a hollow fiber membrane, and finally collected as liquid gasoline. The system is also being considered for practical use in the recovery of organic vapors such as hexane discharged into the environment from factories and as a monitor of odors (VOC) in the ambient air. If you wonder whether NAGASEP could be a solution for your problem, feel free to contact us and have a discussion.

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The MABR (Membrane Aerated Bioreactor) belongs to the biofilm family, but it’s often confused with the MBR (Membrane Bioreactor). The difference is actually huge. In an MBR, the membrane acts like a filter to strain the water. But in an MABR, the membrane acts more like a lung—it delivers oxygen directly to the bacteria growing on its surface.

The big selling point here is energy efficiency. Traditional systems waste a lot of power blowing bubbles into huge tanks of water. MABR doesn’t need that constant, aggressive aeration because the oxygen goes straight where it’s needed. This is why everyone is looking at it as a “green” alternative. Usually, these membranes are made from silicone rubber or polyolefin hollow fibers.

What’s really clever is how we can use “oxygen-enriched” carriers—basically silicone fibers wrapped in a fine polyester fleece. Because the oxygen is coming from the inside of the fiber out, you get a high-oxygen zone right at the base of the biofilm where nitrification happens. Meanwhile, the outer layer of the film handles the organic waste.

Instead of needing three or four different tanks and stages to clean the water, an MABR can handle organic removal and nitrogen treatment all in one go. It’s a much more compact and elegant way to get advanced treatment results without the massive footprint.

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