Page 562 - Industrial Wastewater Treatment, Recycling and Reuse

532 Industrial Wastewater Treatment, Recycling, and Reuse

removing, or destroying these chemicals in an effective and efficient manner.
In addition, the wastewater treatment field will likely dominate coupled
operations, using enzymes; immobilized resins and adsorbents; extractant
impregnated adsorbents, resins, and membranes; or facilitated transport
mechanisms for targeted species.
In a broader sense, wastewater treatment involves dilute separations, and,
as a consequence, it requires specific inputs and adaptations based on the
conventional separation process approach. Naturally, the chemistry of the
materials removed and the materials used for the removal is crucial, and
our understanding of this chemistry must grow and improve as newer mate-
rial are being processed or explored. Such developments demand updates to
the physical and chemical properties databases, increased understanding of
chemical interactions for effective removal, mathematical models for new
processes or better prediction of process performance, and better mathemat-
ical tools and process optimization software that are easy to adapt and under-
stood for treatment operations. The analysis of dilute solutions with respect
to priority pollutants is especially important, and treatment plants will
increasingly demand on-line sensors that can provide data in real time.
A number of new technologies are emerging with the aim of refurbishing
present day wastewater treatment, and these technologies should become
the main focus of the industry in the near future. The newer variations of
the treatment processes include electrodeposition, electroflotation, electro-
coagulation, cavigulation (coagulation plus cavitation), electro-oxidation,
hybrid membranes, newer bioprocesses involving microorganisms that can
“eat” specific pollutants, and algae-based wastewater treatments. While
advanced oxidation processes often concentrate on Fenton oxidation, catalytic
oxidation using different catalysts, or photo-oxidation, developments will also
occur in new areas such as supercritical water oxidation and the application of
nano-catalysts. Extractive membrane bioreactors are also likely to see further
development. The current established treatment methodologies, such as
adsorption and ion exchange, will also change and improve through reactive
adsorption and similar operations.
Apart from newer forms of processes, the industry will also experience
the future development of novel reactors, reactor configurations, and
devices that operate with improved efficiency and reduced cost (capital
and operating). This development is indicated by new terminologies such
as anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR), enhanced membrane biore-
actor (EMBR), anaerobic migrating blanket reactor (AMBR), membrane
biofilm reactor, and sequencing batch biofilter granular reactor (SBBGR).