Why is Ceramic Membrane required in Wastewater Treatment?

The ceramic membranes are commonly used in water and wastewater treatment due to the wide range of benefits. It has become a superior alternative to conventional water treatment technologies, with several flaws.

After the 1990's, the market share of the ceramic membrane became more than 80%. Here we will discuss the application of ceramic membrane technology in wastewater filtration.

What is a Ceramic Membrane?

The ceramic membrane is a separation membrane that is made of ceramic material. It is produced by mixing inorganic raw materials additives after molding and calcination in the high-temperature ranges. With a porosity greater than 30% and an average pore size of 1~10μm, this technology seems to be the perfect way of water filtration.

Based on the filtration method and pore size, there are flat ceramic membranes, roll ceramic membranes, hollow fiber ceramic membranes, and tubular ceramic membranes.

Application of Ceramic Membranes in Wastewater

The rapid increase in the population and the shortage of water resources have become a severe problem. It is the moral responsibility of the authorities to supply pure and healthy water to the consumers. Old and conventional methods of wastewater filtration cannot match the desired standards. There is a need for a more advanced water and wastewater treatment plan.

Many water and wastewater treatment technologies came up. The membrane separation technology using ceramic membranes is gaining momentum. It offers several advantages such as:

·         Good chemical stability with acid and alkali resistance. They also remain resistant to organic solvents and oxidation.

·         High mechanical strength. They do not deform under severe pressure and pressure difference conditions.

·         Extreme temperature resistance, and many more in water and wastewater treatment. They can be operated at a temperature of more than 400°C. However, the maximum operating temperature can be around 800°C.

·         The ceramic membranes also show abrasion resistance, erosion resistance, etc.

·         They have a strong anti-microbial ability creating a high antibacterial effect. Therefore, the same is best for medical and biological engineering purposes.

·         Due to the narrow pore size distribution, the separation efficiency is very high.

·         They are non-toxic and hence suitable for water, food, and drugs.

All these advantages help ceramic membranes in grey water treatment. These membranes also find their application in domestic sewage treatment with low pollution.

How does it ensure water treatment?

Ceramic membranes ensure to work without using any chemical agents. The membrane assures that the quality of the water remains stable. They are also beneficial for retaining the essential minerals in the water while the filtration is done. The ceramic membrane also eliminates rust, heavy metal ions, and eliminating bacteria. It does not produce secondary pollution.

The oily wastewater is difficult to degrade and easy to emulsify. It can create a severely polluted environment, and conventional methods cannot handle Oil Water Separation. Free, dissolved, and emulsified dispersion of oil in water is treated by ceramic membranes.

Even the textile industry generates wastewater substances like bleaching agents, metal substances, pulp, etc. Ceramic membrane technology treats textile wastewater too.

There is a complicated composition of chemical wastewater. The wastewater contains loads of acids and alkalis. The inability of the conventional methods to handle this necessitates the use of ceramic membrane technology. The inorganic ceramic membrane separation ensures an effective wastewater treatment process.