As a progressive industrial activity, effective management of wastewater has become critically important. High levels of Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) and Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) in effluent streams are among other impositions causing serious challenges to the industries-from regulatory to Sultanovgun to green process business purposes. Enter the Nano-Filtration Membrane for COD-TDS Reduction, which is indeed a very viable and efficient solution to all those problems.
Nano-filtration membranes function selectively to remove organic compounds, salts, and other impurities while retaining the essential minerals. In most advances, this technology will provide sustainable and economical treatment of wastewater for cleaner discharges, with fewer impacts on the environment. It can save huge operational expenditure and make stringent compliance with environmental requirements much simpler.
At Jay Water, we are obsessed with developing the most advanced Nano-Filtration Membrane for COD-TDS Reduction to solve all wastewater treatment-related issues in industries. These membranes integrated into your system would help minimize the levels of effluent COD and TDS and ensure compliance with all regulations while endorsing the environment as well. Experience the right mixture of efficiency, sustainability, and affordability with the innovative water management solutions at Jay Water. Let’s make sustainable water practices a reality!
Old Effluent Treatment Plant & RO Plant
Generated effluent treated in a conservative ETP of capacity of 900 KLD. ETP treated water feeds in the RO plant, where the feed parameter is COD 300 ppm & TDS < 5000 ppm. (In general TDS value is low, around 2000-2200 ppm. In the worst case, TDS may increase up to 5000 ppm TDS ) RO plant design on 65% recovery. So, the final reject generated around 300-320 KLD.
Challenges
Factory discharge limit is 120 KLD to CETP, and RO reject quantity is 300-320 KLD. SO, RO reject water needs to be reduced with further treatment. The general parameter of RO reject is COD 800 ppm and TDS < 6000 ppm. Along with this, it was difficult to allocate more space to expand the existing ETP for further treatment.
Due to the high COD value in the RO reject water, the second-stage RO plant was not possible. So, we provided Nano-filtration membrane technology for further treatment.
Used Nano-Filtration Membrane for COD-TDS Reduction
With the help of Nano-Filtration membrane technology, RO reject water can be treated further to reduce the final reject volume. So, the total reject water is reduced to 110 KLD from 320 KLD after the NF plant. Parameters limit of discharge water is < 3000 ppm COD, and flexible in terms of TDS. So, the issue was resolved with the help of the NF plant as it uses limited space and matches their discharge quantity limit.
Water quality of Nano-Filtration membrane permeate is as below:
| PARAMETER | NF FEED | NF PERMEATE |
|---|---|---|
| COD (ppm) | 800 | < 50 |
| TDS (ppm) | 4500 | < 500 |
| TSS (ppm) | 10 | – |
| NF Plant Capacity | 416 KLD | |
| System Recovery | 65% | |
| CIP Frequency | DAILY | |
| Membrane | TORAY make CSM NF | |
Summary & Benefit
- Purpose fulfilled after adding just Nano-Filtration technology in the existing ETP scheme.
- In case of high TDS like 16500 ppm, NF-treated water needs feed in the RO plant for further treatment. In a general case where NF feed TDS is 6000-8000 ppm, the client can use NF-treated water directly for cleaning and washing.
- Lower osmotic pressure is required compared to RO & achieve high recovery.
- The best technology to remove diverse MW organic mixtures, which causes the COD in the effluent.
- Nano-Filtration membranes have having hydrophobic surface, which is antifouling in nature. That’s why it can easily remove surface chalking.
- Due to the current scenario of the water pollution issue, they are planning to upgrade the ETP to ZLD(Zero Liquid Discharge), which might add one more NF system to further concentrate the effluent and feed into MEE.
Conclusion: Leveraging Nano-Filtration Membrane for COD-TDS Reduction
For existing effluent treatment plants, the integration of Nano-Filtration Membrane facilities for COD-TDS reduction has proved to be a game-changer for critical wastewater problems. Advanced NF membrane technology helped the factory get around space constraints, reduce high COD levels and efficiently meet strict discharge limits.
The total reject water volume was hence reduced by the incorporation of NF membranes, from 320 KLD to 110 KLD, which meets the limit of 120 KLD discharge to CETP. The permeate water quality also improved phenomenally to <50 ppm COD, <500 ppm TDS. All these help to lower the ecological footprint and bring optimisation in the water management processes. Moreover, the NF membranes possess hydrophobic surfaces, which resist fouling, ensuring convenient operation at low maintenance costs.
The flexibility of Nano-Filtration technology is another great advantage. If TDS levels are too high (up to 16,500 ppm), then the water from the NF plant would be sent to the RO plant for final purification. Otherwise, with normal feed TDS levels of 6,000–8,000 ppm, this permeate is directly used for cleanliness and washing applications. That is what makes it a sustainable option in various aspects of industrial usage.
Now, the factory is going for another upgrade to zero-liquid discharge systems by adding another NF system to concentrate the effluent before it enters MEE. This is the trend in realising the importance of Nano-Filtration Membranes with COD-TDS reduction for sustainable water practices.
FAQs
What’s the main difference between nano-filtration and reverse osmosis?
Nano-filtration uses slightly larger membrane pores than RO, so it needs less pressure and operates more energy-efficiently. Think of NF as a “smart filter” that removes harmful contaminants while keeping beneficial minerals, whereas RO is a complete purification system that removes nearly everything. The practical benefit: NF costs 30-50% less to operate than RO and achieves higher recovery rates.
How often do nano-filtration membranes need cleaning?
Most NF systems require automated cleaning-in-place (CIP) once daily. This preventive approach keeps membranes working at peak efficiency. If you skip regular cleaning, membranes foul quickly and require expensive, aggressive chemical cleaning. It’s similar to brushing teeth daily versus dealing with cavitiesprevention is far more cost-effective than correction.
How long do nano-filtration membranes last?
With proper maintenance and scheduled CIP, NF membranes typically last 3-5 years before replacement. The exact lifespan depends on your feed water quality, operating pressure, and cleaning discipline. Systems with good pre-treatment and consistent maintenance consistently achieve 4-5 year lifespans, while neglected systems may fail in 1-2 years.
Can I reuse nano-filtration treated water?
Absolutely. If you’re removing COD and TSS through NF, the treated permeate can be recycled for cooling, washing, and cleaning applications. For ultra-pure requirements, you can polish NF permeate through RO. Many facilities now use NF-treated water for non-potable reuse, simultaneously reducing freshwater consumption and eliminating discharge volumes.
What’s the payback period for a nano-filtration system?
For most industrial facilities, NF systems pay for themselves in 12-24 months through combined savings: lower energy costs (30-50% less than RO), eliminated or reduced discharge fees, smaller reject volumes, and decreased chemical consumption. ROI typically reaches 2-3 times your initial investment over five years.
