Evaluation for the reclamation potential of high-tech industrial wastewater effluent treated with different membrane processes

Due to the shortage of water supplies, the reclamation and reuse of the effluents from wastewater treatment plants has become an important issue in Taiwan, especially for industrial parks. By constructing a reclaimed water distribution system, the reclaimed water could be used as nonpotable and industrial water. This research used three advanced integrated treatment processes, including sand filtration (SF), microfiltration (MF), granular activated carbon (GAC, ion exchange JE), reverse osmosis (RO), and an ultraviolet disinfection (UV) unit, to treat the effluent from the wastewater treatment plant of Hsin-Chu Science-Based Industrial Park. The reclamation potential of treated water was examined compared with different water reuse criteria. The results of the experiments showed that different process could achieve different levels of water purification. This was dependent on the complexity and sequence of the units. The effluent from the simplest process, called process A, which combined the SF, MF, GAC, and UV units in that order, could meet the criteria of nonindustrial water. The effluent of process B and C, which additionally installed IE-MF-RO and MF-RO-IE units in sequence, respectively, between the GAC and UV units of process A, could be reused as sprinkling, landscaping and recreational water; cooling-system makeup water; low-pressure boiler feed water; as well as potable water or Newater with suitable advanced treatment.