An innovative wastewater ultrafiltration process is investigated, with its efficiency estimated using both modelling and experimental trials. An optimisation procedure is defined to improve the hydraulic and energy performance of the membranes.
This Italian–German study has estimated the efficiency of an ultrafiltration process for the treatment of secondary effluents, in order to be reused in the wet textile industry.
This experimental approach was carried out at pilot scale at the Baciacavallo wastewater treatment plant in Prato, Italy –one of the main textile areas in Europe.
During the experimental trials the membrane filtration process was optimised in terms of running time, backwash, addition of chemicals, cleaning procedures, and running cost.
According to the experimental results, the treatment guarantees compliance with the target values for wastewater reuse in the wet textile industry.
Mathematical tools were used to simulate the efficiency of the hydraulic properties, showing different behaviours of the filters by varying the process parameters (such as filtration time and flux), so that the selection of the best configuration can be approached more easily and quickly.
The process was optimised both in terms of the volume of treated water and the energy costs, providing an accurate procedure to improve filter performance.
An example of its application is reported, where the volume of treated water can be increased by 43% while reducing the energy cost by 45.5%.
