A more sustainable approach to industrial water management
Industrial water management faces pressing problems such as water scarcity, pollution, insufficient water reuse, and high energy consumption. Around the world, governments, industries, and consumers are pushing for greener solutions that limit the use of water and energy in industrial applications and processes. From textiles to pharmaceuticals and heavy industry, our Aquaporin Inside® membranes are an efficient way to streamline your water recovery processes, improve processed water use, save energy and step up your industrial water reuse.
Whatever your industrial water challenge, our technology and expertise can help you improve water recovery rates, simplify your effluent treatment – and lower your CAPEX (capital expenses) and OPEX (operating expenses).
At Aquaporin we have a two-fold approach to treating industrial water; we treat our clients’ water they use in processes, and we treat our clients’ wastewater, the water discharged from process water. And we use two different treatment technologies to achieve the best results.
For process water we use reverse osmosis and for wastewater we use forward osmosis – both membrane-based technologies.
What is the difference between forward osmosis and reverse osmosis?
If you are a water professional or system integrator you are probably familiar with reverse osmosis (RO). But how does RO relate to FO when it comes to industrial wastewater treatment? While both RO and FO are membrane-based water treatment technologies there are some significant differences between the two.
Both RO and FO are used to diffuse water from one side of a membrane to the other, filtering out dissolved solids, ions and other undesirable compounds from the effluent in the process. The main difference between the two technologies is how water is driven through the membrane.
Get the best-in-class process water while keeping energy consumption low
One of today’s critical challenges for industries is securing clean water in processes while balancing the energy and resource use. The Aquaporin Inside® CLEAR membrane series consists of biomimetic reverse osmosis membranes that, with their unique properties, deliver high-quality permeate while keeping energy consumption low.
They are suited for optimization of reverse osmosis systems, and is a perfect choice for those who want higher flow and lower operating pressure and carbon footprint without compromising rejection.
Aquaporin Inside® CLEAR membranes reduce energy use by 30 % in municipal wastewater treatment
An often-used solution for improving recovery rates and water quality is the reverse osmosis (RO) technology. However, it is a very energy-intensive process. As such, municipalities using RO are always looking for ways to improve the energy efficiency and productivity of the process with the purpose of protecting reclamation plants against energy price surges and sudden hikes in water demand.
Recover resources from your wastewater and achieve zero liquid discharge with forward osmosis
Achieve zero liquid discharge wastewater treatment with forward osmosis
For many industrial wastewater treatment processes, the main objective is to achieve Minimal Liquid Discharge (MLD) or Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD). Forward osmosis using Aquaporin Inside® Forward Osmosis membranes are a key part of making this possible.
Extremely thin and selective, Aquaporin Inside® Forward Osmosis membranes enable good water flux even at low pressure. They also reject more compounds than any other membrane on the market – enabling you to recover water of high quality. As a result, you can reduce operational costs by maintaining high production capacity while running at lower pressures. And the lowest reverse salt flux on the market benefits the overall process costs and extends the lifetime of the membranes used in your industrial wastewater management process.
High selectivity enables treatment of even the most difficult process water and effluent
Lower fouling reduces production stops and costs related to cleaning
Minimal reverse flux ensures a clean concentrate, without additional treatment
Compact design reduces plant footprint
Lack of heat or hydraulic pressure results in lower energy consumption
Less use of chemicals results in a greener process
What is forward osmosis? The most frequently asked questions
Forward Osmosis is increasingly being used in a range of water treatment applications, from food and beverage production to heavy industry. Forward osmosis (FO) is a water separation process which uses a semipermeable membrane and the natural energy of osmotic pressure to separate water from dissolved solutes. The osmotic pressure is used to transport water through the membrane while retaining all the dissolved solutes on the other side.
Here are answers to a few common questions about the process.
When water is cheap and abundant, the incentive to minimize waste and maximize recycling and reuse is low. But in many areas, water is becoming an increasingly scarce and valuable resource. Across the globe, many companies are taking greater efforts to recycle and reuse their industrial wastewater, motivated by factors such as water scarcity, social license to operate, local regulation and commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). This shift from linear to circular water consumption which will only grow in the coming years. Learn how you can join the water revolution and increase the reuse and recycling of your industrial wastewater.
A strong understanding of the effluent treatment process is central for effective industrial wastewater management. In any industry that uses massive quantities of water as part of their processes, there is a need to process the resulting effluent to remove contaminants before discharge and disposal. Effective effluent treatment is needed to comply with environmental regulation but can also be used to recover clean water and valuable materials for reuse.
Is forward osmosis right for your wastewater treatment process?
Try out our assessment tool
To give you an indication of whether FO is the right choice for your (or your client's) process, we have designed this simple online assessment. You answer a few questions and learn whether FO is right for your treatment process. Of course, there are many variables when it comes to industrial wastewater management, so it will only serve as a guideline.
Very high rejection rates significantly increase permeate water quality - for a more sustainable reuse of water and lower disposal costs.
Treat challenging waste streams
High efficiency enables you to handle higher levels of COD (chemical oxygen demand) and TDS (total dissolved solids) than other technologies on the market.
Enjoy easy installation
Easily retrofit our membranes on existing effluent treatment processes to streamline your industrial wastewater treatment
Step up your capacity with smaller footprint
With land prices at a premium, having to devote more space for your wastewater treatment process can be a costly proposition. High flow rates enable you to process more industrial wastewater, without increasing your physical footprint.
Turn your waste into profit
Capture precious materials in your wastewater - such as nutrients, metals or Glauber's salt (sodium sulfate decahydrate) for recycling or reuse.
Meet industry requirements - and your own environmental targets
Stringent regulation on the use and reuse of water in industries is a growing trend. With our forward osmosis membranes in your industrial effluent treatment, you can minimize the steps needed to fulfill internal and external requirements.
The REWAISE project: Collaboration and innovation in Spain
At Aquaporin, we focus on providing the best service and experience when we collaborate with a partner. Therefore, Aquaporin also spends time visiting ongoing projects. This approach to business sent Aquaporin employees Jan Benecke, Head of Commercial Engineering Reverse Osmosis, and Hanh Le, Membrane Applications Engineer, from Lyngby, Denmark, to two waterworks in Berja and […]
Aquaporin announces collaboration on novel desalination and wastewater pilot project
A collaboration between Aquaporin, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, and Canary Islands Institute of Technology will develop a revolutionizing forward osmosis pilot plant based in Mancomunidad del Sureste de Gran Canaria. The aim of the one-of-a-kind pilot project is to combine desalination and wastewater treatment to ensure sufficient clean water supplies in areas […]
Across Europe, economies are turning to biogas to build energy independence and a greener future. Biogas PowerON focuses on Europe’s oil/gas independence and a green transition this year. We are present to support this critical step and tell how our technology can make biogas production even greener. The talk of the Biogas town During the […]
While agriculture still leads global water consumption at around 70%, industrial water use accounts for almost half the total water consumption in industrialized nations.
Industrial water use
Textiles
Today, the textile industry accounts for around 20% of all global industrial water contamination. Together, we can bring that number down.
Our Aquaporin Inside® Forward Osmosis membranes enable process intensification to minimize the steps needed to achieve treatment and reuse goals in the textile industry. We’re working with customers to develop more sustainable methods of dealing with textile wastewater streams – giving them a tangible way to improve their sustainability performance and connect with today’s sustainability-focused consumers.
The global automotive industry is a major consumer of water. An estimated 148.000 liters of water is used to produce a single car. This covers the water used for processes like surface treatment and coating, painting, washing, cooling, air-conditioning systems and boilers. Metal finishing and especially painting accounts for the most significant water consumption, including the regular cleaning of the processing equipment.
In addition to the high water consumption, automotive production generates heavily polluted wastewater which requires extensive wastewater treatment in order to meet regulatory and environmental standards.
Industrial water use
Semiconductor
With the relentless global demand for electronic devices and computer chips, the production of semiconductors continues to increase. This requires vast quantities of water which has to be exceptionally pure to avoid contamination. A typical semiconductor manufacturing facility uses 7.500 to 15.000 m3 of ultra-pure water per day.
Industrial wastewater from semiconductor manufacturing contains hazardous materials such as heavy metals and toxic solvents. The risk posed by these complex effluent streams has prompted several semiconductor manufacturers to take steps to reduce their water consumption, increase water reuse and improve wastewater treatment before discharge.
Water is critical for oil and gas production. And since much of the global oil and gas production takes place in water-stressed regions like the Middle East and North Africa, energy companies are extremely motivated to become more efficient in their water consumption and reuse of water for their industrial processes. Given the severe impact oil and gas production can have on local water resources, energy companies must also take great care to ensure that their wastewater treatment, storage and disposal does not pose a risk to local communities and the environment.
Industrial water use
Carwash
The carwash industry has been increasing drastically and, in some regions, as much as 30 % during the last two decades. The increase is due to people preferring having their cars washed for them versus doing it themselves.
This, of course, has a significant impact on the processed water used and energy consumption, as carwash stations typically use RO treatment, which requires pumps, to leave the cars clean and spot-free. And during wintertime, the energy increases further due to the pressure increases on the pumps.
With Aquaporin Inside@ reverse osmosis membranes, you can achieve higher flow and lower operating pressure without compromising rejection, leaving you with a system that delivers spot-free carwash results and minimizes energy consumption.
We use cookies in our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of the cookies explicitly. Visit Cookie Settings to know more about the cookies used on our website. Cookie settings
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not contain any personal information.
Cookie
Description
__hssrc
This cookie is set by Hubspot. According to their documentation, whenever HubSpot changes the session cookie, this cookie is also set to determine if the visitor has restarted their browser. If this cookie does not exist when HubSpot manages cookies, it is considered a new session.
AWSALB
The cookies AWSALB and AWSALBCORS are functionally the same cookies. The latter has an explicit SameSite attribute set because of changes made from Chrome 80 and upwards.
AWSALBCORS
The cookies AWSALB and AWSALBCORS are functionally the same cookies. The latter has an explicit SameSite attribute set because of changes made from Chrome 80 and upwards.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-advertisement
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The purpose of this cookie is to check whether or not the user has given their consent to the usage of cookies under the category 'Advertisement'.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The purpose of this cookie is to check whether or not the user has given the consent to the usage of cookies under the category 'Analytics'.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-non-necessary
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Non Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The purpose of this cookie is to check whether or not the user has given the consent to the usage of cookies under the category 'Performance'.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-uncategorized
PHPSESSID
This cookie is native to PHP applications. The cookie is used to store and identify a users' unique session ID for the purpose of managing user session on the website. The cookie is a session cookie and is deleted when all the browser windows are closed.
viewed_cookie_policy
The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Cookie
Description
__hstc
This cookie is set by Hubspot and is used for tracking visitors. It contains the domain, utk, initial timestamp (first visit), last timestamp (last visit), current timestamp (this visit), and session number (increments for each subsequent session).
_ga
This cookie is installed by Google Analytics. The cookie is used to calculate visitor, session, campaign data and keep track of site usage for the site's analytics report. The cookies store information anonymously and assigns a randomly generated number to identify unique visitors.
_gid
This cookie is installed by Google Analytics. The cookie is used to store information of how visitors use a website and helps in creating an analytics report of how the website is doing. The data collected including the number visitors, the source where they have come from, and the pages visited in an anonymous form.
GPS
This cookie is set by Youtube and registers a unique ID for tracking users based on their geographical location
hubspotutk
This cookie is used by hubspot to keep track of the visitors to the website. This cookie is passed to Hubspot on form submission and used when deduplicating contacts.
li_sugr
Cookie is placed by LinkedIn to store browser details.
lissc
Cookie used for Sign-in with Linkedin and/or for Linkedin follow feature
Preference cookies are used to store user preferences to provide content that is customized and convenient for the users, like the language of the website or the location of the visitor.
Cookie
Description
_gat_UA-25896845-1
This is a pattern type cookie set by Google Analytics, where the pattern element on the name contains the unique identity number of the account or website it relates to. It appears to be a variation of the _gat cookie which is used to limit the amount of data recorded by Google on high traffic volume websites.
lang
This cookie is used to store the language preferences of a user to serve up content in that stored language the next time user visit the website.
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Cookie
Description
__hssc
This cookie is set by HubSpot. The purpose of the cookie is to keep track of sessions. This is used to determine if HubSpot should increment the session number and timestamps in the __hstc cookie. It contains the domain, viewCount (increments each pageView in a session), and session start timestamp.
bcookie
This cookie is set by linkedIn. The purpose of the cookie is to enable LinkedIn functionalities on the page.
lidc
This cookie is set by LinkedIn and used for routing.
test_cookie
This cookie is set by doubleclick.net. The purpose of the cookie is to determine if the users' browser supports cookies.
YSC
This cookies is set by Youtube and is used to track the views of embedded videos.
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Cookie
Description
_fbp
This cookie is set by Facebook to deliver advertisements when they are on Facebook or a digital platform powered by Facebook advertising after visiting this website.
bscookie
This cookie is a browser ID cookie set by Linked share Buttons and ad tags.
fr
The cookie is set by Facebook to show relevant advertisements to the users and measure and improve the advertisements. The cookie also tracks the behavior of the user across the web on sites that have Facebook pixel or Facebook social plugin.
IDE
Used by Google DoubleClick and stores information about how the user uses the website and any other advertisement before visiting the website. This is used to present users with ads that are relevant to them according to the user profile.
UserMatchHistory
Linkedin - Used to track visitors on multiple websites, in order to present relevant advertisement based on the visitor's preferences.
VISITOR_INFO1_LIVE
This cookie is set by Youtube. Used to track the information of the embedded YouTube videos on a website.