Process Know-how for End-of-life Reverse Osmosis Membrane Rejuvenation

The discarded membranes are converted into useful membranes for following applications:

• Low salinity brackish water desalination/wastewater treatment and reuse.
  Partial substitution of the original application by enhancing the flow rate but maintaining the salt rejection performance.
  Conversion to ultrafiltration-like membrane elements by removal of polyamide barrier layer.
• The second life of membrane will be a "waste to wealth" proposition.

Applications in desalination and water reuse plants for the same or alternate applications e.g. wastewater reuse, brackish water reverse osmosis, grey water treatment etc.

1. Value creation from waste: End-of-life RO membrane waste is a complex polymeric waste and there is a concern regarding its disposal. The technology not only offers the solution for its disposal but also extends the life of the membrane to create value.
2. Different grades of membrane e.g. Brackish water RO, Ultrafiltration membrane, membrane for wastewater reuse can be created by membrane transformation.
3. Extending the life of membrane will decrease the new membrane requirement and thus decrease the greenhouse gas emission related to new membrane production.
4. Extending the life of the membrane will decrease the new membrane requirement and membranes are largely imported. Thus, it will save foreign exchange
   for the country.