treatment of wastewater from regeneration of ion-exchange resin of decolorizing columns in the sugar industry using nanofiltration process

the effects of three levels of transmembrane pressure (1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 mpa) as well as three temperature  levels of: 30, 40 and 50°c on the efficiency of nanofiltration process of waste brine from the regeneration of ion exchange resins at sugar industry (to recover water and sodium chloride) were investigated throughout the current study. the polyamide tubular afc40 membrane manufactured by pci membrane systems was used throughout the study. the results suggested an 81% reduction in salt consumption, a 90% reduction in water consumption and a removal of >89.3% of colorant components. the sodium chloride rejection increased with increase in the pressure, whereas it decreased through an increase in temperature. the average sodium chloride rejection was found to be 9%. according to the obtained result, the average permeate flux increased with increase in temperature and pressure. the results indicated that the membrane fouling was low (13%) with membrane fouling increasing with increase in temperature from 30°c to 40°c, however it was lowered with a further increase up to 50°c. the benefits obtained from using this membrane are the exclusion of membrane fouling by being rinsed with pure water. furthermore, using the nf process, the volume of effluent was lowered by 90%.