Faced with constantly escalating environmental challenges and increasing demand for water resources, industrial wastewater treatment solutions are at the forefront of global priorities. As the world faces population growth, urbanization, and industrial expansion, water resource supply pressures are intensifying, posing a threat to human health and ecosystem sustainability. Innovative solutions for wastewater treatment have become a top priority, surpassing local concerns to meet urgent global needs. Innovative and sustainable wastewater treatment solutions not only play a crucial role in maintaining public health by ensuring access to clean water, but also make significant contributions to protecting ecosystems and the overall resilience of the Earth. Let's delve into the main trends affecting industrial wastewater treatment in 2024:

Searching for ZLD

In the past two years, we have witnessed a significant increase in demand for high recovery systems and zero liquid emissions (ZLD), especially from the semiconductor industry. The increase in demand is a direct response to regulatory pressure. Semiconductor companies are driven by the necessity of minimizing risk. Dealing with waste containing PFAS or other harmful substances poses regulatory risks, which may lead to factory closures and the entire production process being halted. In order to mitigate this regulatory risk, companies in the semiconductor industry have chosen ZLD. Despite the associated costs, this method is considered a risk reduction measure. By implementing ZLD, these companies can not only utilize existing technology but also ensure the production of clean water, which is a key element in their manufacturing process.

Clean water balance

An emerging trend involves companies eager to enhance water balance, striving to achieve a net positive state of water consumption. Choosing a high recovery solution has become the key to this pursuit, as it allows them to consume less water and extract more water compared to traditional processes. For example, IDE's MAX H2O Designer and PFRO are outstanding solutions in achieving this goal. These solutions are suitable for industrial and municipal processes while ensuring the highest recovery rate. Their application aims to minimize liquid emissions, promote the recovery of urban and industrial wastewater streams, and thus help generate clean water for reuse.

Salt water dilemma

The saltwater factor is an important catalyst for wastewater innovation. Many industrial enterprises far from the sea face challenges in treating saltwater. For them, discharging saltwater into lakes, rivers, or reservoirs is not a feasible option. Alternative solutions include expensive methods such as deep well injection or truck transportation of saltwater. By 2024, I suspect we will see more factories exploring solutions to minimize salt water and treatment technologies to effectively address these disposal challenges.

Unreal water prices

In various regions around the world, including certain parts of the United States and many parts of Europe, the cost of water remains relatively cheap and often disconnected from its actual market value. Therefore, many facilities or processes that have a high demand for water and may benefit from water treatment solutions have not actively sought such solutions, but instead choose to obtain water intake at lower prices. However, with the ongoing global climate crisis and the resulting water scarcity, it is expected that even these water safe areas will eventually reconsider their methods and may hold a more open attitude towards adopting new technologies.

Eternal chemicals are everywhere

The surge in PFAS regulations is increasingly attracting people's attention, and industrial operations require the adoption of high recovery rate solutions. Membrane based solutions, such as reverse osmosis (RO), are particularly effective in addressing this challenge. These innovative technologies have been proven to concentrate PFAS from water sources and subsequently eliminate it, in line with the constantly changing regulatory environment. The high attention to PFAS highlights the industry's commitment to environmental management and compliance, urging organizations to explore advanced water treatment solutions to ensure the removal of these persistent pollutants from wastewater streams. With the strengthening of regulatory review, adopting high recovery rates and membrane based wastewater treatment solutions will become an urgent task for industries seeking to maintain environmental standards and ensure public health.

Sustainable solutions: pursuing excellence

Integrating sustainable development goals and ESG principles into corporate strategy is no longer an option, but a fundamental requirement for organizations to strive for vigorous growth in 2024. Through comprehensive research, development, and innovative thinking, we are firmly committed to developing environmental solutions to meet the growing demands of industries. Our initiatives cover various fields, including solutions utilizing green energy, pioneering on-site chemical production using seawater, and advanced carbon capture technologies. In IDE, we are committed to assisting customers in meeting environmental regulations and achieving their ESG goals.

Emerging technologies for wastewater treatment

As the pursuit of higher wastewater recovery rates becomes more challenging, it is necessary to develop advanced equipment, mainly in the form of membranes, which are not only durable and energy-saving, but also made of different polymers that can operate effectively under high fouling conditions.

In addition, I anticipate significant progress in system control, data analysis, and automation. Wastewater treatment plants generate a large amount of data, and through the integration of advanced technology and artificial intelligence, we can use this data to build complex models to improve operational efficiency and effectiveness.

Wastewater Treatment Solutions - Key to a Sustainable Future

Wastewater treatment reflects the harmonious balance between human development and environmental protection, emphasizing the crucial importance of adopting cutting-edge technologies and sustainable practices. In this dynamic environment, seeking innovative wastewater treatment solutions is not only a scientific effort, but also a collective responsibility to protect our precious water resources and build a sustainable future for future generations. In IDE, we address the complexity of wastewater treatment and work together with customers to not only address today's challenges but also contribute to a sustainable tomorrow.