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Researchers from Rice University, in collaboration with Guangdong University of Technology, have developed an innovative method for treating high-salinity organic wastewater by adapting dialysis technology used in medicine.
According to a report by SciTechDaily on Monday, this new approach effectively separates salts and organic compounds with minimal dilution, overcoming the limitations of traditional wastewater treatment methods.
The technique, based on medical dialysis where a dialyzer filters waste and excess fluids from the blood, applies similar principles to wastewater. The team’s study, published in Nature Water, demonstrates how this process can reduce environmental impact, lower costs, and potentially recover valuable resources.
Menachem Elimelech, a lead author of the study, highlighted the technique’s effectiveness, calling it a breakthrough in wastewater management. Industries such as petrochemical, pharmaceutical, and textile manufacturing produce high-salinity organic wastewater, which is difficult to treat using conventional methods.
Current techniques like biological treatment, advanced oxidation, and thermal methods are often inefficient or costly due to issues like fouling, energy consumption, and corrosion. The new dialysis-based method addresses these challenges and offers a more sustainable solution.
