Transforming textile wastewater into reusable process water
In southern China’s textile heartland, an industrial park faced growing water scarcity and stricter environmental regulations. To ensure long-term resilience, the local utility operator invested in an advanced membrane-based water reuse system designed to reclaim printing and dyeing wastewater.
By combining ultrafiltration (UF) and reverse osmosis (RO) technologies, the facility now produces consistent, high-quality process water — reducing freshwater demand and setting a benchmark for sustainable water management in the textile sector.
The customer
Located in a large textile industrial park in Guangdong Province, China, the customer operates a centralized wastewater treatment facility that provides water and utility services to multiple dyeing and printing factories.
Facing tightening local water regulations and restrictions on surface water use, the operator sought to reduce dependence on freshwater sources by reclaiming treated effluent for reuse. The goal was to implement a reliable and energy-efficient membrane system capable of delivering consistent process water quality for industrial applications across the park.
The challenge
Textile dyeing and printing generate complex wastewater streams rich in colorants, salts, and organic compounds. Even after biological treatment, the effluent’s high COD levels (≈120 mg/L) and alkaline nature posed a severe fouling risk for membranes.
Additionally, the facility operates in a hot climate, with feedwater temperatures rising to 40 °C during summer — a further stress factor for membrane integrity and system stability.
The challenge was to design a durable, low-maintenance water reuse solution capable of maintaining high flux, stable rejection rates, and long cleaning intervals under such demanding operating conditions.
The solution
The system combines biological and advanced membrane processes to maximize effluent polishing and water recovery. After equalization, oxidation, and MBR pretreatment, the water passes through PureULTRA II ultrafiltration modules and MICRODYN fouling-resistant reverse osmosis elements.
The PureULTRA II UF modules, made from hydrophilic PVDF hollow fibers with a 0.025 µm pore size, efficiently remove suspended solids and color, maintaining turbidity below 0.2 NTU and ensuring long membrane life. Downstream, the RO system achieves over 98% salt rejection and stable operation with minimal cleaning, producing clear, low-salinity permeate for reuse as process water across the textile park.
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Highlights