Issue Details

EMERGENCE OF MEMBRANES IN THE TREATMENT OF WASTEWATER AND WATER

ABSTRACT

The most vital chemical element on earth is water. Although the annual precipitation on the surface of the globe may be adequate, the uneven distribution of rainfall does not satisfy human needs in all parts of the world. Existing water supplies may be saltier than what is considered potable in some desert regions. As a result of rising population and standard of living, careless water use in many large cities, and most importantly, pollution of natural water reserves by sewage and industrial waste, many areas in many cities have reached a critical point where they are unable to meet rising demands. Desalting can be a useful addition in this situation to help with wastewater reclamation. Desalting technology is used in pollution control and includes a broad view of the problem of pollution in general, its technological solutions, applications in the social and economic spheres, and desalting techniques like distillation, deionization by membranes, salt separation by freezing, and chemical deionization methods. In this sense, membrane processes have a significant impact on lowering water scarcity. They can be employed to treat waste waters before they are released into surface water, to recover industrial materials before they end up in waste streams, and, of course, to treat water for human consumption. The effectiveness of membranes in treating water and wastewater has been greatly influenced by their capacities.Desalting has been practised since ancient times. The Bible contains the earliest mention of turning salt water into fresh water, where the bitter water became pleasant after passing through wood. Aristotle (384–322 BC) also described the procedure used by seafarers to draw fresh water from the ocean. In a kettle of boiling seawater, they hung sponges from the ceiling. Squeezing the sponges allowed freshwater to be retrieved after the vapours had condensed on them. The wax pot experiment by Aristotle is another crucial link. Numerous Arab and Byzantine intellectuals from antiquity wrote about desalination. In the writings of Al-Hirani, Al-Biruni, Nikephoros Blemmides, Gilbertus Angelicus, and others, the citations can be found. Famous scientists who tried to desalt water include Sir Richard Hawkins, Hauton, Samuel Reyer, Thomas Bartholin, and Robert Boyle. Giorgio Nebbia and Gabriella Nebbia Menozzi provided an outstanding overview of the development of various desalting processes throughout history.

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