Case Study: Reclaiming Chemical & Petrochemical Industrial Wastewater with PHILOS Megaflux-RO
- gabriela2554
- 24 minutes ago
- 2 min read
South Korea’s heavy industries are facing increasing water demand and reduced availability. Frequent droughts and floods caused by climate extremes highlight the urgency of finding sustainable solutions. In this context, wastewater reclamation and reuse have become essential strategies to secure reliable industrial water sources.
Daesan Industrial Water Center
The Daesan Industrial Water Center in Seosan, Chungnam-do, is Korea’s largest petrochemical water facility, delivering 120,000 m³/day of high-purity water. Its treatment train includes over 6,300 RO membrane modules downstream of UF pretreatment, with about 1,000 modules replaced annually to ensure stable water quality.
“Historically, replacement was based on fixed cycles. However, this approach resulted in unnecessary module disposal and increased OPEX.”
PHILOS Intervention
In 2024–2025, PHILOS implemented direct performance evaluation of RO membranes, the first deployment of this methodology in Korea.
Evaluation process included:
Removal of each RO element from pressure vessels.
Testing for permeate flux (LMH) and salt rejection (%) at controlled operating pressure.
Visual and microscopic examination for fouling (biofilm/organic), scaling (CaCO₃, SiO₂, Fe), and integrity defects.
Statistical ranking of module performance relative to design baseline.
Only underperforming units were replaced. This selective replacement strategy yielded three outcomes:
Operational stability: water quality (conductivity, TOC, ionic species) remained within specifications.
OPEX reduction: fewer modules replaced, lowering material and labor costs.
Extended membrane lifecycle: improved predictive maintenance based on data rather than time.
Pretreatment Integration
RO performance strongly depends on feedwater quality. To address fouling risk, K-water and PHILOS co-developed localized ultrafiltration (UF) membrane modules as pretreatment. These PVDF-based UF units achieved:
Equivalent pore size distribution and permeability to foreign-made separators.
Verified compatibility with Daesan’s existing pretreatment trains through on-site pilot runs.
Reduction in supply-chain delays, A/S response times, and total lifecycle cost.
The UF–RO sequence ensures consistent removal of suspended solids, TOC, and fine colloids, stabilizing RO operation and extending service life.
Technical Significance
The Daesan project demonstrates that:
Performance-based evaluation of RO membranes is technically superior to cycle-based replacement, as it optimizes both cost and reliability.
Localized UF pretreatment provides stable feedwater and strengthens supply security.
Megaflux-RO modules maintain rejection and flux stability across chemically aggressive wastewater streams, validating their suitability for high-demand industries.
Stay tuned for more updates and case studies on how Megaflux-RO is helping industries optimize water treatment processes! Visit www.pmbr.co.kr or contact us at gabriela@pmbr.co.kr.
Find us on other social media platforms:
Comments