Many industrial processes generate massive amounts of brine, or wastewater with high concentrations of saline. These substances can’t be safely released into the environment without extensive water treatment, which removes the salt in a form that can be safely disposed of or removed. Brine waste is tightly regulated, so businesses in every industry should understand what treatment technologies are available.

What Is Brine?

Any wastewater product with high concentrations of dissolved salts is considered brine. Some common sources of brine include outflow from cooling towers and boilers, waste from reverse osmosis filters, and byproducts of food manufacturing and packaging. Along with high salt contents, brine also usually contains elevated levels of total dissolved solids (TDS), which can make them especially challenging to treat.

Water Treatment Technologies for Brine

Membrane Treatment Systems

As a cost-effective water treatment options for brine waste, membrane systems are among the most widely used technologies on the market. These systems typically consist of a series of permeable membranes, which draw out salts and other solids as the water passes through.

Evaporation & Crystallization

Membrane systems result in clean fresh water and highly concentrated brine solutions, which require further treatment. Evaporation and crystallization processes remove the excess water, leaving salt and other contaminants behind as solids. These materials can then be collected, reused, or safely disposed of.

Ion Exchange

Ion exchange (IX) systems are exceptionally effective water treatment technologies, especially if you’re targeting a specific substance. Using a combination of electricity, chemical additives, and physical membranes, these systems remove unwanted ions and replace them with other ions with the same electrical charge.
 

No matter what industry you’re in, Western Environmental Management offers the expertise and cutting-edge solutions to ensure your facility’s wastewater is safe. They proudly serve businesses throughout New Mexico and El Paso, TX, offering everything from problem analysis to custom-designed water treatment systems tailored to your application. Visit their website for more on their water treatment systems, or call (575) 885-5709 to schedule an inspection today.