Integrated membrane treatment for closed-cycle textile water reuse
An integrated MBR-UF-NF-RO membrane treatment system for textile wastewater, engineered to enable a closed-loop water cycle. The solution produces multiple grades of high-quality, reusable process water for dyeing, washing, and steam generation, reducing freshwater consumption and industrial disposal costs.
Overview
This integrated membrane-based treatment system is designed to transform textile wastewater into high-quality process water, supporting a closed-cycle water management approach in the textile industry. By utilizing a multi-stage hybrid configuration—combining membrane bioreactors (MBR), ultrafiltration (UF), nanofiltration (NF), and reverse osmosis (RO)—the solution effectively removes complex organic pollutants, salts, and dyes that are resistant to conventional treatments. This modular approach allows for differentiated water quality, enabling facilities to reuse treated effluent across various stages of textile production, including dyeing, washing, bleaching, finishing, and high-purity requirements like boiler feed and steam generation.
Technical specifications
- Integrated MBR-UF-NF-RO treatment train for comprehensive contaminant removal.
- Pretreatment with MBR to eliminate biodegradable organic matter and suspended solids, significantly reducing downstream membrane fouling.
- Secondary polishing via UF to improve system stability and flux performance.
- NF and RO stages for targeted removal of dissolved organics, salts, and color, tailored to meet specific industrial water quality standards.
- Scalable design based on techno-economic modeling, with capabilities for counter-current rinsing and salt recovery to optimize total lifecycle costs.
- Operational flexibility to adjust output quality based on local water pricing and environmental regulations.
Technology readiness level
The technology is at a level of 4-6 (In development). The system design is supported by extensive academic research, pilot-scale evaluations of hybrid membrane configurations, and comprehensive techno-economic assessments that provide a conceptual basis for full-scale industrial implementation. It has not yet reached full commercial, off-the-shelf deployment.
About University of Zagreb
The University of Zagreb is a comprehensive public research university in Croatia’s capital, combining broad academic scope with an applied research culture. Industry engages via co‑located national e‑infrastructure and high‑performance computing at SRCE for data‑intensive collaboration. Clinical translation is enabled through integration with the University Hospital Centre Zagreb and other teaching hospitals. Experimental farms and field stations at the Faculty of Agriculture provide settings for real‑world trials and demonstrations. Research is backed by competitive EU and national funding, including Horizon Europe and the Croatian Science Foundation, and a central technology transfer center (CIRTT) advances IP and commercialization.
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