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Biological vs. Chemical Wastewater Treatment Which Is Better for Your Industrial Facility

When comparing biological and chemical wastewater treatment strategies, how do you know which technologies will best suit your facility’s treatment needs? Fundamentally, biological treatment uses living bacteria to do the bulk of the purification while chemical treatment uses chemical reactants to accomplish the work, and at first glance, the comparisons seem straightforward—but what contaminants do … » Read More

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What Is a Biological Wastewater Treatment System and How Does It Work?

For an industrial company producing waste as part of its process, some type of wastewater treatment system is usually necessary to ensure safety precautions and discharge regulations are met. The most appropriate wastewater treatment system will help a facility avoid harming the environment, human health, and a facility’s process or products (especially if the wastewater is being reused). … » Read More

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How Can You Reduce Water Used in Electrical Generation?

Electrical generation plants are among the heaviest water users industrially, second only to agriculture. As public concern for water scarcity continues to grow, power plants can expect to see new regulations targeting their use of water, as well as increasing costs for sourcing and discharging water. To stay viable in the long term, electrical generation … » Read More

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How Much Does It Cost to Properly Maintain Membrane Filtration Systems vs. Treat Fouled Membranes? 

When it comes to membrane filtration systems, particularly with microfiltration (MF), ultrafiltration (UF), reverse osmosis (RO), and nanofiltration (NF), fouling can decrease production levels, increase energy consumption, and damage equipment, which can all add unnecessary expenses to your facility’s bottom line. Even the slightest change to operating procedures, stream composition, pH, and temperature, among other factors, … » Read More

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Industry and Water Shortages: Is Your Facility Ready?

  As water accessibility continues to shift and industry water shortages increase, most industrial facilities will need to adapt in some way. Water-intensive industries, in particular—such as the agriculture, food and beverage, and energy industries—will need to be the most resourceful, but the likelihood continues to increase that any industry could be affected. In areas … » Read More

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What Are the Best Companies for Cleaning Fouled Membranes?

    When it comes to membrane filtration and fouling—specifically for microfiltration (MF), ultrafiltration (UF), reverse osmosis (RO), and nanofiltration (NF)—diagnosing system performance issues can be complicated. Even the slightest change to operating procedures, stream composition, pH, temperature, etc., can alter the corrective measures needed to keep membranes working properly. But it’s also important to stay ahead … » Read More

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Five Ways Your Industrial Facility Can Conserve Water and Plan Ahead for Shortages

  Environmental and water scarcity issues are expected to impact industrial facilities increasingly in the coming years, driving up both sourcing and discharge costs. To conserve water and prepare for these future challenges, many industrial facilities are beginning to look at water conservation strategies. In this post, we’ll explore “Five Ways Your Industrial Facility Can … » Read More

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Can Your Facility Save Money by Reducing Its Water Consumption?

  Historically, water has been widely available for industrial use at a low cost. But that’s changing. As global demand increases, so, too, has the looming issue of water scarcity. Whether spurred by rising costs, consumer demand for environmental responsibility, or by increasingly restrictive water use limits and regulations, many industrial facilities are beginning to … » Read More

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Signs Your Membranes Are Fouling and How to Clean Them

  When it comes to membrane filtration and fouling—specifically for microfiltration (MF), ultrafiltration (UF), reverse osmosis (RO), and nanofiltration (NF)—diagnosing system performance issues can be complicated. Even the slightest change to operating procedures, stream composition, pH, temperature, etc., can alter the corrective measures needed to keep membranes working properly. But it’s also important to stay ahead … » Read More

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How Can You Reduce Membrane Fouling in Your Water Treatment System?

  Membrane fouling is the most common issue affecting pressure-driven membrane filtration systems, including microfiltration (MF), ultrafiltration (UF), reverse osmosis (RO) and nanofiltration (NF) units alike. While it is not always possible to prevent membrane fouling altogether, there are usually ways to minimize its impact. In this post we’ll answer the question “how can you … » Read More

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What Are the Different Types of Membrane Fouling and What Causes Them?

  Among the most common problems impacting microfiltration (MF) and ultrafiltration (UF) or nanofiltration (NF) and reverse osmosis (RO) is the issue of membrane fouling. Addressing difficulties with fouling starts with addressing the question “what are the different types of membrane fouling and what causes them?” Understanding how and why membrane fouling occurs is key … » Read More

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How Much Does It Cost to Extract Lithium from Geothermal Brine or Crushed Ore?

  Extracting lithium from geothermal brines and crushed ore requires a complex family of technologies and systems. If your facility has been exploring new ways to extract this valuable metal, you’re probably wondering, “How much does it cost to extract lithium from geothermal brine and crushed ore?” Estimating the cost of a lithium separation and polishing system … » Read More

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What Is Membrane Fouling and How Can You Avoid It?

  Membrane filtration systems are used for a variety of applications across many industries and verticals. If you’re considering a membrane filtration system for your own facility, you may be asking “What is membrane fouling and how can it be avoided?” While membrane filter units tend to require relatively little maintenance compared to other treatment … » Read More

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Best Companies for Extracting Lithium from Geothermal Brine and Other Produced Water Streams

  Methods for extracting and processing lithium can depend heavily upon the source, as lithium exists in different concentrations and states alongside other valuable metals and minerals, which will vary depending on where the lithium is found. If you are considering the various options for removing and concentrating lithium at your facility, you’ll likely want to … » Read More

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Is it Possible to Extract Lithium from Seawater?

  An essential component of lightweight batteries, pharmaceuticals, and other products, lithium is a valuable material that is projected to see increasing demand in the coming years. Yet existing lithium recovery processes can take years to discover and build facilities to recover and can’t be quickly scaled to meet rapid rises in market demand. There … » Read More

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What Is the Best Way for Recovering Lithium from Geothermal Brine?

    Geothermal brines, the naturally heated fluids found within the earth’s crust, have been utilized for thousands of years. Ancient civilizations used them for bathing and heating small rooms, and today they heat entire homes, pools, and greenhouses; are used agriculturally; and even produce electricity. As technologies advance and more is learned about the … » Read More

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How Do You Enhance Lithium Concentration and Recovery from Brine Streams?

    As cell phone and electric car markets grow, and they are expected to grow substantially, so will the demand for lithium, a highly reactive alkali metal that offers excellent heat and electrical conductivity. This metal is also used to manufacture glass, high-temperature lubricants, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals. However, because of its high reactivity, pure … » Read More

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What is Lithium Extraction and How Does It Work?

  The world’s demand for lithium extraction is growing every day and is especially driven by an increased lithium use in new consumer electronic battery technologies and electric cars. While you’ve likely heard of lithium batteries, you might still want to know where all that lithium comes from and how it’s produced. If so, you … » Read More

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How is Brine Mining Used for Lithium Recovery?

  Brine mining is by far the most common method of lithium recovery used today. But what is it, and how is brine mining used for lithium recovery? In this article, we’ll look at how and why brine mining relates to lithium production and explore how the principles of brine mining are leveraged to develop … » Read More

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How Much Does It Cost to Treat Brine for Reuse and/or Disposal?

  When it comes to managing wastes and byproducts of industry, brines can be some of the most challenging and costly to handle. Certain brine treatment methods, such as desalination or zero liquid discharge (ZLD), generate a smaller volume of brine waste with even higher concentrations of salts and solids, and discharging brine without a permit or … » Read More

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In What Ways Can a Facility Reuse Brine Waste?

While used in a number of industrial processes, brines can be difficult to treat and discharge once they’ve reached the end of their useable life. If your plant is looking for more economical ways to manage brine waste, you might be wondering “How can a facility reuse brine waste?” Today there are more instances than … » Read More

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What Technologies Usually Make up a Brine Water Treatment System

Although brines are sometimes used in manufacturing (for example, during chlor-alkali processes that uses the electrolysis of sodium chloride to create chlorine and sodium hydroxide), they are also created as an industrial byproduct or waste that can be challenging to treat and dispose of (such as flowback water from fracking natural gas wells). Filtering and … » Read More

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How Much Does a Water Demineralization System Cost for Your Plant?

  If you’re exploring options for industrial demineralization, you might be asking “How much does a water demineralization system cost for your plant?” The following article offers a simple explanation of what’s included in an average demineralization system, what those systems typically cost, and the factors that drive these costs up and down, focusing on ion … » Read More

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Is it Necessary to Treat Brine Waste Before Discharging or Disposal?

  Brine waste treatment is becoming increasingly common, not only as a means of achieving compliance with rigorous discharge regulations, but also for the cost benefits that waste minimization strategies can provide. But “is it necessary to treat brine waste before discharge or disposal?” In many cases, treating brine effluent is necessary, though the reasons … » Read More

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What Is the Best Way to Demineralize Industrial Process Water?

  Demineralization, or the removal of virtually all ionic mineral contaminants from water, is crucial for producing water of sufficient purity for a variety of industrial applications. Demineralized process water is used to ensure the quality and consistency of various products, as well as to ensure consistent and predictable function of sensitive equipment. While it’s … » Read More

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What Are the Properties of Demineralized Water and How Can It Benefit Your Plant?

  Demineralization, the process of removing nearly all dissolved salt and mineral ions from water, can prove ideal for facilities requiring ultrapure water for a variety of applications. If you have an overall understanding of demineralization but still have questions regarding the possible advantages of using it at your facility, you might be wondering “what … » Read More

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What are the Best Demineralization System Equipment and Supply Companies?

  Ion exchange and resin technologies are used widely for demineralization and deionization applications. If you are considering ion exchange (IX) technology to meet demineralization needs at your facility, an important question to consider is “What Are the Best Demineralization System Equipment and Supply Companies?” At SAMCO, we are confident that our custom-engineered ion exchange solutions … » Read More

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What is the Difference between Demineralized, Deionized, and Distilled Water?

  Purified feed water and process streams can be a critical aspect of ensuring consistency in production and equipment performance. While it’s easy to imagine why purified water is essential to so many industries—including cosmetics, food and beverage, power, pharmaceutical, and microelectronics, among others—you may still be wondering “What is the difference between demineralized, deionized, … » Read More

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What Is Water Demineralization and How Does It Work?

  In industrial water treatment, demineralization refers to the removal of dissolved solids from feed water and process streams. If you’re investigating options for water treatment and purification, you might be asking “What is water demineralization and how does it work?” The following article offers a simple explanation of how demineralization works, what you can … » Read More

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Common Problems with Ion Exchange Resins and How to Avoid Them

  Ion exchange resins are useful for many industrial water treatment and separation needs when utilized for suitable applications. In these cases, the technology can be highly efficient with relatively low cost and energy requirements. If they are properly maintained, resin beds can last years before requiring replacement, and for highly selective removal needs in … » Read More

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What Are the Best (and Cheapest) Ways to Dispose of Ion Exchange Resins?

  When thoughtfully applied within a water treatment system, IX offers cost-effective and efficient separation, with systems generally running for several years without major maintenance costs. Still, one must be mindful that IX resins degrade over time and must be replaced periodically to maintain system performance. If you’re wondering what happens when an IX resin … » Read More

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What is the Difference Between Cation and Anion Exchange Resins?

  Using ion exchange resins for industrial water purification and separation can be complex, especially for those unfamiliar with what ion exchange resins are and how they work. If you are looking for a general explanation of “what the differences are between cation and anion exchange resins,” the two most-used resins in ion exchange technology, … » Read More

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What Are the Different Types of Ion Exchange Resins and What Applications Do They Serve?

  Ion exchange (IX) is an incredibly versatile technology often utilized in industrial water treatment and selective separation. While all resins generally function on the same basic principles, there is a seemingly endless variety of IX resins available on the market today. Once you understand the basic resin types and their functions, it might be … » Read More

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What to Know About Ion Exchange Resin Regeneration

  Ion exchange (IX) resins are often highly effective for removing hardness, alkalinity, chloride, mercury, and organics, among other contaminants. While they can offer some efficiencies over other treatment technologies, they also call for specific maintenance processes. With proper care, IX resins can deliver consistent results and have a long service life, making them well … » Read More

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How to Perform an Effective Wastewater Treatability Study

  Treatability studies are useful in the wastewater treatment process to help determine how wastewater might be properly managed, ensuring effective treatments are considered and/or implemented. These studies pinpoint which contaminants need to be removed in addition to narrowing down the ideal technological solutions. By using treatability studies as one of the first steps toward finding … » Read More

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What Is Ion Exchange Resin and How Does It Work?

  While many of us have heard of ion exchange (IX) resins, few of us have a grasp on how the technology actually works. Whether you’re weighing potential treatment strategies, looking for ways to get the most out of your existing IX resins, or simply curious about IX chemistry, you may be asking “What is … » Read More

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Wastewater Treatability Studies vs. Pilot Studies: What Is the Difference?

  When industrial facilities require wastewater treatment, there are often steps preceding treatment to ensure the technologies recommended are the best fit for the facility’s particular issue. Since industrial wastewater treatment presents innumerable combinations of challenges and possible solutions, water treatment companies often suggest conducting treatability studies and/or pilot studies prior to building custom industrial … » Read More

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How to Choose the Best Industrial Water Treatment System Technologies for Your Plant

  With new water treatment technologies emerging all the time, it can be difficult to identify the ideal solution for your needs. Well-designed industrial water treatment systems can help you meet your production objectives and gain efficiencies along the way. The key is simply taking the time to understand the major factors that determine the … » Read More

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What are the Best Industrial Water Treatment Equipment Supply and Technology Companies?

  Here at SAMCO Technologies, we understand that proper, economical industrial water treatment is essential to the efficiency and overall success of your everyday process. Improper treatment can lead to system upset, valuable process water going down the drain, and costly violations of local POTW (publicly owned treatment works) and environmental regulations, to name a … » Read More

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Potential Problems with Wastewater Treatability Studies and How to Avoid Them

  The results from treatability studies help determine how wastewaters might be properly managed, ensuring effective treatments are considered and/or implemented. These studies are especially useful for pinpointing exactly what contaminants need to be removed in addition to helping narrow down the ideal solutions. If your facility needs a wastewater treatability study and it’s an unfamiliar … » Read More

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Does Your Plant Need an Industrial Water Treatment System

Does Your Plant Need an Industrial Water Treatment System?

  While industrial water treatment systems are not always necessary, they can provide a dramatic return on investment for your facility. Well-designed water treatment systems can help trim energy costs, maintenance costs, lost dollars due to wasted products/byproducts, discharge fees, and even regulatory fines. If you’re wondering how to add efficiency to your process, you … » Read More

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What Is an Industrial Water Treatment System and How Does It Work?

  Industrial water treatment systems meet a variety of purification and separation needs. They can range from relatively compact and straightforward to complex, multiunit processes that serve a variety of applications. If you’re new to water treatment, you might be asking “What is an industrial water treatment system and how does it work?” Since industrial … » Read More

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How Can You Tell If Your Facility Needs a Wastewater Treatability Study?

  Many of our customers often require some type of treatability study when they look to us for wastewater treatment solutions. This type of study or testing determines how wastewater might be treated, helping ensure proper treatments are considered. These tests can be useful—especially when there are several variables in wastewater streams and resolutions/technologies—at pinpointing … » Read More

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How Much Does an Industrial Water Treatment System Cost?

  Industrial water treatment is a complex family of technologies and systems, serving a wide range of industries and applications. Whether your needs include water treatment, process purification and separation, wastewater treatment, or a combination of these, you’re probably wondering “How much does an industrial water treatment system cost?” As you’ve likely found, estimating the … » Read More

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What Are the Best Wastewater Treatability Study Companies?

  When industrial companies experience wastewater treatment and discharge issues, one of the first steps toward finding a solution is performing a treatability study, especially if meeting stringent discharge regulations is needed. Starting this way helps the facility determine how its wastewater might be treated, taking out the guesswork and ensuring proper treatment solutions are … » Read More

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How Do You Choose the Best Ion Exchange System For Your Facility?

  Thanks to their unique ability to selectively target specific contaminants for removal, ion exchange (IX) systems can be an extremely efficient solution for separation and purification of process and waste streams. While they are most commonly used for softening applications, IX systems are also widely used for dealkalization, purification, metals removal, and other specialized … » Read More

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How Much Does an Ion Exchange System Cost?

  When industrial companies require ion exchange technology, one of the first questions we typically hear is, “How much does an ion exchange system cost?” This can be difficult—but not impossible—to narrow down because of all the factors that can go into engineering and putting together a system to meet the facility’s needs. In the … » Read More

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What Are the Best Ion Exchange Equipment Supply and Technology Companies?

  For industrial facilities looking to ion exchange systems and resin technology for their purification and/or separation technology needs, an important question to consider is, “What Are the Best Ion Exchange Equipment Supply and Technology Companies?” While SAMCO is confident our custom-designed and engineered ion exchange systems are some of the best in the industry, we … » Read More

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Does Your Facility Need an Ion Exchange System?

  Ion exchange (IX) is commonly used across a variety of industries, especially chemical and petrochemical, power, mining and metals, food and beverage, pharmaceutical, municipal, semiconductor, and others. IX can be an efficient solution for a variety of applications, including water softening, purification, separation, and pretreatment to protect downstream equipment and improve operational performance.   … » Read More

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Common Ion Exchange System Problems and How to Fix Them

  Ion exchange (IX) systems can be an efficient solution for various demineralization, purification, and wastewater treatment needs. In fact, IX systems deliver several advantages over chemical treatment, as they generally require less space, less labor, no sludge disposal, and lower operational costs. While such benefits are attractive, you might be left wondering “What are … » Read More

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How Much Do Reverse Osmosis and Nanofiltration Systems Cost?

  Reverse osmosis and nanofiltration membrane systems are used in a variety of processes and applications, and they are often spoken about in unison as they are similar membrane technologies. They are being utilized more and more by industrial facilities looking to recycle and treat water for reuse and conservation. As water scarcity issues continue to increase, … » Read More

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What is an Ion Exchange System and How Does It Work?

  Ion exchange (IX) systems are used across a variety of industries for water softening, purification, and separation purposes. While the chemistry of individual ion exchange reactions varies from one application to the next, IX is a treatment process where dissolved ions are replaced by other, more desirable, ions of a similar electrical charge. If … » Read More

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What Are Reverse Osmosis and Nanofiltration and How Do They Work

  Reverse osmosis and nanofiltration are often spoken about in unison as they are similar membrane technologies that solve a variety of process separation and filtration needs. The two technologies are being utilized more and more by industrial facilities looking to recycle and treat water for reuse and conservation. As water scarcity issues continue to … » Read More

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Does Your Facility Need a Reverse Osmosis or Nanofiltration System?

  Reverse osmosis (RO) and Nanofiltration (NF) are used across a wide variety of industrial applications for removal of dissolved materials from liquid streams. Implemented judiciously, RO and NF are effective strategies for recycling process liquids, reducing waste water, recovering and concentrating dissolved materials, and generating potable water. If your industrial facility requires removal of … » Read More

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How Do You Choose the Best Reverse Osmosis and Nanofiltration Membrane System for an Industrial Facility?

  As global demands for clean water increase, more and more industrial facilities are looking toward membrane filtration solutions, such as reverse osmosis (RO) and nanofiltration (NF), to help manage intake, process, and waste water treatment. Using membrane filtration can help your facility reuse wastewater and virtually eliminate discharge fees, and depending on the industry … » Read More

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Reverse Osmosis and Nanofiltration Membrane Filtration Systems: Common Problems and How to Fix Them

  Reverse osmosis (RO) and nanofiltration (NF) are membrane filtration technologies that are designed to remove solute ions and molecules from a pretreated liquid stream. Well-designed RO/NF units are compact and demand relatively little maintenance, making them an attractive alternative to conventional treatment trains. Even despite the merits of today’s efficient RO/NF technologies, it pays … » Read More

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What Are the Best Companies for Reverse Osmosis and Nanofiltration Membrane Systems?

  For industrial facilities looking to reverse osmosis (RO) or nanofiltration (NF) membrane systems for their purification and/or separation technology needs, an important question to consider is, “What are the best companies for reverse osmosis and nanofiltration membrane systems?” While SAMCO is confident our custom-designed and engineered RO and NF treatment solutions are some of the … » Read More

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Reverse Osmosis vs Nanofiltration Membrane Process: What Is the Difference?

  Reverse osmosis (RO) and Nanofiltration (NF) are physical separation technologies used to remove contaminates from liquid streams. In recent years, RO/NF technologies have become more efficient and affordable for use across a variety of industrial applications, including potable water generation and the treatment of brackish water, seawater, and wastewater. If you’re wondering what filtration … » Read More

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Do You Need a Microfiltration or Ultrafiltration Membrane System for Your Plant?

  Determining whether or not an industrial plant needs a microfiltration (MF) and/or ultrafiltration (UF) membrane system isn’t always as straightforward as it seems. While these systems are not essential for every industrial process, when thoughtfully implemented within an intake, process, or waste stream, they can go a long way in improving a facility’s efficiency … » Read More

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How to Choose the Best Microfiltration and Ultrafiltration Systems for Your Facility

  Microfiltration (MF) and Ultrafiltration (UF) are used to separate, fractionate, clarify, and purify process streams for a variety of industrial applications. MF and UF systems are used widely across the dairy, food and beverage, biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and automotive industries, and recent advances in filtration membrane technology and module design have made MF/UF increasingly cost-effective … » Read More

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How Much Do Microfiltration and Ultrafiltration Membrane Systems Cost?

    Microfiltration and ultrafiltration (MF/UF) membrane systems are used in a variety of processes and applications. They can help facilities treat boiler feed water, separate out contaminated waste to acceptable effluent standards, and manufacture safe food and/or beverages, to name a few. If your facility might require MF/UF membrane system technology, you are likely wondering, “How … » Read More

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What are Microfiltration and Ultrafiltration and How Do They Work?

  Microfiltration (MF) and ultrafiltration (UF) solve a variety of process liquid treatment and purification needs, generally with low operational costs and a small footprint. MF and UF are typically incorporated within a larger treatment process, and, when used to pretreat process streams, MF/UF systems are particularly effective at preventing costly fouling of downstream equipment, … » Read More

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Microfiltration and Ultrafiltration Membrane Systems: Common Problems and How to Fix Them

  Microfiltration (MF) and Ultrafiltration (UF) are membrane-based filtering technologies that use thin layers of semipermeable material to separate out contaminating particles, such as organic material, bacteria, suspended solids, and other pollutants. In industries such and dairy, pharmaceutical, and chemical, the separated material may be a product they are recovering, and more facilities continue to … » Read More

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