Water is one of the most crucial resources for industrial processes, whether it be for the production of their goods or the upkeep of their supplies and machinery. The water quality can vary depending on where it comes from, whether it comes from a deep well, a lake, a river, etc., or from a municipal supply.

There are various methods for treating water, and the best one to employ will depend on the type of water being treated, the level of purity that must be achieved, and the process it will be utilized in.

water treatment in different manufacturing industries

1: Food and beverage industry

The quality of food and drinks produced will directly depend on the purity of the water used. It is typically used for preparation, dilution, services, etc. Because of this, drinking water is the type of water that this industry uses the most. Water that is deemed suitable for human consumption is known as the drinking water.

The most popular techniques for obtaining drinking water are disinfection, granular media filtration, softening, reverse osmosis, ozone, and UV light sterilization.

Disinfection: Applying a chemical agent, typically chlorine, to diminish or eradicate germs is known as "disinfection." Granular media are typically used in filters such as silica sand, anthracite, zeolite, or media beds in order to retain suspended materials or mixture between media.

Activated carbon adsorption: The passing through activated carbon, for the retention of organic matter and disinfection by-products as well as colours and odours, is another crucial stage in the treatment of drinking water.

Ion exchange resins: These are used to soften the water by removing the salts that cause it to be hard (ions like Ca+2 and Mg+2).

Reverse Osmosis: Reverse osmosis is a very effective method of eliminating them, when it is necessary to generate water with a very low percentage of salts. Reverse osmosis is used to generate drinking water that is above average in quality, but there are times when it is required because the industry receives water that is of extremely poor quality, or if the procedure calls for even purer water.

It is crucial to fully understand all of the processes and their influencing factors. In some circumstances, strict pH control is essential.

2: Pharmaceutical industry

High-quality water is needed for both the manufacturing of pharmaceutical products, and the upkeep and cleaning of the machinery involved. Pharmaceutical water, which is derived from drinking water, is needed by the pharmaceutical industry. It can be obtained in a manner similar to that of drinking water, however the reverse osmosis stage is crucial, or it must be done without it and de-ionized using another method.

Reverse osmosis is typically used in two steps, producing water of exceptional quality, but in some circumstances, up to three processes may be needed when the water is crucial to a particular procedure.

There are three common types of water used in pharmaceutical production, each with specific processes:

· filtered water

· extremely pure water

· water for intravenous use

1: Products that aren't sterile are typically cleaned with purified water, is also used to clean the tools utilized as well as the lab equipment’s.

2: Using techniques like reverse osmosis, deionization (the use of ion exchange resins), or ultrafiltration, exceedingly pure water can be created. Utilizing membranes with a high retention capacity for suspended particles and bacteria, with diameters between 0.001 and 0.1 m is known as ultrafiltration.

3: Distillation is the final step in obtaining injection water. The final step (distillation) used to produce water for injection is what makes highly purified water different, from water for injection. The process of distilling water involves first boiling water, then condensing it to obtain a liquid that is contaminant-free, and has a different boiling point. Distilled water is typically used in laboratories to create products and clean specialized equipment.

Without access to potable water, the pharmaceutical industry must manufacture it, treat it, and then have water for pharmaceutical usage.

3: Water use in the mining sector

Water is crucial in the mining industry. It is mostly used to clean minerals, as well as for some equipment's unit functions such as grinding and drying. The mining business needs water, but it doesn't have to be as pure as it is for the food and pharmaceutical industries, and it can even use the same water again. However, the difficulty this industry has is how to treat the water, after it has been used in their processes.

In order to physically separate the intended product from the mineral and the numerous other compounds it contains, the products obtained in the mining sector typically require washing with water and chemicals.

What kind of liquid filter media are there?

Any substance that under specific operating conditions, is permeable to one or more components of a mixture, solution, or suspension, and impervious to the other components is referred to as a filter media.

The primary function of a filter medium is to separate particles from a fluid, while using the least amount of energy possible. The filter media come in several varieties. They all have "pores," which are empty areas. For instance:

· Textiles and meshes: These are made from natural fibres like cotton, polymers, or metals

· Non-woven materials: Non-woven are a collection of fibres joined by physical or chemical processes, such as adhesives or resins. Thermo-adhesive fibres and foamed polymers are a couple such examples. More complicated porosities are typically produced by these materials. This makes it more difficult for solids to pass through them.
· Membranes: These materials are porous. Typically, they are constructed of ceramics or polymers. Depending on how the membrane is made, many structures can be produced.

· Granular substances: In deep-bed filters, they serve as support structures or filter media. In tightly packed columns, they create inter-specific spaces. The form and size of the granular media will determine how big these voids will be.

Conclusion

Water plays a critical role in all industrial operations. Water is a resource that can be utilised for washing tools and materials used in the manufacturing process, as well as for treating, processing, and refining products.

The process type being employed, whether it is for the direct creation of a product, cleaning of tools and materials, or services where water is required to perform an activity, determines the amount of water quality needed (cooling, transport, heating, etc.).

Manufacturer of water treatment plants

A wide range of industrial and commercial water filtration and water purification equipment’s’ are available from Netsol Water, and they may be customised to meet the demands and requirements of any particular project. In addition, we provide top-notch RO plants, water softeners and activated carbon filters that can be used for any tertiary water treatment, or water purification application.