Toray Industries Inc is set to initiate the showcasing of an energy-efficient sewage reuse system utilizing its advanced water treatment membranes in Chennai, India. The initiative stems from a selection by the Japan International Cooperation Agency in 2021, opting for a Toray proposal aimed at demonstrating and commercializing energy-efficient sewage reuse systems in India, employing water treatment membranes.
In 2022, the Japanese corporation established the Toray India Water Research Center situated at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras Research Park. The center actively engages in collaborative research with the institute, focusing on the utilization of water treatment membranes for sewage reuse technologies. Moreover, Toray has commenced the construction of a sewage reuse demonstration plant, which has recently commenced operations.
The Toray system employs two primary approaches for sewage treatment. The first approach integrates biological treatment with ultrafiltration and reverse osmosis membranes, while the second combines a membrane bioreactor with reverse osmosis membranes.
Water treated through ultrafiltration membranes and membrane bioreactors exhibits reduced levels of organic matter, particles, and microorganisms present in sewage, allowing for potential discharge into lakes and other water bodies for indirect reuse, including for drinking purposes. Furthermore, reverse osmosis membranes facilitate the removal of salts, heavy metals, arsenic, fluorine, and other contaminants, thereby enhancing the quality of reclaimed water.
In recent years, Toray has introduced a series of energy-efficient products utilizing reverse osmosis and ultrafiltration membranes, along with membrane bioreactor modules. These innovations are engineered to consume 30% less power compared to conventional Toray-made counterparts.
As reported by Filtration+Separation, with plans for sewage reuse utilizing membranes in Chennai and Mumbai from 2027 onwards, Toray aims to contribute significantly to promoting greater sewage reuse in major Indian cities, thereby aiding the nation in addressing critical water scarcity issues.
