Membrane distillation's niche: Memsift Innovations targets small-to-medium-scale zero liquid discharge

June 19, 2020 | Case Study

The treatment and disposal of liquid waste is a multibillion-dollar market industry globally. The market in China is over 50 billion m³ per year for waste streams generated from heavy industries and manufacturing – whereas in India, regulations to combat water scarcity by maximizing water reuse, and to limit pollution of surface waters, have created a market north of $1 billion per year for zero liquid discharge (ZLD) technologies (see the report). Tighter regulations on the discharge of toxic wastewater, particularly from heavy water-using industries, are also seeing an increase in brine volumes (the salt-laden concentrate left after waste treatment), which require disposal, giving a rise to a new flock of brine management technologies (see the insight). 

Memsift Innovations, led by Dr. J Antony Prince, a membrane specialist, is commercializing a membrane distillation (MD) technology using novel membrane chemistries to target the low-to-medium-volume ZLD segment (under 100 m³/day). The company has secured partnerships in China and Singapore and is first targeting waste treatment in order to reduce disposal costs for pharmaceutical and semiconductor manufacturers.