Pluses and minuses for membrane processes

Though still a relatively new commercial process in comparison with other technologies in this text, membrane separation processes should increase in applications in the future. In the near term, air and water treatment applications probably represent the best opportunities for membranes - though there are important additional environmental applications. Below is a list of various membrane processes and their environmental applications. 

Carbon-dioxide removal from various gas streams. 

Drying of gas streams. One important example is dehydration of natural gas. EUminates use of solvents for this application. 

Removal of organic compounds from vent streams. Recovery of ethylene and propylene from vent streams from polyethylene and polypropylene pellet storage is one commercial example. 

Reduction of chemical oxygen demand (COD) of wastewater and groundwater streams. Color removal from wastewater streams. 

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