Though brine can be reused, it reaches a point where it can’t be reused further. Facilities try to use economical ways to manage brine waste. Environmental regulations are strict on discharging effluents composed of brine. Though it isn’t easy to reuse it, some plants try to recycle or reuse it in brine industrial services in the following ways.
Table of Contents
Softener Brine Recycling
Brine as a result of ion exchange and reverse osmosis systems can be treated and recycled. This reduces the amount of water used during the process. Though brine can be used to increase softener efficiency, it’s only recommended in softeners with a high concentration of sodium chloride after an active cycle. If the brine is used in excess, it can lead to high levels, which are expensive and hard to treat.
Melting and Dust Control
Areas threatened by dust, ice, and snow could require a high budget to clean. Some local governments prefer using brine as it is economical. However, it can be harmful in areas where naturally occurring radioactive materials can be a threat to water supply and the environment. However, some local governments still prefer to apply brine application on roads by using liquid brine from mining and cheese production.
Irrigation and Agriculture
Although brine is applied in agriculture, it must be toxic-free and have low total dissolved salts. When brine is used in salt-tolerant plants, it can be reused. Again, liquid fertilizer is made from liquid fertilizer. A mix of hardness and sodium produces the best liquid fertilizer. Sodium is removed through the ion exchange process, but the adequate hardness crucial to the plant is retained.
Cooling
In large plants, such as refineries and the food industry, a lot of water is used in production. When brine is recycled, it is a great choice to cool such plants. However, water must be treated to prevent scaling and rusting caused by high concentrations of salts. Treatment is done by reducing salts, including oxidizing bacteria, sulfates, and chlorides. This process has its cons as high concentrations of salt prevent cooling by the formation of form.
Recovery of Solid Salts
Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) is a process used to recover brine from stable salts. Zero Liquid Discharge is an expensive but effective technology. Brine concentration is done, followed by crystallization to produce large amounts of salt. The byproducts of brine can be applied in industrial processes, including dyeing, water treatment, and deicing.
Acidic and Caustic Production
Chlorine and sodium hydroxide are used in almost all industrial plants. While consuming lots of energy, brine is also consumed in high amounts. Brine is recovered through electrolysis recovery to improve efficiency, which is a strategy to reuse brine waste in cycles of multiple electrolysis. Industries can use brine waste streams while still producing Chloe alkali products that are useful.
Even though the need to treat effluents due to high concentrations of salt, brine can also be reused and recycled in industries. Some of the common uses of brine in industries include cooling systems, chemical production, and water treatment.
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