Izinhlelo zezindaba zokuthengisa zikuthintela ukuthuthukiswa kwezindustria zokwenza amaphethi we-RO

Ukuphakanyiswa Kwamanzi Okwesifazane Nokuthi Kukhula Ukuthanda Imithambo Yokuphatha Umlilo WeRO Ngokwezinye Zizwe

Imibhalo Yezindawo Ezingaphakathi Yokubonakala Kwamanzi Eyodwa Ukuthuthukisa Amaprojekthi Okukhipha Amazi Emaholweni Nokusebenzisa Kabusha Amazi Emizini

Ukungafikiwa kwezilwane kungase kufika kusasa—kuyinto ekhona manje kubabili bilioni babantu abahlala emazweni apho amanzi ayisikhele (UNICEF, 2023). Ngomnyaka wa-2040, kubhekwa ukuthi izintwana zezwe zizokwazi ukuthi zibe nesikhundla esikhulu sokungafikiwa kwezilwane. Lezi zimo zibiza amadistrict aqhubeka ngokukhula amaprojekthi okuvula amanzi: I-International Water Association (IWA) ibhekisa ukuthi isivikelo sokuvula amanzi siza kufika ku-$31.3 billion ngomnyaka wa-2025, nokuthi i-RO membrane technology yisiqu sesifunda sokuvula amanzi esisha.

Kwakhi-ke, ukusebenzisa kwabantu amanzi esigodi kusuka kwezindawo zokusebenza kuyaphakama ngokukhulu njengoba izimboni zokuhambisa amanzi nezindlela zokuthenga amanzi ziyakhula, futhi kubiza abasebenzi ukuthi bafunde nokubuyisela amanzi okusebenza. Izisitemu zesifuba sokugcina (RO)—ezihloniphiwe ngokuthi zingakhiqiza izinkambo zokugcina izinkambo zokugcina nezinkambo zokuphatha izindawo eziningi—zizinye kulezi zindlela. Kuzindawo eziyisikhathi sezinsimbi zase-Asia, isibonelo, izindawo zokusebenza ziyasebenzisa izisitemu zokuhlala ngaphandle kokufakwa kwamanzi (ZLD) ozinakeka ngokusebenzisa izisitemu zesifuba sokugcina eziningi ukuze zibuyise amanzi angu-95%.

Izivumelwano zokusebenza kwezindawo zokusebenza—kungahleli i-WEI+ yase-EU eSontjini yaseYurophu nezivumelwano zokugcina izindawo zokusebenza zaseMiddle East—zihlanganisa ngokugcina nezivumelwano zokuthenga amanzi nezivumelwano zokusebenzisa amanzi. Lokhu kubonisa ukuthi izifuba zokugcina (RO) ziyizinto ezibalulekileyo—akuzi zinto zokusebenza kuphela—kwezindlela zokuplanisha amanzi okuvikela iklima.

Ukuguqulwa kweklima kuyavikela ukunquma kwezifuba zokugcina zokusebenza ngokuphelele, ezinakeka ukugcina izinkambo ngokuphelele

Ukuguquka kwesimo sezulu kukhulisa ukungazinzi kwemithombo yamanzi, njengoba isomiso esinde nemvula engahleliwe kuphazamisa ukutholakala nekhwalithi yamanzi angaphuziwe. Izinkampani ezisebenza ngamanzi zibheka eminye imithombo amanzi angaphansi komhlaba anosawoti namanzi olwandleadinga izinhlelo ze-RO ezinokuxoshwa okuphezulu ezikwazi ukuletha njalo amanzi okuphuza ahlangabezana nezindinganiso zezempilo eziqinile.

Ukuze kuhlangatshezwane nale nselele, ukwakheka kwamakhemikhali emicu nokwakhiwa kwamamojula kuyashesha. Izindwangu ezihlanganisiwe ze-TFC ezinokwaliwa kukasawoti okuthuthukisiwe (> 99.7%) nokumelana nokugqwala manje sekufakwa ngokujwayelekile ukugcina ukusebenza phakathi kokukhuphuka kwezinto eziqinile eziqediwe kanye nemithwalo yezinto eziphilayo ngesikhathi sesomiso. Ukuhlelwa kwengqalasizinda ebhekana nesimo sezulu kuhlanganisa nezinhlelo ze-RO ngokuqapha okukude nokulawula okuguqukayookuvumela ukusabela ngesikhathi sangempela ezimweni zokuphakelayo eziguquguqukayo.

Ngokuphazamiseka kwezindlela zokuhlanza ezinkulu, ukuthumela amanzi amahle ngokungathinti kwakho kusenziwe ngokungafanele. Lokhu kubiza ukuthi kubhekwe phambili ukuthenga izimembreni ze-RO ezenziwe ngokujulile, ezinamandla, nezithembekile kakhulu ngokudlula—kungafanele kuphela ukuthi zibe nesibonelo esihle kwi-lab.

Amadirekthive ase-EU nokuthi kuzoba kubhekwa phambili ukuthenga nokugcina izimembreni ze-RO

Umdlalo we-EU wokusebenzisa amanzi futhi imiphumela yase-USA yokususa i-PFAS ayagcina izimembreni ze-RO ngokuphazamiseka

Imithombo yokuqhubeka kwezilwane zase-EU (2020/741) ibhekisela emaqhina amaningi okukhula kwamazibhambo, kubizinga lokugcina kwezilwane nezinto ezingaphansi ezinkulu—kubiza umkhakha wokugcina okuncane kwe-RO membranes. Ngokufanayo, i-PFAS Strategic Roadmap yase-USA EPA isetshenziswa kumakhono okugcina kwezilwane zase-per- nezilwane zase-polyfluoroalkyl, nokuthi kubonisiwe ukuthi kunezilwane kuzo zonke izindawo eziyisikhombisa nezinye (EWG, 2023). Ngokuhlanganisa lezi ziqu, baphinde bavuselela ukuthenga: iziprojekthi zokuphatha amanzi zasezwe nezokusebenzisa kabusha kwezindustria zizoba ziyadinga i-TFC membranes enomkhakha wokugcina wezilwane ozinikwa ngokuvamile ngaphezu kwe-99.7% futhi nokugcina kwezilwane zase-PFAS okungaphezu kwe-10 parts per trillion.

Kubalulekile kakhulu, abavumeli nabathengi baphinde bafokusela kusukela kwezindaba zokulabho zokufanayo kuze kube kuzindaba zokuphatha kwempilo—kubhekwa kwezifundo zokusebenza ngemithombo yezindawo ezingenakho ukuthi izindawo zokunqamula ziyisibonelo sokunqamula okwenzeka ngokwesibonelo. Lokhu kuyabusa ukuthuthukiswa kwezinkotha zokunqamula, isimo esihle sesikhombisa, nokuthuthukiswa kwezinkotha zokujonga ukusebenza. Isiphumo siyakubiza umlando wokuthi amembrane ayisisekelo sokubaluleka kwezindawo zokusebenza ngokudlula, akasisekelo kuphela kwezindawo zokuvula.

Imizimba yokuthuthukiswa kwezindlela zokusebenza kwezincwadi zokuthuthukiswa: Ukubaluleka kokuthuthukiswa kwezindlela zokuthuthukiswa kwezincwadi zokuthuthukiswa nezindlela zokusebenza kwezincwadi zokuthuthukiswa

Izimpahla zezimali zezindustria zemikhulu nezincinci (SMEs) ziyabuka kakhulu ekuthinteni kwezindlela zokuphatha izinto ezihlukene. Isistimu se-RO sibonakala njengokuthenga okukhulu kakhulu, nokuthenga kwakho kwezindlela zokusebenza kuyaphendula kakhulu ngokusebenzisa i-energi (ngokuvamile 2–3 kWh/m³) nokushintiswa kwezimembreni ngeminyaka engu-3–5. Kusuka kwezindustria zokuphatha izinkulungwane, ukufika ekugcineni kwe-COD ngokulingana nge-95% kungaba yinkulungwane yokusebenza yokuqala ngokulingana ne-$1.50/m³ (Global Water Intelligence, 2022)—lokhu kubhekwa njengokuthinta kakhulu kwezindustria ezenkulu.

Ukuqondisa lokhu, iziMfundo zokusebenza ngokukhula kufanele zihambisane kusukela ekubhaleni izinguquko zokuthenga ku-Total Cost of Ownership (TCO), futhi zibheke ukuthi imemebhre iyathintwa ngokuphakeme kakhulu, ukuthatha isikhathi sokuchitha, izindlela zokuvumela ukuthi kuzobhekwa, nokuthinta kwamandla. Izinhlobo eziphatha kahle—njenge-membrane-as-a-service nezindlela zokuvumela okuthinta ukusebenza—zisiza ukuthintwa ngokuphakeme kakhulu, futhi imemebhre ezingathintwa ngokuphakeme kakhulu zinokunquma izikhathi zokusebenza ngaphezu kwe-30% futhi zizwala ukuthinta kwamandla. Abavumeli baphendula ngokuthinta ukuthola umbono wokusebenza noma ukuthinta izikhathi zokuvumela ngokuphakeme, okusiza ukuthatha izikhathi ezihlukene ezivumelana nezimali zeziMfundo zokusebenza ngokukhula. Lokhu kubhekisele kuhle ukuthi izimpendulo zokuvumela ziyaphakama ngaphandle kokuthintwa kwezinye izindawo ezincane.

Izinkundla Zokuthinta Kwamagama Nezinkundla Zokusebenza Ngokushesha Kwezinhlobo Zomkhakha Wememebhre YokuRhoqa

Imemebhre yokuRhoqa yesikhathi esiphakade yezinhlobo zokuthinta kwamagama nezinhlobo zokuthinta ngokushesha zinokuthinta ukuthi kuyasebenza kahle, ukuthinta ukuthi kuzovumela, nokuthinta ukuthi kuzothintwa ngokuphakeme kakhulu

Nakuba ama-polyamide membrane ane-composite (TFC) encibilikisiwe esabusa, izinto zesizukulwane esilandelayo ziyanqoba ukuhwebelana okuvamile phakathi kokungena nokukhetha. Abacwaningi bafaka izinto ezincane ezincane ezihlanganisa amaprotheni e-aquaporin, ama-carbon nanotubes, ne-graphene oxide kusendlalelo esisebenzayo ukuze kwakhiwe iziteshi zamanzi ezingamamolekyuli. Lezi zingqimba ezenziwe ngamasayizi amancane zandisa ukugeleza ngaphandle kokudela usawoti noma ukwaliwa kwemithi emincane engcolisayo.

Ukufoula kuyisibonelo sesikhundla sokusebenza, okwenzekayo ukuthi kongezele umsebenzi wokusebenzisa i-energiya ngamahhafu ayo ngaphezu kwe-60% emasistimini okusebenzisa ipresha. Ukuzikhipha lokho, izinkqubo eziphambili zokubeka amapatereni esifunda nezinkothi zezwitterionic zibeka amaphetha amahle we-hydration okuphatha ngokomlando amafoulants omthwakazi ne-biofilms—okuphepha ukusebenzisa izichazi zokuchitha isikhathi sokuchitha nokhula kwesikhathi sokusebenza. Abalawuli abasebenzisa amakhono amaningi manje abuyela amakhono amasha aye aqondwa ama-TFC okukhulisa ukuthi kungena ngamahhafu ayo ngaphezu kwe-30–50% kulokho okukhulise kwezinye zezincwadi zeminyaka yomkhosi—lokhu kuyisibonelo esikhundla kakhulu kwezindawo zokususa amasango aphakathi, ezinamandla angabi ngeke akhululekile.

Ukuhlanganiswa kwe-Industry 4.0: Amadigital twins, ukugcina phambili okwenziwa ngu-AI, nokuphepha kwezidingo zokubona izinkinga kwezincwadi zokuvula (RO)

Ukusakaza ngokunemba izendlalelo ze-polyamide ezilinganisweni zamakhemikhali kwenza ukukhiqizwa kwe-RO membrane kube okufanelekayo ekuguqulweni kwe-Industry 4.0. Ukudlulela ngalé kokucutshungulwa kweqoqo, imigqa yokukhiqiza eqhubekayo ehlakaniphile isebenzisa amawele edijithaliizimpendulo ezingokoqobo ezondliwa idatha yesinzwa yesikhathi sangempela evela ezigabeni zokumboza kanye ne-interface polymerizationukuze kulingiswe futhi kwenziwe ngcono amapharamit Abasebenza lapho kulungiselelwa khona ama-monomer, ama-monomer agxilile, nesikhathi sokusabela ngaphandle kokuzama nokwenza iphutha.

Ukuchaza kwezifoto ekwenziwa ngokusebenzisa i-AI ikhuthaza izinkinga ezingaphansi kwembono yomuntu—izipho, izindawo zokushisa, izilinganiso zokubhala—ezingakwaziwa ukubonwa ngomlando wendlela yomuntu, futhi ekhuluma ukuthi kuphela amaphethile okumemeza amashini ayisikhathi esiphambili. Izivakalisi zokuphepha phambi kokungabi nesikhathi sokusebenza zilabona izimilo zokuhamba nokuhlukahluka kwetempurete kwezinkambo ezibalulekile, futhi zilahlela izindlela zokusebenza phambi kokungabi nesikhathi sokusebenza sokugcina isikhathi esihle sokufaka izinto ngokuphepha. Lezi ziqukithelo zokugxilwa zilahlela ukuthi izindlela zokuhlonipha ubuqiniso zibuyele kude, futhi zilahlela ukuphatha kwezinto ezisuswa, noma kunezindawo eziphakeme ukuthi kuzoba ne-25% yokuphatha kwezinto ezisuswa ngokuvamile ngomnyaka.

Amazwi okuhlonipha umhlaba akhuthaza ukuthenga nokwenza i-RO membrane

Ukuhambisana kwezinye zezinhloso zokuproducwa kwe-RO membrane kuyabuka izinto eziningi. Ukwenza kahle kwezinye zezinhloso kuyasebenzisa iziluthi ezingenakho ukuthi zibe yizinhloso, njengoko kuyasebenzisa i-dimethylformamide futhi kuyasebenzisa ukuguqula kwezinye zezinhloso—kubuka iziluthi ezingenakho ukuthi zibe yizinhloso. Ngokuphendula, amaqembu okufunda nezinkampani eziphakeme ziyadlala izinhloso zezinhloso zokubhiza neziluthi ezingenakho ukuthi zibe yizinhloso, okukhupha ukugxila kwezinhloso zezinhloso (VOC) ngaphezu kwe-40% (I-Journal ya-Membrane Science, 2023). Lezi zinhloso zezinye izikhathi ziyakhathazeka ukuthintana kwezincwadi ngaphandle kokuthintana kweziluthi—kuzokhupha ngqo ukuthintana kwe-carbon.

Ngaphandle kwezokufinyelela, izilwane zokugcina ukusebenza kwe-RO zihlukumeza. Amaphetha amahle okufinyelela ngokupheleleyo akhuthaza ukusetshenziswa kwesifundo esithile kwezilwane zokuhlanza amanzi emanzini ngapansi kwe-2.5 kWh/m³—lokhu kuyisibonelo sokuguqula ngokuphakeme kwe-30% ngaphezu kwezilwane zokugcina zezinhloso zezembe (International Desalination Association, 2024). Izindlela zokusebenza ngokubuyela kwezilwane zokugcina ziyakhululeka futhi: izilwane ezikhiphele ukusebenza ziyasebenzisa njengezilwane zokuhlanza okupheleleyo noma ziyabuyiselwa ngokuchemicali ku-precursors zepolymers, ngakho kuzokhupha amathoni angu-1000 amanzi emlande yamaphakathi ngonyaka. Lokhu kucatshangana kusiza ukuthi izilwane zokugcina ziyagcina ngokupheleleyo ngokuphakeme kwezinhloso zokugcina amanzi ngokupheleleyo.

Imibuzo Evame Ukubuzwa

Yini okubiza ukuthi kubhekene nokuthanda kwezilwane zokugcina emhlabeni wonke?
Ukungafiki kuphela kwezilwane zokugcina nemiphumela yezinsizakalo zomhlaba yizinto eziphakeme ekubhekene nokuthanda kwezilwane zokugcina emhlabeni wonke. Iziprojekthi zokuhlanza amanzi emazweni neziprojekthi zokusebenzisa kabusha amanzi emindeni zidinga izilwane ezinamandla, ezinamandla kakhulu ukuthi zihlanze amanzi ngokupheleleyo futhi zihlanganise nezinhloso ezinkulu zokugcina amanzi.

Izinkinga zokulwa kwezulu ziyakuthintela njani ukudesigna kwe-RO membrane?
Ukuchemistya kwe-membrane nokudesigna kwe-module kuyagcina ukuthintela izinkinga ezifana nezinkinga zokuguqula ubukhulu bekhwendle lokuphatha nokuhlupheka kwezinkathi zokuhlupheka. Izinca zivela ku-ukuthintela okungcono kwezinkinga, ukuthintela okungcono kwe-fouling, nokubhekisa okungcono kwezinkambo zokugcina isikhathi sokuphatha.

Yini inkulumo yezimboni kuzokwenza kwe-RO?
Izimboni ezifana nezimboni zokusebenzisa amanzi emzantsi kwe-EU nokubhekisa kwe-PFAS kwe-USA ziyabika ukuthintela okungcono kwezinkinga nokususa izinkinga ezingaphansi. Lezi zimboni zokufaneleka ziyakhulisa ukuthuthukisa kwe-membrane.

Kuzoba niziphi izibopheko ezisemthethweni kwe-RO membrane manufacturing?
Ukuchemistya kwezinto, nokusebenzisa kwe-Industry 4.0, futhi kufaka ukuthintela kwe-nanomaterial, i-digital twins, nokuthintela kwe-defect ngokusebenzisa i-AI, kuyakhulisa ukuthinta kwezinkinga, ukuthintela okungcono kwe-fouling, nokuthinta kwezinkinga kwe-manufacturing kwe-RO membranes.

Izinkinga zokuxhumana kwezinto ziyakushintela njani ukuproducwa kwe-RO?
Izisolvanti ezingavaliyo kanye nezindlela zokusebenza ezingaqondi imisebenzi ziyafundiswa ngamapolymeri esihlangu senyama kanye nezinye izinketho ezingavaliyo. Ngapandle kwalokho, izimemebri zokugcina ukusebenza ziyagcinwa kanye nokubuyisela kuzo ngokuchemicali ukuze zifikele ekupheleni kwemisebenzi yokuqeda isibonelo sokungabi nesilinganiso.