GLOSSARY OF TERMS - INDUSTRIAL WATER TREATMENT PLANTS
Activated Carbon: A porous material used to adsorb organic compounds, chlorine, and other contaminants from water.
Biological Treatment: A process using microorganisms to break down organic pollutants in wastewater.
Blowdown: The process of removing concentrated impurities from cooling towers or boilers to prevent scaling.
Brine: A highly concentrated salt solution produced during desalination or evaporation processes.
Clarifier: A tank used to settle solids out of water by gravity, often used in pretreatment.
Coagulation: The addition of chemicals (coagulants) to water to clump fine particles into larger flocs for easier removal.
Desalination: The process of removing salt and minerals from seawater or brackish water to produce fresh water.
Distillate: Purified water produced by distillation, free of contaminants.
Effluent: Treated wastewater discharged from a treatment plant.
Flocculation: A process that gently mixes water to form larger flocs from coagulated particles, aiding in their removal.
Filtration: The removal of suspended solids from water by passing it through a porous medium (e.g., sand, membranes).
Heat Exchanger: A device used to transfer heat between fluids, often used in evaporation or cooling processes.
Membrane Filtration: A technology using semi-permeable membranes to separate contaminants (e.g., ultrafiltration, reverse osmosis).
Neutralization: Adjusting the pH of wastewater to a neutral level (pH 7) using acids or alkalis.
Ozonation: The use of ozone (O₃) to disinfect water and oxidize organic contaminants.
Reverse Osmosis (RO): A process where water is forced through a semi-permeable membrane to remove dissolved salts and impurities.
Sludge: Semi-solid waste material produced during water treatment, often requiring further processing or disposal.
Ultrafiltration (UF): A membrane process that removes suspended solids, bacteria, and macromolecules from water.
Vacuum Evaporator: A device that evaporates water under reduced pressure, used to concentrate wastewater and recover clean water.
Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD): A treatment process that recovers nearly all water and minimizes liquid waste discharge.
Ion Exchange: A process where ions in water are exchanged for others using resin beads, often used for softening or demineralization.
Scaling: The buildup of mineral deposits (e.g., calcium carbonate) on surfaces, which can reduce efficiency in treatment systems.
Turbidity: A measure of water clarity, indicating the presence of suspended particles.
Venturi Ejector: A device used to create a vacuum by passing fluid through a constricted section, commonly used in evaporators.
Waste Heat Recovery: The use of excess heat from industrial processes to power treatment systems, improving energy efficiency.