Singapore cleantech start-up Memsift has received a Build Own Operate (BOO) service contract from a global pharmaceutical giant. Based on the contract, Memsift will design, build, own and operate a 1,000,000 L/year liquid-waste treatment system for the company by using the proprietary TS-30™ Improved Membrane Distillation (IMD) process. The project will help to save on disposal cost and water for recycling.
Memsift conducted a case study together with the pharma company using the actual liquid-waste and has proved that the TS-30™ system reduces the liquid-waste volume by up to 95 per cent, with the treated water meeting requirements set. According to Dr J Antony Prince, founder of Memsift Innovations, it was this positive outcome that led to Memsift securing the project.
Photo of the feed’s liquid waste, treated water and concentrated liquid waste from the initial case study
Memsift’s TS-30™ IMD system is based on a patent-pending thermal membrane process that operates in relatively low temperature and pressure compared to conventional thermal and pressure-driven membrane process. Memsift uses a unique hydrophobic hollow fibre membrane (STOMATE®) in the system that allows water in vapour form but not in liquid form. Hence, all non-volatile inorganic salts and particles will remain in the waste effluent and only clean water will be recovered through the membrane – thus, the volume of the waste effluent is reduced.
“Based on our knowledge, this is the world’s first BOO project for Membrane Distillation technology. This project will be a gateway for us to enter the pharmaceutical industry, and we believe this project will bring us more commercial traction for our brine and liquid-waste treatment solutions from the pharmaceutical industries into the region and global stage. We are already in discussion with some of the global players in the pharma sector.” explained Dr Prince.
