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In a context of increasing water scarcity and stricter environmental regulations, water reuse has become a necessity for industries, municipalities, and the agricultural sector. To achieve optimal quality in recycled water, technologies such as ultrafiltration (UF) and reverse osmosis (RO) are essential.

What is ultrafiltration and how does it work?

Ultrafiltration is a physical separation process that uses membranes with extremely small pores (from 0.01 to 0.1 microns) to remove suspended particles, bacteria, viruses, and colloids. It is ideal as a pretreatment for more advanced systems, as it significantly improves feed water quality and protects reverse osmosis membranes.

Reverse osmosis: extreme purity for reused water

Reverse osmosis is a process that uses pressure to force water through a semi-permeable membrane, removing up to 99% of dissolved salts, heavy metals, microorganisms, and organic contaminants. When combined with UF, it produces high-quality water, even from treated wastewater.

Key benefits of combining UF + RO

• Reduced potable water consumption

• Long-term operational cost savings

• Compliance with environmental standards such as NOM-003-SEMARNAT

• Lower environmental impact and improved industrial water footprint

• Increased efficiency in production processes

Common applications

These technologies are widely used in:

• Wastewater treatment plants for reuse in irrigation or industrial processes

• Food, pharmaceutical, and electronics industries

• Cooling towers and boilers

• Municipalities and hotels seeking sustainable water management

Conclusion

Integrating ultrafiltration and reverse osmosis not only ensures safe and efficient water reuse, but also provides a competitive advantage in a world where water conservation is a global priority. Investing in these technologies is a step toward a cleaner, more profitable, and sustainable future.