3E Memtech has successfully demonstrated the feasibility of recycling cooling tower blowdown water on-site at Changi Airport Terminal 4 and Nanyang Technological University (NTU). This initiative, powered by the 3E-NF60 nanofiltration (NF) membrane, showcases significant water savings, operational cost reduction, and environmental benefits.
3E Memtech has successfully demonstrated the feasibility of recycling cooling tower blowdown water on-site at Changi Airport Terminal 4 and Nanyang Technological University (NTU). This initiative, powered by the 3E-NF60 nanofiltration (NF) membrane, showcases significant water savings, operational cost reduction, and environmental benefits.
3E is happy to attend first physical SIWW after the pandemic at Sands Expo & Convention Centre Marina Bay Sands, Singapore during April 17th – April 20th, 2022. We exhibited together with Ripple2wave Incubator and showcased our solutions. We were also honoured to be invited to pitch on the TechXchange event.
The 3ENF membrane demonstrates significant COD interception and decolorization effects on printing and dyeing wastewater, effectively improving wastewater treatment efficiency and water quality. The 3ENF-10 and 3ENF-20 membranes are loose nanofiltration membranes with a divalent salt removal rate of only 10-20%, making them specifically designed for dye desalination applications.
1) Feed and Permeate Water Quality Parameters During Pilot Stage
2) Operating Cost
During the period from January 20 to January 24, 2025 (5 days), the total power consumption was 13.92 kWh. The system operated under the following conditions:
The electricity cost per cubic meter of produced water is calculated as:
The estimated chemical cost is 0.04 SGD/m³
The total cost per cubic meter of produced water: 0.253 + 0.04 = 0.257 SGD
Comparing Singapore’s current water price (2.94 SGD/m³) with the treatment cost of the 3ENF-60 nanofiltration (NF) membrane (0.257 SGD/m³), the economic benefits are evident. By enabling water reuse at just 10% of municipal water costs, the 3ENF-60 NF membrane effectively converts low-quality cooling tower blowdown into a stable and reliable water source for industrial cooling.
For an industrial cooling system processing 100,000 m³ of water annually, this translates into potential water savings of 250,500 SGD per year, significantly reducing operational expenses and shortening the investment payback period to just 2-3 years.
Furthermore, the 3ENF-60 NF membrane ensures compliance with Singapore’s stringent water quality standards (SS <5 mg/L, COD <30 mg/L), supporting businesses in establishing a sustainable water cycle that integrates water conservation, cost reduction, and regulatory compliance. This makes it an ideal solution for water-intensive industries such as electronics and chemicals.
3E-NF20 HF membrane system aims to retain salt concentration while remove organics and ammonia
Singapore is the world's largest exporter of ornamental fish. Direct discharge of aquaculture wastewater will create adverse effect on the ecosystem. Singapore government is rolling out a plan to move all outdoor fish farms to indoor multi-storey fish farms. In order to achieve this goal, the government encourages the adoption of new technologies to reduce the cost of aquaculture wastewater reuse, which can reduce the water consumption and the cost of indoor fish farming.
Aquarium Iwarna Marine Ornamental Fish used 3E-NF20 to recycle its aquaculture wastewater. This project was supported by Enterprise Singapore, Ngee Ann Polytechnic and Singapore Fish Culture Association.
3E-NF60 membrane system aims to remove surfactants from wastewater
Laundry water accounts for at least 20% of portable water consumption. Laundry wastewater from large-scale laundry factories could cause problems for wastewater treatment plants when directly discharged into sewer. Many European and American countries stipulate that laundry wastewater cannot be directly discharged, and have formulated the reuse index of laundry wastewater.
3E worked with Hydrasyst - a well-known industrial wastewater treatment company in Europe and America, to supply our membranes for a laundry wastewater treatment and reuse project.
3E-200NF10A membrane system aims to remove organics from secondary effluent while achieve high recovery rate
While water scarcity becomes a pressing issue, there is a huge demand to recycle wastewater into process water. Secondary effluent is a potential source for water recycling after removing organics and salt. Water recovery is often limited by UF’s capability of removing organics and therefore severe biofouling in RO, which in turn impairs the economical feasibility of water recycling projects.
Shandong Kytoland Watertech used our membrane as a pre-treatment to RO membranes.
