M. Tech., (Faculty of Applied and Computer Science), Vaal University of Technology / There is huge concern in the mining and industries to manage wastewater prior to discharge into the environment. It is generally cheaper and cost reducing for industries to treat its own wastewater before discharging to the local authority sewer. Dense Media Separation (DMS) Powders Company produces milled and atoms ferro-silicon by pyro-metallurgical process. DMS Powders uses municipal water for all processes taking place in the plants. The water used during the processes of milled and atom ferrosilicon powder is discharged into the environment without being treated. By treating this process wastewater before discharging will result in reducing the water consumption by recycling and the penalty costs for polluting the environment. The primary objective of this study is to find suitable method for treatment of DMS Powders’ process water using selected membrane processes. Membrane processes are better choice compared to traditional physical/chemical treatment processes, due to their advantages of approving water quality, no phase change, no chemical addition and simple operation. Two commercial membranes namely; NF-, and SW30HR are used in the treatment of DMS Powders process water. These membranes were purchased from (Dow/Filmtec) Manufacturing Company (Pty) situated in South Africa. Membranes were characterised by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Thermo Gravimetric Analysis (TGA), Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA) and Fourie Transform Infrared (FTIR) instruments. For synthetic water three membranes (NF- , NF90, and SW30HR) are investigated for the study. The fluxibility indicated that NF- membrane has higher flux compared to NF90 and SW30HR membranes. All the three membranes were very good in terms of rejection on single salts. Fouling was studied on DMS Powders process water. Concentration polarization was formed on NF- and SW30HR membranes investigations on selected membranes conclude that NF- membrane will be the suitable membrane for treatment of DMS Powders process water because of its high fluxibility and rejection. Discharged effluent of DMS Powders could comply with the legislature and environmental pollution could be minimised. The study revealed that fouling does occur during treatment of process water. SW30HR showed that M9 Plant had more fouling for M9 samples than other Plants (M8A and M8B). It was because of higher concentrations in suspended solids.or M8A, M8B and M9 process water.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-07-29T15:01:46Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 DISSERTACAO-07122011.pdf: 2360307 bytes, checksum: 56a7b9d04ed9b12f456d662b2d4e6cb4 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-09-01 / The water scarcity has led to changes in position of economic environmental and political issues besides trying to seek new sources of water located at further distances in places more distant. That is to reduce the amount of water needed by, urban population without compromising the quality of activities. This work had the objective to establish a water conservation program, initiated by the implementation of programs for the Rational Use of Water in the building of the Rectory of the Federal University of Goiás, in the city of Goiania. The building selected for the development of a Case Study is used for administrative activities. It comprises two floors, with total built up area of 2,013.84 m2, which was chosen because it showed characteristics that allowed the installation of water meter, for monitoring the daily consumption, and the registration of all points of water consumption, as well as the classification of user categories (including fixed and transitory people). The methodology used considered initially an evaluation and a diagnostic of the building selected for the study. In the sequence a plan was developed and the proposed actions to help in the reduction in water usage was later implemented. Finally, the management of the actions to keep rational usage of water took place including daily monitoring. Based on the analysis of the collected data an economic analysis was carry out to quantify the economic benefits achieved. The consumption data were collected over a period of 240 days, including 120 days before and 120 days after the implementation of water saving measures. The collected data allowed an analysis of the potential for reducing the monthly consumption of water, which in this case was around 30%. The economic analysis showed that the amount invested, including equipment and manpower, would be paid in approximately 20 months, considering average rate of the capital return equal to 0.75% per month. / A escassez da água levou a mudança de postura nos ambientes econômicos, ambientais e políticos, não tratando apenas de buscar novas fontes de água em locais cada vez mais distantes. Trata-se de reduzir a quantidade de água necessária pelas populações, mas sem comprometer a qualidade das atividades desenvolvidas. O presente estudo teve com objetivo a implantação de um programa de conservação da água, iniciado pela implementação de Programas de Uso Racional da Água no prédio da Reitoria da Universidade Federal de Goiás, em Goiânia. A edificação escolhida para o desenvolvimento de um caso de estudo, é utilizada para atividades administrativas, é constituída por dois pavimentos com área total construída de 2.013,84 m2, sendo apropriada para o estudo por apresentar características que permitiram a instalação de hidrômetro, para o monitoramento do consumo diário, e o cadastramento de todos os pontos de consumo de água, bem como a classificação dos tipos de usuários (fixos e flutuantes). A metodologia utilizada contemplou inicialmente uma avaliação e diagnostico da edificação escolhida. Em seguida foi elaborado um plano e posteriormente implantadas medidas que auxiliaram a redução do consumo. Finalmente foi realizado o gerenciamento das ações visando à manutenção da redução alcançada, que incluiu o monitoramento diário. Com base nos dados obtidos foi realizada uma analise econômica para quantificar os benefícios financeiros alcançados. Os dados de consumo foram coletados durante um período de 240 dias, sendo 120 antes e 120 dias após a implantação das medidas economizadoras de água. Os dados coletados permitiram uma análise do potencial de redução do consumo mensal de água, que neste caso foi da ordem de 30%. A análise econômica mostrou que o valor investido, incluindo equipamentos e mão-de-obra, seriam pagos em aproximadamente 20 meses, considerando uma taxa media de remuneração do capital de 0,75% ao mês.