
MOU to Promote the Wastewater Reuse Industry and Research Sector
Toray Advanced Materials Korea (TAK) (CEO and President Young-Sub Kim) and the K-water Research Institute of the Korea Water Resources Corporation (Director Byung-Ki Kim) announced on the 11th that they have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to promote the wastewater reuse industry and research sector.Through this agreement, both organizations plan to collaborate on wastewater reuse technologies. This includes the extreme concentration of brine generated during the wastewater reuse process using high-recovery and high-pressure membranes, as well as ion-exchange membranes and other advanced methods. These technologies will enable not only significant energy savings compared to conventional methods but also the recovery of valuable resources.Traditionally, wastewater treatment involved filtering and discharging treated water in compliance with regulatory standards. However, this research aims to establish an environmentally friendly Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) system, where no wastewater is released. Instead, all residual substances will be discharged as concentrated solid sludge, while clean water will be fully recycled.Wastewater reuse technologies require a variety of water treatment materials, including microfiltration (MF), ultrafiltration (UF), reverse osmosis (RO), and ion-exchange membranes (EM). With Toray Advanced Materials Korea’s world-class expertise in water treatment materials and K-water Research Institute’s specialization in water management, the collaboration is expected to play a significant role in revitalizing the water industry.In particular, Toray Advanced Materials Korea’s ion-exchange membranes use water-based electrolytes, making them safe for both humans and the environment. These membranes also feature exceptional ion concentration efficiency and energy performance. Furthermore, the use of continuous production facilities enhances productivity and cost competitiveness.