Membrane-Based Acetic Acid Recovery Process

‌Working Principle

The membrane-based process utilizes multi-stage membrane separation technology to recover acetic acid from PTA (Purified Terephthalic Acid) wastewater.





The main workflow includes:

Heat Exchange and Cooling: Initially, the PTA wastewater is cooled to prepare for the subsequent membrane treatment, reducing the thermal load and ensuring the safe and stable operation of the membrane system.

Pre-treatment: Before membrane separation, pre-treatment is conducted to remove solid impurities and some organic materials from the water, preventing membrane fouling and extending the membrane's service life.


Two-Stage Reverse Osmosis (RO): The primary acetic acid recovery is achieved through a two-stage reverse osmosis membrane system:

First Stage RO: The wastewater is initially concentrated, removing most impurities and dissolved substances, and recovering a high concentration of acetic acid liquid.

Second Stage RO: This stage further concentrates the permeate, increasing the acetic acid recovery rate while minimizing the acetic acid content in the produced water.

Through this series of processes, the acetic acid recovery rate from PTA wastewater can reach ≥80%, while the water recovery rate is ≥90%, achieving effective resource reuse.



Product Features

High Recovery Rate: The acetic acid recovery rate can exceed 80%, significantly reducing the amount of fresh acetic acid required, thereby lowering production costs.

High Water Recovery Rate: The recovery rate of treated water exceeds 90%, ensuring effective utilization of water resources.


Low Pollution: The acetic acid content in the produced water is minimized, helping to reduce the burden on subsequent wastewater treatment.

Efficient Process: The membrane process's separation characteristics allow for efficient treatment of complex wastewater with high temperatures and low pH, ensuring the stability and reliability of the process.

Environmental Benefits: Recovering acetic acid not only reduces raw material usage but also lowers the environmental burden of wastewater discharge, aligning with green production requirements.






Application Areas

Petrochemical Industry: Particularly suitable for wastewater treatment in the PTA production process, widely applied in the recovery and reuse of acetic acid.

Chemical Enterprises: Can be used to treat other wastewater containing acetic acid and its derivatives, improving resource utilization efficiency.

Wastewater Treatment: The membrane-based acetic acid recovery process can be part of wastewater treatment plants, facilitating the resource-based treatment of wastewater.


Industrial Water Recycling: Applicable in industrial production processes that require high-quality water resource recovery, supporting enterprises' water reuse and environmental protection goals.