Monday, November 10, 2025
Technical Sessions
Time: 1:15 – 5:00 PM
M5: The Future of Membranes is Now
IWC Rep: Lyndsey Pence, ZwitterCo, Los Osos, CA
Session Chair: Craig Mills, WesTech Engineering, Salt Lake City, UT
In this session, we dive into the forefront of membrane technology, unveiling groundbreaking innovations that are transforming water treatment. Discover how modern system designs, inventive membrane element components, novel membrane chemistries, and an innovative way to control scale are revolutionizing efficiency and sustainability. Join us to explore these cutting-edge solutions and gain invaluable insights that could redefine your approach to water treatment. Do not miss this opportunity to stay ahead in the field.
IWC 25-13: Beyond the Mesh: 3D-Printed Feed Channels and the Future of Reverse Osmosis
Kevin Roderick, and CJ Kurth, Aqua Membranes, Albuquerque, NM
For over 60 years, reverse osmosis (RO) elements have relied on a single feed spacer design, limiting performance and innovation. This study introduces a transformative approach using 3D-printed patterns directly on RO membranes, enabling precise control over feed channel geometry. Combining simulations, lab experiments, and field data, we reveal how custom designs influence flow, fouling, and efficiency. The findings establish a foundation for next-generation spacers tailored to specific applications, unlocking new potential in RO element.
Discusser: Omkar Lokare, Turing AI, Woburn, MA
IWC 25-14: Enhancing HERO Performance & Operation in a ZLD Combined Cycle Gas Plant with a Turnkey Installation of Flow Reversal RO
Sapir Regev, ROTEC, Los Angeles, CA; Max Finder, ROTEC, Philadelphia, PA
A 2025 turnkey installation of Flow Reversal Reverse Osmosis (FR-RO) at a Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) combined cycle gas power plant in the Southwestern United States replaced two RO units in a High-Efficiency Reverse Osmosis (HERO) treatment train treating cooling tower blowdown. The paper will review the operation of the FR-RO units and how they improved operator flexibility in the operation of the plant’s water utility, under highly varying feed water quality and flow rates.
Discusser: Giancarlo Barassi, Ph.D., MBA, Aquatech International, Canonsburg, PA
IWC 25-15: Fouling-Resistant Zwitterionic Reverse Osmosis Membranes Enable Stable Treatment and Enhanced Recovery of Sugar Refinery Wastewater
Andrew Hunt, Umang Yagnik, and Dattaraj Mahale, ZwitterCo, Woburn, MA
This paper discusses how zwitterionic RO membranes were able to maintain high recovery, fouling resistance, and compliance in treating wastewater from advanced sugar refining operations. Such wastewater contains sugars, proteins, salts, and color bodies, which exceeds the operational tolerance of conventional RO systems. Zwitterionic RO membranes were implemented at a site and were able to achieve 70-80% recovery while maintaining stable flux, thus contributing to reliable BOD removal and overall process efficiency.
Discusser: Luke Schreiber, WesTech Engineering, Salt Lake City, UT
IWC 25-16: Redefining Silica Limits: An Innovative Approach to Scaling Control in High-Recovery RO/NF
Beatriz Colacioppo, Marisa Rachek, Joshua Utter, Melissa Fernandes, Mo Malki, and Christian Ward, AWC (American Water Chemicals), Plant City, FL
Silica scaling is a growing concern in high-recovery RO/NF systems, especially when reject concentrations exceed 250 ppm. Traditional technologies fail to prevent silica polymerization, leading to severe membrane fouling. This study presents a novel antiscalant designed to slow silica polymerization, enabling stable operation at reject concentrations above 300 ppm. Pilot and full-scale trials demonstrated significant improvements in membrane performance, reduced cleaning frequency, and greater system stability, redefining silica control in challenging, high-recovery environments.
Discusser: Vijay Ahire, IDE Water Solutions NA, Carlsbad, CA
M6: Wastewaters – Making Membrane Systems Work Even Harder
IWC Rep: Elke Peirtsegaele, Toray Membrane USA, Carpinteria, CA
Session Chair: Emma Wolff, P.E., MS, GAI Consultants, Inc., Homestead, PA
Discussion Leader: Jim Beninati, P.E., HDR, Pittsburgh, PA
Membranes are already relied on as powerhouses in wastewater treatment design applications, but these Authors will share the novel ways on how they are making membrane systems work even harder. In this session, you will learn about new, challenging applications for cross flow ultrafiltration that reduce reliance on clarifiers and multi-media filters (with laboratory and field results), advancements in gas transferer membranes/membrane contactors for ammonia removal/recovery, and holistic strategies for optimizing membrane bioreactor designs.
IWC 25-17: Industrial Wastewater Treatment with Lime/ Soda Ash Softening Coupled with Cross Flow Ultrafiltration as a Pretreatment for Reverse Osmosis
Ivan Zhu, Justin Higgs, Hari Gupta, David Berger, and Kylie Henline, Xylem, Pittsburgh, PA
Industrial wastewaters such as cooling tower blow down (CTBD), and reverse osmosis (RO) reject usually contain high concentrations of calcium, magnesium, silica, and total dissolved solids (TDS). To recover water for further reuse, cross flow (CF) tubular ultrafiltration (UF) was piloted as a new approach for RO pretreatment. The trials demonstrated advantages of using cross flow UF coupled with softening as a simplistic approach of RO pretreatment while achieving higher UF fluxes and less maintenance.
Discusser: Harley Schreiber, WesTech Engineering, Salt Lake City, UT
IWC 25-18: Advancing Industrial Water and Wastewater Treatment with Ultrafiltration Membranes Designed for Reduced Pretreatment
Jinwen Wang, and Jeff Koehler, PSP.US, Inc., Los Angeles, CA; Jianbo Wen, PolyCera (Shanghai) Technology Co. Ltd., Shanghai, China
PolyCera® ultrafiltration membranes combine ceramic-grade durability with polymeric cost efficiency, reducing pretreatment and lifecycle costs for industrial water/wastewater treatment. The nanostructured hydrophilic/oleophobic membrane material tolerates extreme conditions (pH 0-14, 90°C, 3% oil). Open-channel monolithic modules resist clogging with 5% suspended solids at high crossflow. Field-proven in 90+ MGD projects, including thermal power plant ZLD, lithium extraction, mining wastewater reuse, and oily produced water treatment, these membranes deliver consistent CAPEX/OPEX reductions versus conventional technologies.
Discusser: Juan Meneses, Nalco Water, an Ecolab Company, Apple Valley, MN
IWC 25-19: Optimizing High-Load Food & Beverage Wastewater Treatment with Anaerobic Membrane Bioreactor (AnMBR) Technology
John Dineen, Jeff VanVoorhis, and Annie Weidert, Mead & Hunt, Milwaukee, WI
A Northeastern U.S. condiment production facility needed a new wastewater pretreatment system to support production growth and replace a decommissioned aerobic lagoon and a temporary permit-non-compliant system. After evaluating alternatives and pilot testing, the manufacturing facility constructed a new anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR). The new system, delivered by Mead & Hunt through engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC), was commissioned in early 2023 and handles up to 17,000 lbs/day chemical oxygen demand (COD).
Discusser: Larry DeBirk, ClearStream Environmental, Sandy, UT
IWC 25-20: Withdrawn
M7: Innovations in Energy-Efficient Water Recovery and Bioenergy Solutions
IWC Rep: Jeffrey Easton, Ph.D., P.E., Clearstream Environmental, Inc., Cottonwood Heights, UT
Session Chair: Bill Malyk, WSP, Cambridge, ON, Canada
Discussion Leader: Philip Benson Jr., P.E., PMP, Geosyntec Consultants, Inc., Washington, DC
This session will explore cutting-edge technologies and methodologies in water reclamation, renewable energy solutions and energy efficiency in water reuse and desalination. The presentations will cover a range of topics, including reverse osmosis (RO) technology, anaerobic digestion, anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR) processes, biomethane production, and renewable energy integration. Attendees will gain insights into the latest advancements in these fields and their implications for sustainability, energy efficiency, and the transition to renewable energy sources. You won’t want to miss out on this session!
IWC 25-21: Advances in Utility Scale Biomethane
Andrew Hodgkinson, Worley Consulting, Clifton Hill, Australia; Jeff Zimmer, Worley Consulting, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
US natural gas use is 33 trillion cubic feet (3250 petajoules) annually. Biomethane is a tiny proportion of this annual total, both in USA and abroad. However, methods and supply chains for producing petajoule scale quantities of biomethane are emerging that entail anaerobic digestion concepts hundreds of times larger than seen previously.
Recent project experiences will be presented describing the new utility scale biomethane systems now in development globally, including a national program targeting 750PJ/yr.
Discusser: Matthew Williams, Thermal Process Systems, Heber City, UT
IWC 25-22: Europe Leading the Way to Reduce Energy Use in Water Reuse and Brackish Desalination Projects: A Tale of Two Plants
David Kim-Hak, and Eric Kadaj, Energy Recovery, San Leandro, CA
Energy costs in Europe have risen to record highs in the last few years, encouraging wastewater and low-pressure desalination plants to adopt new energy-saving technologies. Two municipal utilities implemented low pressure isobaric energy recovery devices to achieve 23 and 35% energy reductions, paying for the costs of the installations in less than 3 and 2 years, respectively. This paper describes the projects and their implications for other plants around the world.
Discusser: Denney Eames, P.E., WaterTectonics, Everett, WA
IWC 25-23: Innovative Brewery Waste Management: Integrating Advanced Anaerobic Digestion (AAD) and Anaerobic Membrane Bioreactor (AnMBR) Technologies
Aryan Alidadi, Dawn Lane, Lianna Major, Brian Arntsen, Youngseck Hong, and Wajahat Syed, Veolia WTS, Oakville, ON, Canada
New regulations and financial incentives are driving industrial demand for sustainable technologies. This study presents Veolia’s solution for a brewery’s diverse waste streams: spent grains (high organic loading, low volume) and wastewater (low organic loading, high volume). Using Advanced Anaerobic Digestion and Membrane Bioreactor technologies, the system produces high-quality effluent, renewable natural gas, and nutrient-rich digestate. This innovative approach demonstrates how wastewater becomes ‘opportunity water,’ generating valuable byproducts while meeting environmental goals.
Discusser: Nick Butson P.Eng. (ON, MB), Geosyntec Consultants, Inc., Waterloo, ON, Canada
IWC 25-24: Water Reclamation with Reverse Osmosis – Staging and Energy Recovery
Richard Stover, GP Water, Waltham, MA; Erik Desormeaux, Redwood Materials, San Francisco, CA
Reverse osmosis (RO) technology is critical in water reclamation systems that produce potable water from treated municipal effluent. Staging design can have a major influence on permeate productivity and scaling potential in these systems, and incorporation of energy recovery devices can significantly lower power consumption, both benefiting operating cost. This research considers RO process design and operating options to increase reliability, permeate recovery rate, flexibility, and energy efficiency in potable reuse.
Discusser: Ed Greenwood, P.Eng. BCEE, WSP, Cambridge, ON, Canada
M8: Beyond the Barrel: Sustainable Solutions for Produced Water Management
IWC Rep: John A. Korpiel, P.E., Xylem Inc., Pittsburgh, PA
Session Chair: Adam Sutherland, P.E., Stantec, Nashville, TN
Discussion Leader: Joseph Woodley, UCC Environmental, Huntsville, AL
Produced water from oil and gas extraction poses significant challenges due to its large volumes and complex composition. As the industry progresses towards sustainability, this session will examine potential solutions to the regulatory, environmental, and economic issues associated with produced water treatment. Please join us to discuss advanced technologies and innovative approaches designed to improve the reclamation and treatment of produced water.
IWC 25-25: Capabilities of In-situ Generated Stannous/Tin Oxide as a Germicidal Means for Produced Water Treatment
L. Keith McLeroy, Ecolyse, College Station, TX, and Vladimir Dozortsev, Ph.D., AMS, Sunnyvale, CA
Traditional treatment methods for produced water often come with high costs and secondary waste issues. A novel technology generating a stannous/tin oxide (SnO2) reagent in-situ has been developed, providing a powerful germicidal solution to mitigate environmental impact and enhance the viability of produced water for discharge while paving the way for more sustainable practices. Results of using the in-situ SnO2 as a germicidal agent in oil/gas-produced water samples of various matrices will be presented.
Discusser: Kris Sticinski, WesTech Water, Gibsonia, PA
IWC 25-26: New Inhibitors for Silicate Scale Control in Once Through Steam Generation Systems
Kaylie Young, Ph.D., and Ulysses Soto, SLB, Sugar Land, TX; Marlon Norona, Southern Alberta Institute of Technology; Ron Maltman, and Corbin Ralph, ChampionX, Canada
Once Through Steam Generators (OTSGs) are the main workhorses used to generate steam for thermal recovery methods of heavy oil. The feedwater is often recycled produced water, which greatly increases the sustainability of the process. Despite their many advantages, OTSGs are still prone to scaling and fouling due to elevated TDS and organics in the feedwater. In this follow-up study, we will present the results of pilot OTSG studies with 3 new polymer-based OTSG internal treatment chemistries, including dosage-response.
Discusser: Youngchul Choi, Jacobs
IWC 25-27: Revolutionizing Industrial Wastewater Management: Successful Pilot of a Low-Energy Solvent-Based Desalination Technology
Michael Grossman, Aquafortus Inc., Hobbs, NM; Richard Brunton, Ph.D., Aquafortus Technologies Limited, Mangere, Auckland, New Zealand
This pilot study validates a low-energy, solvent-based desalination technology for treating high-salinity industrial wastewaters, including Permian Basin produced water. The process efficiently recovers high-quality water without energy-intensive phase changes, offering a cost-effective and sustainable alternative to conventional methods. Results confirm strong water recovery, low energy use, and operational flexibility, including potential for ZLD. This approach provides a scalable solution for industries seeking energy-efficient, economically viable water treatment under increasing regulatory and sustainability pressures.
Discusser: Ivan Morales, Nalco Water, an Ecolab Company, Calgary, AB, Canada
IWC 25-28: Innovative Venturi-Based Gas Stripping and Destruction for Produced Water Treatment
Denney Eames, P.E., and Kurt Hansen, Watertectonics, Everett, WA; Patrick Ryan, Water Street Solutions, Minnetonka, MN; William Kohl, Hyperion Water Technologies, Madison, WI
Pilot results from an innovative pretreatment for produced water with a Venturi-based VOC air stripper, and regenerative thermal oxidizer. The system achieved >98% TPH removal, and self-sustaining thermal oxidation without supplemental fuel. In addition, dissolved iron was reduced >80% to less than 0.3 mg/L after oxidation and filtration. The modular design supports downstream desalination and reuse, validating a scalable, low-OPEX, no chemical platform for compliant, cost-effective produced water management and meeting regulatory discharge standards.
Discusser: Oscar Velastegui, Veolia WTS, Brea, CA