Chris Roy
Head of Applications Engineering & Co-Founder, ZwitterCo
Chris Roy is a co-founder and head of applications engineering at ZwitterCo. An expert in polymeric and ceramic membranes, Chris previously worked as a research and development engineer and field engineer for Veolia CeraMem and the ALSYS Group, where he piloted, commissioned, and supported numerous industrial wastewater treatment projects in the food and beverage, metal finishing, oil and gas, chemical, medical, and aerospace industries. He graduated summa cum laude from the University of Massachusetts Amherst with a B.S. in chemical engineering and with departmental honors of greatest distinction for his independent research in polymer rheology.
Low-Fouling Zwitterionic Membranes for Water Reuse
As water scarcity continues to drive sustainability goals across the dairy industry, which is both a heavy consumer of water and a large producer of wastewater, technologies to facilitate water reuse and effective economical wastewater treatment are becoming increasingly important. This paper focuses on a new, extremely fouling-resistant, patented zwitterionic membrane chemistry that will enable the dairy industry to achieve their environmental water goals. First, the science behind this novel polymeric membrane chemistry that leads to unprecedented performance in streams with high concentrations of fat and protein will be discussed. Next, multiple case studies demonstrating its use in dairy streams and other difficult-to-treat, high organic strength wastewater streams will be reviewed. The results will highlight the intensely hydrophilic (“water loving”) membrane’s enablement of faster and easier cleanings, higher fat and protein retention, greater end-of-pipe water recovery and reuse, and reduced wastewater treatment and disposal costs. In the quest to meet ever-tightening regulations due to water scarcity, a breakthrough membrane chemistry could empower the dairy industry to achieve sustainability goals.