Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment (한국물환경학회지)

Korean Society on Water Environment (한국물환경학회)
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A Study on Current Status and Trends of Recycling Used Water Purifier Filters

가정용 정수기 폐필터 재활용 동향에 관한 연구

  • Received : 2021.06.18
  • Accepted : 2021.08.13
  • Published : 2021.09.30
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Abstract

The use of water purifiers has been increasing every year due to increased drinking water safety concerns raised by the water pollution accidents occasionally reported. Currently, more than 10 million water purifiers have been distributed in Korea, and the estimation of the purifier sales reaches two million units per year. As a result, the number of used water purifier filters that must be replaced on a regular basis has gradually increased. However, regardless of the considerations for the capacity of used filters remaining, water purifier filters were replaced and collected at regular intervals. The high cost of disposal of the used filters by landfill or incineration were required. Thus, in this study, the current status and trends of recycling technologies for used water purifier filters were reviewed. It is noted that there was insufficient statistical data to understand the current status of the difference between the number of used water filters discarded and the number of those recycled. Most studies on the recycling of old water purifier filters have concentrated on pretreatment and cleaning methods for sediment filters and membrane filters, with the goal of extending the lifespan of used filters. Further, the study suggested future study directions on the recycling of used water purifier filters, which could be useful information on establishing environmental policy to promote the recycling of used filters.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

본 논문은 2020년도 중소기업벤처부의 "2020 중소기업 기술혁신개발사업 시장대응형 과제 2차"에서 지원받아 수행하였습니다.

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