Reducing the quantity of waste, whether solid, liquid or gaseous, can be achieved through curative action or by integrating preventive systems into processes. As a result, the field of action is extremely vast, and membrane processes have their rightful place both in the depollution of liquid or gaseous effluents and in their integration into innovative processes. As far as curative action is concerned, membrane processes are clearly part of a strategy to recover materials, concentrate effluents and recycle effluents, in order to postpone the moment when energy recovery from effluents is the only option.

Generally speaking, we are working to disseminate curative industrial membrane processes through progress in three key areas:

- Considering the coupling of curative processes, so as to use membrane processes and coupled processes under optimum conditions,

- Optimize energy consumption,

- Improving membrane service life to limit waste and costs.

Membrane processes are widely used in wastewater treatment. For less widespread applications, such as the treatment of specific industrial effluents, they enable the separation of substances harmful to the environment or health, and thus compliance with discharge standards. However, membrane processes are not limited to aqueous waste. First and foremost, they are a means of separation that enables the recovery of certain products, in particular VOCs or traces of solvent, in the aqueous or organic phase. They can therefore be used to purify or concentrate highly specific or radioactive effluents.