Water Desalination & RO
The Removal Of Inorganic Contaminants Using Nanofiltration And Reverse Osmosis
The Removal Of Inorganic Contaminants Using Nanofiltration And Reverse Osmosis
Credit to: https://www.hw.ac.uk/
Author: Laura Ann Richards
April 2012
Abstract:
Improved methods of providing safe drinking water are essential in an era in which demand for water is increasing but surface water supplies remain scarce. Desalination of brackish groundwater via membrane filtration with nanofiltration and reverse osmosis (NF/RO) offers a solution to this problem. As such, the overall motivation of this study was to improve mechanistic understanding of NF/RO. The first main aim was to evaluate the performance of a renewable energy membrane system previously tested with real groundwater and varying energy conditions. Given sufficient solar availability, the system reliably removed salts and inorganic contaminants, although solute retention varied with energy (and consequently pressure and flow) and pH, depending on dominant retention mechanisms. The second main aim was to assess the specific impact of pH on inorganic contaminant removal in a bench-scale filtration system. The speciation of boron, fluoride and nitrate was linked with ion retention as a function of pH, with results suggesting that there may be important mechanisms such as ion dehydration controlling transport in NF/RO, which would explain the high retention of fluoride when compared to nitrate. The third main aim was to determine the importance of ion hydration in determining transport using molecular dynamics simulations of monovalent anions transporting through an idealized pore. Simulations demonstrated that energy barriers of transport were strongly dependent on ion properties and pore size and were directly attributable to dehydration. The final aim was to experimentally verify molecular dynamics simulations by quantifying energy barriers for ion transport in NF membranes. Experimentally-determined energy barriers were also solute and membrane-specific, with fluoride having a higher barrier than other solutes. Comparison of results with expected dehydration trends and molecular dynamics corroborated that energy barriers in nanofiltration may be due to dehydration. The results obtained in this thesis provide new insight into NF/RO transport mechanisms, which may contribute to improvements in current technologies and predictive models.
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Desalination At A Glance
Introduction:
By desalination, we will be referring to the production of a useful product water from a feed
water that is too high in inorganic materials (salts) to be useful. The feed water may be
seawater, brackish water, or other “impaired” water that cannot be used directly for potable
or general industrial purposes. Notice that this definition includes the treatment of certain
wastewaters for subsequent reuse.
The principal technologies used in desalination are based on concepts that are fairly easy to
grasp by those with a modest amount of scientific training and/or technical experience. In
practice, however, choices of technology and plant design are usually determined by factors
that might appear minor to the inexperienced. Similarly, new technologies that show great
promise in the laboratory frequently fail for reasons that were earlier overlooked or dismissed
as trivial. Indeed, professional fascination with specific technical elegance has, in some
cases, led researchers to remain oblivious to inherent limitations of a process. Nonetheless,
attention to detail over the past five decades has resulted in dramatic reductions in capital
and operating costs as well as greatly increased plant reliability and performance
Desalination At A Glance
Introduction:
By desalination, we will be referring to the production of a useful product water from a feed
water that is too high in inorganic materials (salts) to be useful. The feed water may be
seawater, brackish water, or other “impaired” water that cannot be used directly for potable
or general industrial purposes. Notice that this definition includes the treatment of certain
wastewaters for subsequent reuse.
The principal technologies used in desalination are based on concepts that are fairly easy to
grasp by those with a modest amount of scientific training and/or technical experience. In
practice, however, choices of technology and plant design are usually determined by factors
that might appear minor to the inexperienced. Similarly, new technologies that show great
promise in the laboratory frequently fail for reasons that were earlier overlooked or dismissed
as trivial. Indeed, professional fascination with specific technical elegance has, in some
cases, led researchers to remain oblivious to inherent limitations of a process. Nonetheless,
attention to detail over the past five decades has resulted in dramatic reductions in capital
and operating costs as well as greatly increased plant reliability and performance
A Primer On Brackish And Seawater Desalination
Abstract: This publication was produced as an activity of the Texas Living Waters Project. This project
is a collaborative effort of the National Wildlife Federation, Environmental Defense, and the Lone
Star Chapter of the Sierra Club. The goals of the project are to 1) ensure adequate water for people
and environmental needs, 2) reduce future demand for water and foster efficient and sustainable use
of current water supplies, 3) educate the public and decision makers about the impact of wasteful
water use and the opportunities for water conservation, and 4) involve citizens in the decision
making process for water management.
A Primer On Brackish And Seawater Desalination
Abstract: This publication was produced as an activity of the Texas Living Waters Project. This project
is a collaborative effort of the National Wildlife Federation, Environmental Defense, and the Lone
Star Chapter of the Sierra Club. The goals of the project are to 1) ensure adequate water for people
and environmental needs, 2) reduce future demand for water and foster efficient and sustainable use
of current water supplies, 3) educate the public and decision makers about the impact of wasteful
water use and the opportunities for water conservation, and 4) involve citizens in the decision
making process for water management.
Assessment Of Best Available Technologies For Desalination In Rural/Local Areas
Introduction: The Sustainable Water Integrated Management (SWIM) is a European Union(EU)-funded Regional Technical
Assistance Program [1] that “aims at supporting water governance and mainstreaming by promoting sustainable
and equitable water resources management to become a prominent feature of national development policies and
strategies (agriculture, industry, tourism, etc).” [2]
Countries in the south of the Mediterranean are facing increasing water scarcity. This scarcity is driving the need
for augmenting conventional water supply with alternative water sources. Rural and remote areas are particularly
disadvantaged because such areas are often located far away from municipal water supply systems and
conventional water sources, and are often not connected to the electric power grid. There is good potential for
addressing the water scarcity problem in rural and remote areas through sustainable saline water desalination
technologies. Seawater and brackish water desalination are well-established industries comprising a wide variety
of available technologies with decades of accumulated experience. There are many advancements and evolution in
desalination technologies. The numerous technologies and processes available have different characteristics,
advantages and disadvantages that make each suitable for particular market segments or specific niches.
Moreover, much of the cumulative technology experience is related to large urban supply plants that are either
connected to the grid, or are themselves part of large power and desalination cogeneration plants. Rural and
remote areas have special requirements that influence the appropriate selection of technologies. These include
technical requirements related to small-scale application using renewable energy sources, ease of operation and
maintenance, and simple design; requirements dictated by geographical location; as well as socio-economic and
socio-cultural requirements related to the communities that are intended to operate and benefit from the
technology. Successful implementation and long term sustainability (operational and environmental sustainability)
of desalination projects for rural and remote locations requires that all the relevant requirements be identified and
addressed from the earliest stages of the project.
Assessment Of Best Available Technologies For Desalination In Rural/Local Areas
Introduction: The Sustainable Water Integrated Management (SWIM) is a European Union(EU)-funded Regional Technical
Assistance Program [1] that “aims at supporting water governance and mainstreaming by promoting sustainable
and equitable water resources management to become a prominent feature of national development policies and
strategies (agriculture, industry, tourism, etc).” [2]
Countries in the south of the Mediterranean are facing increasing water scarcity. This scarcity is driving the need
for augmenting conventional water supply with alternative water sources. Rural and remote areas are particularly
disadvantaged because such areas are often located far away from municipal water supply systems and
conventional water sources, and are often not connected to the electric power grid. There is good potential for
addressing the water scarcity problem in rural and remote areas through sustainable saline water desalination
technologies. Seawater and brackish water desalination are well-established industries comprising a wide variety
of available technologies with decades of accumulated experience. There are many advancements and evolution in
desalination technologies. The numerous technologies and processes available have different characteristics,
advantages and disadvantages that make each suitable for particular market segments or specific niches.
Moreover, much of the cumulative technology experience is related to large urban supply plants that are either
connected to the grid, or are themselves part of large power and desalination cogeneration plants. Rural and
remote areas have special requirements that influence the appropriate selection of technologies. These include
technical requirements related to small-scale application using renewable energy sources, ease of operation and
maintenance, and simple design; requirements dictated by geographical location; as well as socio-economic and
socio-cultural requirements related to the communities that are intended to operate and benefit from the
technology. Successful implementation and long term sustainability (operational and environmental sustainability)
of desalination projects for rural and remote locations requires that all the relevant requirements be identified and
addressed from the earliest stages of the project.
Tailoring Advanced Desalination Technologies for 21st Century Agriculture
Abstract: Substantial parts of the U.S., particularly drier landlocked regions, are facing acute water shortages and water quality issues that decrease agricultural productivity. Reduced crop yields cause billions of dollars in losses annually, affecting the livelihoods of thousands. A combination of population growth, inefficient agricultural practices, and resource demanding consumption trends is only expected to increase pressure on our water supplies. This research proposal seeks to address water and food security issues by cost-effectively and energy-efficiently enhancing water quality and water supply in greenhouses; a $22.93 billion dollar industry in 2017 that is rapidly growing at an annual rate of 8.92%. Greenhouses widely practice desalination of salty irrigation water to improve their operations. However, currently used desalination methods do not tailor greenhouse waters based on crop requirements. This work investigates a fully integrated desalination solution that treats and tailors brackish source waters ingreenhouses to save fertilizer and water. Specifically, this project experimentally studies multi-ion transport in and assesses the economic viable of monovalent selective electrodialysis (MSED). MSED allows for the selective removal of monovalent ions damaging to crops and the retention of divalent ions beneficial for crops, unlike the widely used reverse osmosis (RO), which removes all ions from greenhouse source water. First, we evaluate the techno-economic feasibility of MSED compared to other brackish desalination technologies for agricultural applications, based on primary market research we conduct with over 70 greenhouses.
These include conventional technologies, such as reverse osmosis (RO) and electrodialysis (ED), and advanced technologies, such as closed circuit reverse osmosis (CCRO). The analysis determines the levelized costs of water, the capital costs and energy requirements of these technologies, and how these vary with feed salinity, system capacity and recovery ratio. Then, we build a bench-scale setup to experientially characterize MSED membrane properties, including monovalent selectivity, ion transport, limiting current and resistance, for multiple brackish feedwaters and for two sets of MSED membranes: the widely used Neosepta ACS/CMS membranes and the new Fujifilm Type 16 membranes. Both MSED membranes show notable monovalent selectivity for all tested compositions, reflecting the potential of the technology for selective desalination in greenhouses. The measurements are compared to a model for MSED in multi-ion solutions. The model predicts multi-ion transport for the Neosepta and Fujifilm MSED systems within 6% and 8%, respectively.
Tailoring Advanced Desalination Technologies for 21st Century Agriculture
Abstract: Substantial parts of the U.S., particularly drier landlocked regions, are facing acute water shortages and water quality issues that decrease agricultural productivity. Reduced crop yields cause billions of dollars in losses annually, affecting the livelihoods of thousands. A combination of population growth, inefficient agricultural practices, and resource demanding consumption trends is only expected to increase pressure on our water supplies. This research proposal seeks to address water and food security issues by cost-effectively and energy-efficiently enhancing water quality and water supply in greenhouses; a $22.93 billion dollar industry in 2017 that is rapidly growing at an annual rate of 8.92%. Greenhouses widely practice desalination of salty irrigation water to improve their operations. However, currently used desalination methods do not tailor greenhouse waters based on crop requirements. This work investigates a fully integrated desalination solution that treats and tailors brackish source waters ingreenhouses to save fertilizer and water. Specifically, this project experimentally studies multi-ion transport in and assesses the economic viable of monovalent selective electrodialysis (MSED). MSED allows for the selective removal of monovalent ions damaging to crops and the retention of divalent ions beneficial for crops, unlike the widely used reverse osmosis (RO), which removes all ions from greenhouse source water. First, we evaluate the techno-economic feasibility of MSED compared to other brackish desalination technologies for agricultural applications, based on primary market research we conduct with over 70 greenhouses.
These include conventional technologies, such as reverse osmosis (RO) and electrodialysis (ED), and advanced technologies, such as closed circuit reverse osmosis (CCRO). The analysis determines the levelized costs of water, the capital costs and energy requirements of these technologies, and how these vary with feed salinity, system capacity and recovery ratio. Then, we build a bench-scale setup to experientially characterize MSED membrane properties, including monovalent selectivity, ion transport, limiting current and resistance, for multiple brackish feedwaters and for two sets of MSED membranes: the widely used Neosepta ACS/CMS membranes and the new Fujifilm Type 16 membranes. Both MSED membranes show notable monovalent selectivity for all tested compositions, reflecting the potential of the technology for selective desalination in greenhouses. The measurements are compared to a model for MSED in multi-ion solutions. The model predicts multi-ion transport for the Neosepta and Fujifilm MSED systems within 6% and 8%, respectively.
Desalination and Water Treatment
Abstract:
This study proposes a simple design method of the Reverse osmosis (RO) system in RO brackish water desalination plants. This method is based on the application of maximum available recovery without scaling of any of the compounds present in the water as silica, calcium carbonate, calcium sulfate, barium sulfate, strontium sulfate, and calcium fluoride, and membrane manufacturer design guidelines, and the plant production. Although the method was originally
conceived for application to subterranean brackish waters in the Canary Islands, Spain (principally Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura and Tenerife), it can be extrapolated to other types of region and water treatable with RO systems. The required input data are the chemical composition of the feed water, pH, temperature, silt density index membrane manufacturer design guidelines, and the plant production. The programmed method then determines the design of the RO system. The method whose procedure is described graphically and analytically can be used as an aid in design optimization of RO brackish water desalination plants with acid-free pretreatment processes and only the use of scale inhibitor using spiral wound membranes. Practical applications are presented. The final results for different types of feed water and capacities are showed.
Desalination and Water Treatment
Abstract:
This study proposes a simple design method of the Reverse osmosis (RO) system in RO brackish water desalination plants. This method is based on the application of maximum available recovery without scaling of any of the compounds present in the water as silica, calcium carbonate, calcium sulfate, barium sulfate, strontium sulfate, and calcium fluoride, and membrane manufacturer design guidelines, and the plant production. Although the method was originally
conceived for application to subterranean brackish waters in the Canary Islands, Spain (principally Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura and Tenerife), it can be extrapolated to other types of region and water treatable with RO systems. The required input data are the chemical composition of the feed water, pH, temperature, silt density index membrane manufacturer design guidelines, and the plant production. The programmed method then determines the design of the RO system. The method whose procedure is described graphically and analytically can be used as an aid in design optimization of RO brackish water desalination plants with acid-free pretreatment processes and only the use of scale inhibitor using spiral wound membranes. Practical applications are presented. The final results for different types of feed water and capacities are showed.
Desalination: A National Perspective
NOTICE:
The project that is the subject of this report was approved by the Governing Board of the National Research Council, whose members are drawn from the councils of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine. The members of the panel responsible for the report were chosen for their special competences and with regard for appropriate balance.
Support for this study was provided by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation under Grant No. 06CS811198. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the organizations or agencies that provided
support for the project.
Desalination: A National Perspective
NOTICE:
The project that is the subject of this report was approved by the Governing Board of the National Research Council, whose members are drawn from the councils of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine. The members of the panel responsible for the report were chosen for their special competences and with regard for appropriate balance.
Support for this study was provided by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation under Grant No. 06CS811198. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the organizations or agencies that provided
support for the project.
Desalination As An Alternative To Alleviate Water Scarcity And a Climate Change Adaptation Option In The MENA Region
This report has been prepared by Dr. Jauad El Kharraz at MEDRC with the support of Eng. Ayisha Al-Hinaai, Eng. Riadh Dridi, Ms. Elsa Andrews, Ms. Jackie Allison, and Eng. Georges Geha. This study was peer reviewed by three international experts. We would like to thank them for their reviewing work
Desalination As An Alternative To Alleviate Water Scarcity And a Climate Change Adaptation Option In The MENA Region
This report has been prepared by Dr. Jauad El Kharraz at MEDRC with the support of Eng. Ayisha Al-Hinaai, Eng. Riadh Dridi, Ms. Elsa Andrews, Ms. Jackie Allison, and Eng. Georges Geha. This study was peer reviewed by three international experts. We would like to thank them for their reviewing work
Cleaning Your RO
Eventually the day comes when your RO system will require cleaning. Cleaning is recommended when your RO shows evidence of fouling, just prior to a long term shutdown, or as a matter of scheduled routine maintenance. Fouling characteristics that signal you need to clean are a 10-15% decrease in normalized permeate flow, a 10-15% decrease in normalized permeate quality, or a 10-15% increase in normalized pressure drop as measured between the feed and concentrate headers
Cleaning Your RO
Eventually the day comes when your RO system will require cleaning. Cleaning is recommended when your RO shows evidence of fouling, just prior to a long term shutdown, or as a matter of scheduled routine maintenance. Fouling characteristics that signal you need to clean are a 10-15% decrease in normalized permeate flow, a 10-15% decrease in normalized permeate quality, or a 10-15% increase in normalized pressure drop as measured between the feed and concentrate headers
Desalination Plant Basis Of Design
Overview:
The project potable water requirements will be provided using single desalination plant with the Grand Bahama Port Authority water supply serving as the backup source. The overall desalination treatment process will consist of feedwater pumping, bag filtration, optional media filtration, the addition of a scale
inhibitor, cartridge filtration, membrane separation, forced air degasification, re-pumping, and post treatment. Provisions have been included to bypass the post treatment systems for the production of irrigation water. The post aeration re-pump station will be designed to transfer either type of water to the
appropriate storage tanks located within the project. Membrane concentrate will be disposed via an injection well to be constructed as part of this project.
The desalination process will consist of a dual treatment units or “trains” each equipped with a positive displacement axial piston first pass membrane feed pump, first pass membrane array, energy recovery system, second pass membrane feed pump, second pass membrane array, high- and low-pressure
piping and instrumentation. The second pass system is designed to treat up to 60 percent of the first pass permeate. A membrane cleaning/flush system will be provided. The membrane post treatment will be designed to receive the flow from both units and consists of a forced air degasified, repumping, recarbonation, calcium carbonate up flow contactors to boost finished water hardness and alkalinity concentrations; and three chemical feed systems for the metering of a corrosion inhibitor, dilute hydrochloric acid for pH adjustment and sodium hypochlorite for residual disinfection. The final pH and chlorine residual will be controlled and recorded by a separate system. The following sections describe the various aspects of the facility in greater detail. Process flow
schematics are presented in Appendix A.
Desalination Plant Basis Of Design
Overview:
The project potable water requirements will be provided using single desalination plant with the Grand Bahama Port Authority water supply serving as the backup source. The overall desalination treatment process will consist of feedwater pumping, bag filtration, optional media filtration, the addition of a scale
inhibitor, cartridge filtration, membrane separation, forced air degasification, re-pumping, and post treatment. Provisions have been included to bypass the post treatment systems for the production of irrigation water. The post aeration re-pump station will be designed to transfer either type of water to the
appropriate storage tanks located within the project. Membrane concentrate will be disposed via an injection well to be constructed as part of this project.
The desalination process will consist of a dual treatment units or “trains” each equipped with a positive displacement axial piston first pass membrane feed pump, first pass membrane array, energy recovery system, second pass membrane feed pump, second pass membrane array, high- and low-pressure
piping and instrumentation. The second pass system is designed to treat up to 60 percent of the first pass permeate. A membrane cleaning/flush system will be provided. The membrane post treatment will be designed to receive the flow from both units and consists of a forced air degasified, repumping, recarbonation, calcium carbonate up flow contactors to boost finished water hardness and alkalinity concentrations; and three chemical feed systems for the metering of a corrosion inhibitor, dilute hydrochloric acid for pH adjustment and sodium hypochlorite for residual disinfection. The final pH and chlorine residual will be controlled and recorded by a separate system. The following sections describe the various aspects of the facility in greater detail. Process flow
schematics are presented in Appendix A.
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