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Technical Feasibility of Nanofiltration Concentrate Treatment with Low Pressure Reverse Osmosis

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Date Issued:
2007
Summary:
This study evaluated the technical feasibility o f increasing the typical water recovery of a pilot scale membrane system (85-90%) to 97% by treatment of nanofiltration concentrate with low-pressure reverse osmosis. The study used Biscayne aquifer water (freshwater), and determined that it may be technically feasible to increase the recovery up to approximately 95% when the RO flux is —10 gfd, the feed water pH is reduced to -6.1 with H2 SO4 , and antiscalant in the NF process. The tested membranes showed stable and similar performance under the pilot conditions. However, pilot tests were sensitive to pH variations (pH>6.2). The main barrier for increasing the water recovery was fouling caused by iron, carbonate hardness, and iron bacteria. A preliminary cost analysis showed that there is an apparent econom ic advantage when the recovery is greater than 90%. Estimated water cost at 95% recovery is $1.99 compared with $2.69 at the typical 85% recovery.
Title: Technical Feasibility of Nanofiltration Concentrate Treatment with Low Pressure Reverse Osmosis.
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Name(s): Toro, Adriana M.
Bloetscher, Frederick, Thesis advisor
Florida Atlantic University, Degree grantor
College of Engineering and Computer Science
Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatics Engineering
Type of Resource: text
Genre: Electronic Thesis Or Dissertation
Date Created: 2007
Date Issued: 2007
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Place of Publication: Boca Raton, Fla.
Physical Form: application/pdf
Extent: 269 p.
Language(s): English
Summary: This study evaluated the technical feasibility o f increasing the typical water recovery of a pilot scale membrane system (85-90%) to 97% by treatment of nanofiltration concentrate with low-pressure reverse osmosis. The study used Biscayne aquifer water (freshwater), and determined that it may be technically feasible to increase the recovery up to approximately 95% when the RO flux is —10 gfd, the feed water pH is reduced to -6.1 with H2 SO4 , and antiscalant in the NF process. The tested membranes showed stable and similar performance under the pilot conditions. However, pilot tests were sensitive to pH variations (pH>6.2). The main barrier for increasing the water recovery was fouling caused by iron, carbonate hardness, and iron bacteria. A preliminary cost analysis showed that there is an apparent econom ic advantage when the recovery is greater than 90%. Estimated water cost at 95% recovery is $1.99 compared with $2.69 at the typical 85% recovery.
Identifier: FA00012564 (IID)
Degree granted: Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2007.
Collection: FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection
Note(s): College of Engineering and Computer Science
Subject(s): Saline water conversion--Reverse osmosis process
Water--Purification--Reverse osmosis process
Membrane separation
Membranes (Technology)
Held by: Florida Atlantic University Libraries
Sublocation: Digital Library
Persistent Link to This Record: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00012564
Use and Reproduction: Copyright © is held by the author with permission granted to Florida Atlantic University to digitize, archive and distribute this item for non-profit research and educational purposes. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires permission of the copyright holder.
Use and Reproduction: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
Host Institution: FAU
Is Part of Series: Florida Atlantic University Digital Library Collections.