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Razman KK, Hanafiah MM, Mohammad AW, Agashichev S, Sgouridis S, AlMarzooqi F. Environmental performance of a photovoltaic brackish water reverse osmosis for a cleaner desalination process: A case study. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 896:165244. [PMID: 37394066 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2023] [Revised: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
Reverse osmosis (RO) membrane-based desalination system with various configurations has emerged as a critical option for reclaiming brackish water. This study aims to evaluate the environmental performance of the combination of photovoltaic-reverse osmosis (PVRO) membrane treatment system via life cycle assessment (LCA). The LCA was calculated using SimaPro v9 software with ReCiPe 2016 methodology and EcoInvent 3.8 database following the ISO 14040/44 series. The findings identified the chemical and electricity consumption at both the midpoint and endpoint level across all impact categories with terrestrial ecotoxicity (27.59 kg 1,4-DCB), human non-carcinogenic toxicity potential (8.06 kg 1,4-DCB) and GWP (4.33 kg CO2 eq) as the highest impacts for the PVRO treatment. As for the endpoint level, the desalination system affected human health, ecosystems and resources at 1.39 × 10-5 DALY, 1.49 × 10-7 species·year and 0.25 USD2013 respectively. The construction phase for the overall PVRO treatment plant was also assessed and impacted less significantly compared to the operational phase. Three different scenarios (i.e. S1: Grid input (Baseline); S2: Photovoltaic (PV)/Battery; S3: PV/Grid) based on different sources of electricity used were also compared as electricity consumption is one of the significant impacts in the operational phase. The study found that S2 had the lowest environmental impact, while S1 contributed the highest when both midpoint and endpoint approaches are considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khalisah Khairina Razman
- Department of Earth Sciences and Environment, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Marlia M Hanafiah
- Department of Earth Sciences and Environment, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia; Centre for Tropical Climate Change System, Institute of Climate Change, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia.
| | - Abdul Wahab Mohammad
- Chemical and Water Desalination Engineering Program, College of Engineering, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
| | - Sergey Agashichev
- Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) Research & Development Centre, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
| | - Sgouris Sgouridis
- Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) Research & Development Centre, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
| | - Faisal AlMarzooqi
- Centre for Membranes and Advanced Water Technology, Department of Chemical Engineering, Masdar Institute, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; Department of Chemical Engineering, Masdar Institute, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
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2
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Shemer H, Wald S, Semiat R. Challenges and Solutions for Global Water Scarcity. MEMBRANES 2023; 13:612. [PMID: 37367816 DOI: 10.3390/membranes13060612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Revised: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
Climate change, global population growth, and rising standards of living have put immense strain on natural resources, resulting in the unsecured availability of water as an existential resource. Access to high-quality drinking water is crucial for daily life, food production, industry, and nature. However, the demand for freshwater resources exceeds the available supply, making it essential to utilize all alternative water resources such as the desalination of brackish water, seawater, and wastewater. Reverse osmosis desalination is a highly efficient method to increase water supplies and make clean, affordable water accessible to millions of people. However, to ensure universal access to water, various measures need to be implemented, including centralized governance, educational campaigns, improvements in water catchment and harvesting technologies, infrastructure development, irrigation and agricultural practices, pollution control, investments in novel water technologies, and transboundary water cooperation. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of measures for utilizing alternative water sources, with particular emphasis on seawater desalination and wastewater reclamation techniques. In particular, membrane-based technologies are critically reviewed, with a focus on their energy consumption, costs, and environmental impacts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hilla Shemer
- The Wolfson Department of Chemical Engineering, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 3200003, Israel
| | - Shlomo Wald
- Wald Industries, Tor HaAviv 1, Rehovot 7632101, Israel
| | - Raphael Semiat
- The Wolfson Department of Chemical Engineering, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 3200003, Israel
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3
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Loza S, Loza N, Kovalchuk N, Romanyuk N, Loza J. Comparative Study of Different Ion-Exchange Membrane Types in Diffusion Dialysis for the Separation of Sulfuric Acid and Nickel Sulfate. MEMBRANES 2023; 13:396. [PMID: 37103823 PMCID: PMC10145838 DOI: 10.3390/membranes13040396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Revised: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
The possibility of using various types of ion-exchange membranes in diffusion dialysis for the separation of sulfuric acid and nickel sulfate has been evaluated. The process of the dialysis separation of a real waste solution from an electroplating facility containing 252.3 g/L of sulfuric acid, 20.9 g/L of nickel ions and small amounts of zinc, iron, copper ions, etc. has been studied. Heterogeneous cation-exchange membrane containing sulfonic groups and heterogeneous anion-exchange membranes with different thicknesses (from 145 μm to 550 μm) and types of fixed groups (four samples with quaternary ammonium base and one sample with secondary and tertiary amines) have been used. The diffusion fluxes of sulfuric acid, nickel sulfate, and the total and osmotic fluxes of the solvent have been determined. The use of a cation-exchange membrane does not allow the separation of the components, since the fluxes of both components are low and comparable in magnitude. The use of anion-exchange membranes makes it possible to efficiently separate sulfuric acid and nickel sulfate. Anion-exchange membranes with quaternary ammonium groups are more effective in the diffusion dialysis process, while the thin membrane turns out to be the most effective.
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Abstract
Production of metals stands for 40% of all industrial greenhouse gas emissions, 10% of the global energy consumption, 3.2 billion tonnes of minerals mined, and several billion tonnes of by-products every year. Therefore, metals must become more sustainable. A circular economy model does not work, because market demand exceeds the available scrap currently by about two-thirds. Even under optimal conditions, at least one-third of the metals will also in the future come from primary production, creating huge emissions. Although the influence of metals on global warming has been discussed with respect to mitigation strategies and socio-economic factors, the fundamental materials science to make the metallurgical sector more sustainable has been less addressed. This may be attributed to the fact that the field of sustainable metals describes a global challenge, but not yet a homogeneous research field. However, the sheer magnitude of this challenge and its huge environmental effects, caused by more than 2 billion tonnes of metals produced every year, make its sustainability an essential research topic not only from a technological point of view but also from a basic materials research perspective. Therefore, this paper aims to identify and discuss the most pressing scientific bottleneck questions and key mechanisms, considering metal synthesis from primary (minerals), secondary (scrap), and tertiary (re-mined) sources as well as the energy-intensive downstream processing. Focus is placed on materials science aspects, particularly on those that help reduce CO2 emissions, and less on process engineering or economy. The paper does not describe the devastating influence of metal-related greenhouse gas emissions on climate, but scientific approaches how to solve this problem, through research that can render metallurgy fossil-free. The content is considering only direct measures to metallurgical sustainability (production) and not indirect measures that materials leverage through their properties (strength, weight, longevity, functionality).
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Affiliation(s)
- Dierk Raabe
- Max-Planck-Institut für Eisenforschung, Max-Planck-Str. 1, 40237 Düsseldorf, Germany
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5
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Foo K, Liang YY, Lau WJ, Khan MMR, Ahmad AL. Performance of Hypersaline Brine Desalination Using Spiral Wound Membrane: A Parametric Study. MEMBRANES 2023; 13:248. [PMID: 36837751 PMCID: PMC9958817 DOI: 10.3390/membranes13020248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Revised: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Desalination of hypersaline brine is known as one of the methods to cope with the rising global concern on brine disposal in high-salinity water treatment. However, the main problem of hypersaline brine desalination is the high energy usage resulting from the high operating pressure. In this work, we carried out a parametric analysis on a spiral wound membrane (SWM) module to predict the performance of hypersaline brine desalination, in terms of mass transfer and specific energy consumption (SEC). Our analysis shows that at a low inlet pressure of 65 bar, a significantly higher SEC is observed for high feed concentration of brine water compared with seawater (i.e., 0.08 vs. 0.035) due to the very low process recovery ratio (i.e., 1%). Hence, an inlet pressure of at least 75 bar is recommended to minimise energy consumption. A higher feed velocity is also preferred due to its larger productivity when compared with a slightly higher energy requirement. This study found that the SEC reduction is greatly affected by the pressure recovery and the pump efficiencies for brine desalination using SWM, and employing them with high efficiencies (ηR ≥ 95% and ηpump ≥ 50%) can reduce SEC by at least 33% while showing a comparable SEC with SWRO desalination (<5.5 kWh/m3).
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathleen Foo
- Faculty of Chemical and Process Engineering Technology, Universiti Malaysia Pahang, Lebuh Persiaran Tun Khalil Yaakob, Kuantan 26300, Malaysia
| | - Yong Yeow Liang
- Faculty of Chemical and Process Engineering Technology, Universiti Malaysia Pahang, Lebuh Persiaran Tun Khalil Yaakob, Kuantan 26300, Malaysia
| | - Woei Jye Lau
- Advanced Membrane Technology Research Centre (AMTEC), Faculty of Chemical and Energy Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Johor Bahru 81310, Malaysia
| | - Md Maksudur Rahman Khan
- Petroleum and Chemical Engineering Programme Area, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Brunei, Gadong BE1410, Brunei
| | - Abdul Latif Ahmad
- School of Chemical Engineering, Engineering Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Nibong Tebal 14300, Malaysia
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Panagopoulos A, Giannika V. Decarbonized and circular brine management/valorization for water & valuable resource recovery via minimal/zero liquid discharge (MLD/ZLD) strategies. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2022; 324:116239. [PMID: 36174468 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.116239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Revised: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Brine (saline wastewater/water) from desalination, salt lakes, and industrial activities (e.g., pharmaceutical industries, oil & gas industries) has received a lot of attention around the world due to its adverse impact on the environment. Currently, several disposal methods have been applied; however, these methods are nowadays unsustainable. To tackle this problem, brine treatment and valorization is considered a promising strategy to eliminate brine discharge and recover valuable resources such as water, minerals, salts, metals, and energy. Brine valorization and resource recovery can be achieved via minimal and zero liquid discharge (MLD & ZLD) desalination systems. Commercially successful technologies such as reverse osmosis (RO) and distillation cannot be adopted as standalone technologies due to restrictions (e.g., osmotic pressure, high-energy/corrosion). Nonetheless, novel technologies such as forward osmosis (FO), membrane distillation (MD) can treat brine of high salinity and present high recovery rates. The extraction of several ions from brines is technically feasible. The minerals/salts composed of major ions (i.e., Na+, Cl-, Mg2+, Ca2+) can be useful in a variety of sectors, and their sale prices are reasonable. On the other hand, the extraction of scarce metals such as lithium, rubidium, and cesium can be extremely profitable as their sale prices are extremely higher compared to the sale prices of common salts. Nonetheless, the extraction of such precious metals is currently restricted to a laboratory scale. The MLD/ZLD systems have high energy consumption and thus are associated with high GHGs emissions as fossil fuels are commonly burned to produce the required energy. To make the MLD/ZLD systems more eco-friendly and carbon-neutral, the authors suggest integrating renewable energy sources such as solar energy, wind energy, geothermal energy, etc. Besides water, minerals, salts, metals, and energy can be harvested from brine. In particular, salinity gradient power can be generated. Salinity gradient power technologies have shown great potential in several bench-scale and pilot-scale implementations. Nonetheless, several improvements are required to promote their large-scale feasibility and viability. To establish a CO2-free and circular global economy, intensive research and development efforts should continue to be directed toward brine valorization and resource recovery using MLD/ZLD systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Argyris Panagopoulos
- School of Chemical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 9 Iroon Polytechniou St., Zografou, 15780, Athens, Greece.
| | - Vasiliki Giannika
- School of Chemical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 9 Iroon Polytechniou St., Zografou, 15780, Athens, Greece.
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Bipolar membrane electrodialysis for sustainable utilization of inorganic salts from the reverse osmosis concentration of real landfill leachate. Sep Purif Technol 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2022.122898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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8
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Vallès V, Fernández de Labastida M, López J, Battaglia G, Winter D, Randazzo S, Cipollina A, Cortina J. Sustainable recovery of critical elements from seawater saltworks bitterns by integration of high selective sorbents and reactive precipitation and crystallisation: developing the probe of concept with on-site produced chemicals and energy. Sep Purif Technol 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2022.122622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
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9
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Palmeros Parada M, Kehrein P, Xevgenos D, Asveld L, Osseweijer P. Societal values, tensions and uncertainties in resource recovery from wastewaters. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2022; 319:115759. [PMID: 35982563 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.115759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Revised: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The recovery of resources, including water reuse, has been presented as a solution to overcome scarcity, and improve the economic and environmental performance of water provision and treatment. However, its implementation faces non-technical challenges, including the need to collaborate with new stakeholders and face societal acceptance issues. Looking at the prominence of the circular economy in current policy developments and the challenges to resource recovery, exploring these issues is urgently needed. In this work, we reviewed a broad range of literature to identify societal values relevant to the recovery of water and other resources from wastewaters, particularly urban and industrial wastewater and desalination brines. We discuss tensions and uncertainties around these values, such as the tension between socio-economic expectations of resource recovery and potential long-term sustainability impacts, as well as uncertainties regarding safety and regulations. For addressing these tensions and uncertainties, we suggest aligning common methods in engineering and the natural sciences with Responsible Innovation approaches, such as Value Sensitive Design and Safe-by-Design. To complement Responsible Innovation, social learning with a Sustainability Transitions or Adaptive Governance perspective is suggested.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mar Palmeros Parada
- Faculty of Applied Sciences, Delft University of Technology, van der Maasweg 9, 2629HZ, Netherlands.
| | - Philipp Kehrein
- Faculty of Applied Sciences, Delft University of Technology, van der Maasweg 9, 2629HZ, Netherlands.
| | - Dimitrios Xevgenos
- Faculty of Applied Sciences, Delft University of Technology, van der Maasweg 9, 2629HZ, Netherlands.
| | - Lotte Asveld
- Faculty of Applied Sciences, Delft University of Technology, van der Maasweg 9, 2629HZ, Netherlands.
| | - Patricia Osseweijer
- Faculty of Applied Sciences, Delft University of Technology, van der Maasweg 9, 2629HZ, Netherlands.
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10
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Boubakri A, Al-Tahar Bouguecha S, Hafiane A. FO–MD integrated process for nitrate removal from contaminated groundwater using seawater as draw solution to supply clean water for rural communities. Sep Purif Technol 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2022.121621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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11
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Battaglia G, Berkemeyer L, Cipollina A, Cortina JL, Fernandez de Labastida M, Lopez Rodriguez J, Winter D. Recovery of Lithium Carbonate from Dilute Li-Rich Brine via Homogenous and Heterogeneous Precipitation. Ind Eng Chem Res 2022; 61:13589-13602. [PMID: 36123999 PMCID: PMC9480836 DOI: 10.1021/acs.iecr.2c01397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Revised: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
![]()
An extensive experimental campaign on Li recovery from
relatively
dilute LiCl solutions (i.e., Li+ ∼ 4000 ppm) is
presented to identify the best operating conditions for a Li2CO3 crystallization unit. Lithium is currently mainly
produced via solar evaporation, purification, and precipitation from
highly concentrated Li brines located in a few world areas. The process
requires large surfaces and long times (18–24 months) to concentrate
Li+ up to 20,000 ppm. The present work investigates two
separation routes to extract Li+ from synthetic solutions,
mimicking those obtained from low-content Li+ sources through
selective Li+ separation and further concentration steps:
(i) addition of Na2CO3 solution and (ii) addition
of NaOH solution + CO2 insufflation. A Li recovery up to
80% and purities up to 99% at 80 °C and with high-ionic strength
solutions was achieved employing NaOH solution + CO2 insufflation
and an ethanol washing step.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Battaglia
- Dipartimento di Ingegneria, Università degli Studi di Palermo (UNIPA), viale delle Scienze Ed.6, Palermo 90128, Italy
| | - Leon Berkemeyer
- Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE, Heidenhofstraße 2, Freiburg 79110, Germany
| | - Andrea Cipollina
- Dipartimento di Ingegneria, Università degli Studi di Palermo (UNIPA), viale delle Scienze Ed.6, Palermo 90128, Italy
| | - José Luis Cortina
- Chemical Engineering Department, Escola d′Enginyeria de Barcelona Est (EEBE), Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)-BarcelonaTECH, C/Eduard Maristany 10−14, Campus Diagonal-Besòs, Barcelona 08930, Spain
| | - Marc Fernandez de Labastida
- Chemical Engineering Department, Escola d′Enginyeria de Barcelona Est (EEBE), Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)-BarcelonaTECH, C/Eduard Maristany 10−14, Campus Diagonal-Besòs, Barcelona 08930, Spain
| | - Julio Lopez Rodriguez
- Chemical Engineering Department, Escola d′Enginyeria de Barcelona Est (EEBE), Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)-BarcelonaTECH, C/Eduard Maristany 10−14, Campus Diagonal-Besòs, Barcelona 08930, Spain
| | - Daniel Winter
- Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE, Heidenhofstraße 2, Freiburg 79110, Germany
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Herrero-Gonzalez M, Ibañez R. Technical and Environmental Feasibilities of the Commercial Production of NaOH from Brine by Means of an Integrated EDBM and Evaporation Process. MEMBRANES 2022; 12:885. [PMID: 36135904 PMCID: PMC9505344 DOI: 10.3390/membranes12090885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Revised: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Electrodialysis with bipolar membranes (EDBMs) is a technology that offers a great potential for the introduction of the principles of a circular economy in the desalination industry, by providing a strategy for the recovery of HCl and NaOH from brine via the process of seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO). Both chemicals are widely employed in desalination facilities, however NaOH presents a special interest due to its higher requirements and cost. Nevertheless, the standard commercial concentrations that are commonly employed in the facilities cannot be obtained using the state of the art EDBM technology itself. Therefore, the aim and main purpose of this work is to prove the technical and environmental feasibilities of a new approach to produce commercial NaOH (50%wt.) from SWRO brine by means of an integrated process of EDBMs followed by a triple effect evaporation. The global process has been technically evaluated in terms of the specific energy consumption (SEC) (kWh·kg-1 NaOH) and the environmental sustainability performance has been analyzed by its carbon footprint (CF) (kg CO2-eq.·kg-1 NaOH). The influence of the current density, and the power source in the EDBM stage have been evaluated on a laboratory scale while the influence of the feed stream concentration in the evaporation stage has been obtained through simulations using Aspen Plus. The lowest SEC of the integrated process (SECOV), 31.1 kWh·kg-1 NaOH, is obtained when an average current density of 500 A·m-2, provided by a power supply (grid mix), is applied in the EDBM stage. The environmental burdens of the integrated process have been quantified by achieving reductions in the CF by up to 54.7% when solar photovoltaic energy is employed as the power source for EDBMs, with a value of 5.38 kg CO2-eq.·kg-1 NaOH. This study presents a great potential for the introduction of the principles of a circular economy in the water industry through the recovery of NaOH from the high salinity waste stream generated in SWRO facilities and opens the possibility of the reuse of NaOH by its self-supply in the desalination plant.
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Baudino L, Santos C, Pirri CF, La Mantia F, Lamberti A. Recent Advances in the Lithium Recovery from Water Resources: From Passive to Electrochemical Methods. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2022; 9:e2201380. [PMID: 35896956 PMCID: PMC9507372 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202201380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2022] [Revised: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The ever-increasing amount of batteries used in today's society has led to an increase in the demand of lithium in the last few decades. While mining resources of this element have been steadily exploited and are rapidly depleting, water resources constitute an interesting reservoir just out of reach of current technologies. Several techniques are being explored and novel materials engineered. While evaporation is very time-consuming and has large footprints, ion sieves and supramolecular systems can be suitably tailored and even integrated into membrane and electrochemical techniques. This review gives a comprehensive overview of the available solutions to recover lithium from water resources both by passive and electrically enhanced techniques. Accordingly, this work aims to provide in a single document a rational comparison of outstanding strategies to remove lithium from aqueous sources. To this end, practical figures of merit of both main groups of techniques are provided. An absence of a common experimental protocol and the resulting variability of data and experimental methods are identified. The need for a shared methodology and a common agreement to report performance metrics are underlined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luisa Baudino
- DISAT Dipartimento di Scienza Applicata e TecnologiaPolitecnico di Torinocorso Duca degli Abruzzi 24Torino10129Italy
- Istituto Italiano di TecnologiaCenter for Sustainable Future TechnologiesVia Livorno 60Torino10144Italy
| | - Cleis Santos
- Energiespeicher‐ und EnergiewandlersystemeUniversität BremenBibliothekstraße 128359BremenGermany
| | - Candido F. Pirri
- DISAT Dipartimento di Scienza Applicata e TecnologiaPolitecnico di Torinocorso Duca degli Abruzzi 24Torino10129Italy
- Istituto Italiano di TecnologiaCenter for Sustainable Future TechnologiesVia Livorno 60Torino10144Italy
| | - Fabio La Mantia
- Energiespeicher‐ und EnergiewandlersystemeUniversität BremenBibliothekstraße 128359BremenGermany
| | - Andrea Lamberti
- DISAT Dipartimento di Scienza Applicata e TecnologiaPolitecnico di Torinocorso Duca degli Abruzzi 24Torino10129Italy
- Istituto Italiano di TecnologiaCenter for Sustainable Future TechnologiesVia Livorno 60Torino10144Italy
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Deemter D, Oller I, Amat AM, Malato S. Advances in membrane separation of urban wastewater effluents for (pre)concentration of microcontaminants and nutrient recovery: A mini review. CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL ADVANCES 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ceja.2022.100298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
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15
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Review: Brine Solution: Current Status, Future Management and Technology Development. SUSTAINABILITY 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/su14116752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Desalination brine is extremely concentrated saline water; it contains various salts, nutrients, heavy metals, organic contaminants, and microbial contaminants. Conventional disposal of desalination brine has negative impacts on natural and marine ecosystems that increase the levels of toxicity and salinity. These issues demand the development of brine management technologies that can lead to zero liquid discharge. Brine management can be productive by adopting economically feasible methodologies, which enables the recovery of valuable resources like freshwater, minerals, and energy. This review focuses on the recent advances in brine management using various membrane/thermal-based technologies and their applicability in water, mineral, and energy recoveries, considering their pros and cons. This review also exemplifies the hybrid processes for metal recovery and zero liquid discharge that may be adopted, so far, as an appropriate futuristic strategy. The data analyzed and outlook presented in this review could definitely contribute to the development of economically achievable future strategies for sustainable brine management.
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16
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Panagopoulos A. Techno-economic assessment of zero liquid discharge (ZLD) systems for sustainable treatment, minimization and valorization of seawater brine. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2022; 306:114488. [PMID: 35042172 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.114488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Revised: 12/27/2021] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The challenge of brine disposal has sparked a lot of interest in advanced strategies for valorizing them through freshwater and salt recovery. This research article examines the technical and economic aspects of zero liquid discharge (ZLD) desalination systems using two different crystallization processes, namely brine crystallizer (BCr) in scenario 1 and wind-aided intensified evaporation (WAIV) in scenario 2 for sustainable treatment, minimization, and valorization of seawater brine. The results indicated that scenario 1 has a higher water recovery (99.14%) than scenario 2 (85.75%) as the crystallization process in scenario 2 (i.e., WAIV) does not recover freshwater; however, water is evaporated through WAIV technology and thus both systems have low brine volumes (<1 m3/day), achieving ZLD conditions. The total energy and cost demands of scenario 1 (22.15 kWh/m3 & US$100.5/day) are greater than those of scenario 2 (15.34 kWh/m3 & US$85.3/day). Both scenarios are viable, with profits ranging from US$180.49/day to US$225.85/day depending on whether only desalinated water or both desalinated water and solid salt are sold. The insight given in this techno-economic analysis will aid in the sustainable valorization and management of brine from several brine-generating industries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Argyris Panagopoulos
- School of Chemical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 9 Iroon Polytechniou St, Zografou, 15780, Athens, Greece.
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Market Opportunities of Water Treatments Powered by Solar Micro Gas Turbines: Chile and Ecuador Case Studies. Processes (Basel) 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/pr10030556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Throughout the last decades the developments on desalination field have been focused on energy consumption and costs reduction. However, water recovery and brine disposal are becoming a matter of concern to desalination industry. In this work, a Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) unit coupled with a Solar Micro Gas Turbine (SMGT) system is presented to address, among others, the challenges of mining industry in remote areas, in particular, fossil fuel dependence, water availability and pollution derived from effluents disposal. As a way to assess the feasibility of the proposal, a techno-economic analysis of the application in two Southern American regions (Chile and Ecuador) of photovoltaic modules, wind turbines and Solar Micro Gas Turbines is performed. Afterwards, the main novel feature of the new system—i.e., the ZLD unit—is described and a sensitivity analysis on its functioning whilst coupled with the SMGT is carried out. The aim is to propose a preliminary design of the ZLD process. The selection of the optimal ratio between exhaust gases and brine mass flow rates is analyzed, as well as variation in inlet salinity and temperatures. Furthermore, the water which could be recovered from effluents, at the same time that the heat of exhaust gases from SMGT is harvested, is quantified. Lastly, according to the results obtained, a preliminary design of a 10 kWe rated power SMGT system, coupled to Reverse Osmosis (RO) and ZLD units, is proposed.
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Reducing the Environmental Impacts of Desalination Reject Brine Using Modified Solvay Process Based on Calcium Oxide. SUSTAINABILITY 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/su14042298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/10/2022]
Abstract
In this research, the influence of a variety of operational factors such as the temperature of the reaction, gas flow rate, concentration of NaCl, and the amount of Ca(OH)2 for reducing the environmental impacts of desalination reject brine using the calcium oxide-based modified Solvay process were investigated. For this purpose, response surface modeling (RSM) and central composite design (CCD) were applied. The significance of these factors and their interactions was assessed using an analysis of variance (ANOVA) technique with a 95% degree of certainty (p < 0.05). Optimal conditions for this process included: a temperature of 10 °C, a Ca(OH)2/NaCl concentration ratio of 0.36, and a gas flow rate of 800 mL/min. Under these conditions, the maximum sodium removal efficiency from the synthetic sodium chloride solution was 53.51%. Subsequently, by employing the real brine rejected from the desalination unit with a 63 g/L salinity level under optimal conditions, the removal rate of sodium up to 43% was achieved. To investigate the process’s kinetics of Na elimination, three different kinds of kinetics models were applied from zero to second order. R squared values of 0.9101, 0.915, and 0.9141 were obtained in this investigation for zero-, first-, and second-degree kinetic models, respectively, when synthetic reject saline reacted. In contrast, according to R squared’s results with utilizing real rejected brine, the results for the model of kinetics were: R squared = 0.9115, 0.9324, and 0.9532, correspondingly. As a result, the elimination of sodium from real reject brine is consistent with the second-order kinetic model. According to the findings, the calcium oxide-based modified Solvay method offers a great deal of promise for desalination of brine rejected from desalination units and reducing their environmental impacts. The primary benefit of this technology is producing a usable solid product (sodium bicarbonate) from sodium chloride in the brine solution.
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Choi HJ. Assessment of sulfonation in cornstalk for adsorption of metal-ions from seawater. KOREAN J CHEM ENG 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s11814-021-0949-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
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Cipolletta G, Lancioni N, Akyol Ç, Eusebi AL, Fatone F. Brine treatment technologies towards minimum/zero liquid discharge and resource recovery: State of the art and techno-economic assessment. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2021; 300:113681. [PMID: 34521009 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.113681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Revised: 08/11/2021] [Accepted: 09/02/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
In the framework of minimum liquid discharge (MLD) or zero liquid discharge (ZLD), sustainable brine management can be achieved via appropriate hybrid treatment technologies that provide water reuse, resource recovery, energy recovery and even freshwater production. This paper reviews the state of the art brine treatment technologies targeting MLD/ZLD and resource recovery and highlights their advantages and limitations. The right combination of treatment processes can add a high value to the brine management and shift the focus from removal to recovery and reuse point and help to adopt a more circular economy approach. ZLD technologies targets 100% water recovery using both membrane- and thermal-based technologies, while they are often hindered by high cost and intensive energy requirement. Meanwhile, the recovery of salts and other resources can partially compensate the operation cost of ZLD processes. MLD is a promising option that achieves up to 95% water recovery by using mainly membrane-based technologies. At this point, feasibility assessment is important to assess the environmental and economic sound of technologies. In the second part, we provide a techno-economic assessment of the most common technologies to provide possible benefits on a desalination plant. In the latter sections, innovative brine treatment schemes are discussed aiming MLD/ZLD, while resource recovery from brine and possible valorization routes of the recovered materials are highlighted to help to reduce the overall costs of the plants and to reach the targets of circular economy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Cipolletta
- Department of Science and Engineering of Materials, Environment and Urban Planning-SIMAU, Marche Polytechnic University, via Brecce Bianche 12, 60131, Ancona, Italy
| | - Nicola Lancioni
- Department of Science and Engineering of Materials, Environment and Urban Planning-SIMAU, Marche Polytechnic University, via Brecce Bianche 12, 60131, Ancona, Italy
| | - Çağrı Akyol
- Department of Science and Engineering of Materials, Environment and Urban Planning-SIMAU, Marche Polytechnic University, via Brecce Bianche 12, 60131, Ancona, Italy.
| | - Anna Laura Eusebi
- Department of Science and Engineering of Materials, Environment and Urban Planning-SIMAU, Marche Polytechnic University, via Brecce Bianche 12, 60131, Ancona, Italy.
| | - Francesco Fatone
- Department of Science and Engineering of Materials, Environment and Urban Planning-SIMAU, Marche Polytechnic University, via Brecce Bianche 12, 60131, Ancona, Italy
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Valdés H, Saavedra A, Flores M, Vera-Puerto I, Aviña H, Belmonte M. Reverse Osmosis Concentrate: Physicochemical Characteristics, Environmental Impact, and Technologies. MEMBRANES 2021; 11:753. [PMID: 34677518 PMCID: PMC8541667 DOI: 10.3390/membranes11100753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2021] [Revised: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
This study's aim is to generate a complete profile of reverse osmosis concentrate (ROC), including physicochemical characteristics, environmental impact, and technologies for ROC treatment, alongside element recovery with potential valorization. A systematic literature review was used to compile and analyze scientific information about ROC, and systematic identification and evaluation of the data/evidence in the articles were conducted using the methodological principles of grounded data theory. The literature analysis revealed that two actions are imperative: (1) countries should impose strict regulations to avoid the contamination of receiving water bodies and (2) desalination plants should apply circular economies. Currently, synergizing conventional and emerging technologies is the most efficient method to mitigate the environmental impact of desalination processes. However, constructed wetlands are an emerging technology that promise to be a viable multi-benefit solution, as they can provide simultaneous treatment of nutrients, metals, and trace organic contaminants at a relatively low cost, and are socially accepted; therefore, they are a sustainable solution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hugo Valdés
- Centro de Innovación en Ingeniería Aplicada (CIIA), Departamento de Computación e Industrias, Facultad de Ciencias de la Ingeniería, Universidad Católica del Maule (UCM), Av. San Miguel 3605, Talca 3460000, Chile
| | - Aldo Saavedra
- Departamento de Ingeniería Química, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad de Santiago de Chile (USACH), Av. Libertador Bernardo O’Higgins 3363, Estación Central 9160000, Chile
| | - Marcos Flores
- Departamento de Ciencias Básicas, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Santo Tomás, Avenida Carlos Schorr 255, Talca 3473620, Chile;
| | - Ismael Vera-Puerto
- Centro de Innovación en Ingeniería Aplicada (CIIA), Departamento de Obras Civiles, Facultad de Ciencias de la Ingeniería, Universidad Católica del Maule, Av. San Miguel 3605, Talca 3460000, Chile;
| | - Hector Aviña
- iiDEA Group, Department of Industrial and Environmental Process Engineering, Engineering Institute, National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), Ciudad de México 04510, Mexico;
| | - Marisol Belmonte
- Laboratorio de Biotecnología, Medio Ambiente e Ingeniería (LABMAI), Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad de Playa Ancha, Avda. Leopoldo Carvallo 270, Valparaíso 2340000, Chile;
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