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Long W, Koo JW, Yuan Z, She Q. Flow-through electrochemically assisted reverse-osmosis: A new process towards low-chemical desalination. WATER RESEARCH 2024; 249:120982. [PMID: 38101048 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.120982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
Two-pass reverse osmosis (RO) process is prevailing in seawater desalination, but each process must consume considerable amounts of chemicals to secure product water quality. Caustic soda is used to raise the pH of the first-pass RO permeate (also the second-pass RO feed) to ensure adequate removal of boron in the subsequent second-pass RO, while antiscalants and disinfectants such as hypochlorite are added in the feed seawater for scaling and biofouling control of the first-pass RO membranes. Here, we report for the first time a flow-through electrochemically assisted reverse osmosis (FT-EARO) module system used in the first-pass RO, aiming to dramatically reduce or even eliminate chemical usage for the current RO desalination. This novel system integrated an electroconductive permeate carrier as cathode and an electroconductive feed spacer as anode on each side of the first-pass RO membrane. Upon applying an extremely low-energy (< 0.005 kWh/m3) electrical field, the FT-EARO module could (1) produce a permeate with pH >10 with no alkali dosage, ensuring sufficient boron removal in the second-pass RO, and (2) generate protons and low-concentration free chlorine near the membrane surface, potentially discouraging membrane scaling and biofouling while maintaining satisfactory desalination performance. The current study further elucidated the high scalability of this novel electrified high-pressure RO module design. The low-chemical manner of FT-EARO presents an attractive practical option towards green and sustainable seawater desalination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Long
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 639798, Singapore; Singapore Membrane Technology Centre, Nanyang Environment & Water Research Institute, Nanyang Technological University, 637141, Singapore
| | - Jing Wee Koo
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 639798, Singapore; Singapore Membrane Technology Centre, Nanyang Environment & Water Research Institute, Nanyang Technological University, 637141, Singapore
| | - Ziwen Yuan
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 639798, Singapore; Singapore Membrane Technology Centre, Nanyang Environment & Water Research Institute, Nanyang Technological University, 637141, Singapore
| | - Qianhong She
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 639798, Singapore; Singapore Membrane Technology Centre, Nanyang Environment & Water Research Institute, Nanyang Technological University, 637141, Singapore.
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2
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Elcik H, Alpatova A, Gonzalez-Gil G, Blankert B, Farhat N, Amin NA, Vrouwenvelder JS, Ghaffour N. Elucidating biofouling over thermal and spatial gradients in seawater membrane distillation in hot climatic conditions. WATER RESEARCH 2022; 223:118983. [PMID: 35988337 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2022.118983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Biofouling is a hurdle of seawater desalination that increases water costs and energy consumption. In membrane distillation (MD), biofouling development is complicated due to the temperature effect that adversely affects microbial growth. Given the high relevance of MD to regions with abundant warm seawater, it is essential to explore the biofouling propensity of microbial communities with higher tolerance to elevated temperature conditions. This study presents a comprehensive analysis of the spatial and temporal biofilm distribution and associated membrane fouling during direct contact MD (DCMD) of the Red Sea water. We found that structure and composition of the biofilm layer played a significant role in the extent of permeate flux decline, and biofilms that built up at 45°C had lower bacterial concentration but higher extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) content as compared to biofilms that formed at 55 °C and 65°C. Pore wetting and bacterial passage to the permeate side were initially observed but slowed down as operating time increased. Intact cells in biofilms dominated over the damaged cells at any tested condition emphasizing the high adaptivity of the Red Sea microbial communities to elevated feed temperatures. A comparison of microbial abundance revealed a difference in bacterial distribution between the feed and biofilm samples. A shift in the biofilm microbial community and colonization of the membrane surface with thermophilic bacteria with the feed temperature increase was observed. The results of this study improve our understanding of biofouling propensity in MD that utilizes temperature-resilient feed waters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harun Elcik
- Water Desalination and Reuse Center (WDRC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), 6900, Thuwal 23955, Saudi Arabia
| | - Alla Alpatova
- Water Desalination and Reuse Center (WDRC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), 6900, Thuwal 23955, Saudi Arabia
| | - Graciela Gonzalez-Gil
- Water Desalination and Reuse Center (WDRC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), 6900, Thuwal 23955, Saudi Arabia
| | - Bastiaan Blankert
- Water Desalination and Reuse Center (WDRC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), 6900, Thuwal 23955, Saudi Arabia
| | - Nadia Farhat
- Water Desalination and Reuse Center (WDRC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), 6900, Thuwal 23955, Saudi Arabia
| | - Najat A Amin
- Water Desalination and Reuse Center (WDRC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), 6900, Thuwal 23955, Saudi Arabia
| | - Johannes S Vrouwenvelder
- Water Desalination and Reuse Center (WDRC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), 6900, Thuwal 23955, Saudi Arabia; Environmental Science and Engineering Program, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE) Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), 6900, Thuwal 23955, Saudi Arabia
| | - Noreddine Ghaffour
- Water Desalination and Reuse Center (WDRC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), 6900, Thuwal 23955, Saudi Arabia; Environmental Science and Engineering Program, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE) Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), 6900, Thuwal 23955, Saudi Arabia.
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3
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Hybrid nanofiltration thin film hollow fiber membranes with adsorptive supports containing bentonite and LDH nanoclays for boron removal. J Memb Sci 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2022.120576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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4
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Wen Y, Dai R, Li X, Zhang X, Cao X, Wu Z, Lin S, Tang CY, Wang Z. Metal-organic framework enables ultraselective polyamide membrane for desalination and water reuse. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabm4149. [PMID: 35263126 PMCID: PMC8906575 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abm4149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
While reverse osmosis (RO) is the leading technology to address the global challenge of water scarcity through desalination and potable reuse of wastewater, current RO membranes fall short in rejecting certain harmful constituents from seawater (e.g., boron) and wastewater [e.g., N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA)]. In this study, we develop an ultraselective polyamide (PA) membrane by enhancing interfacial polymerization with amphiphilic metal-organic framework (MOF) nanoflakes. These MOF nanoflakes horizontally align at the water/hexane interface to accelerate the transport of diamine monomers across the interface and retain gas bubbles and heat of the reaction in the interfacial reaction zone. These mechanisms synergistically lead to the formation of a crumpled and ultrathin PA nanofilm with an intrinsic thickness of ~5 nm and a high cross-linking degree of ~98%. The resulting PA membrane delivers exceptional desalination performance that is beyond the existing upper bound of permselectivity and exhibited very high rejection (>90%) of boron and NDMA unmatched by state-of-the-art RO membranes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Wen
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Ruobin Dai
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Xuesong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Xingran Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Xingzhong Cao
- Institute of High Energy Physics, CAS, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Zhichao Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Shihong Lin
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235-1831, USA
- Corresponding author. (S.L.); (C.Y.T.); (Z.Wa.)
| | - Chuyang Y. Tang
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong S.A.R., China
- Corresponding author. (S.L.); (C.Y.T.); (Z.Wa.)
| | - Zhiwei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai 200092, China
- Corresponding author. (S.L.); (C.Y.T.); (Z.Wa.)
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Abstract
Several harmful or valuable ionic species present in seawater, brackish water, and wastewater are amphoteric, weak acids or weak bases, and, thus, their properties depend on local water pH. Effective removal of these species can be challenging for conventional membrane technologies, necessitating chemical dosing of the feedwater to adjust pH. A prominent example is boron, which is considered toxic in high concentrations and often requires additional membrane passes to remove during seawater desalination. Capacitive deionization (CDI) is an emerging membraneless technique for water treatment and desalination, based on electrosorption of salt ions into charging microporous electrodes. CDI cells show strong internally generated pH variations during operation, and, thus, CDI can potentially remove pH-dependent species without chemical dosing. However, development of this technique is inhibited by the complexities inherent to the coupling of pH dynamics and ion properties in a charging CDI cell. Here, we present a theoretical framework predicting the electrosorption of pH-dependent species in flow-through electrode CDI cells. We demonstrate that such a model enables insight into factors affecting species electrosorption and conclude that important design rules for such systems are highly counterintuitive. For example, we show both theoretically and experimentally that for boron removal, the anode should be placed upstream and the cathode downstream, an electrode order that runs counter to the accepted wisdom in the CDI field. Overall, we show that to achieve target separations relying on coupled, complex phenomena, such as in the removal of amphoteric species, a theoretical CDI model is essential.
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Son HS, Soukane S, Lee J, Kim Y, Kim YD, Ghaffour N. Towards sustainable circular brine reclamation using seawater reverse osmosis, membrane distillation and forward osmosis hybrids: An experimental investigation. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2021; 293:112836. [PMID: 34052611 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.112836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2020] [Revised: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Desalination and wastewater treatment technologies require an effective solution for brine management to ensure environmental sustainability, which is closely linked with efficient process operations, reduction of chemical dosages, and valorization of brines. Within the scope of desalination brine reclamation, a circular system consisting of seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO), membrane distillation (MD), and forward osmosis (FO) three-process hybrid is investigated. The proposed design increases water recovery from SWRO brine (by MD) and dilutes concentrated brine to seawater level (by FO) for SWRO feed. It ultimately reduces SWRO process brine disposal and improves crystallization efficiency for a zero-liquid discharge application. The operating range of the hybrid system is indicated by a seawater volumetric concentration factor (VCF) ranging from 1.0 to 2.2, which covers practical and sustainable operation in full-scale applications. Within the proposed VCF range, different operating conditions of the MD and FO processes were evaluated in series with concentrated seawater as well as real SWRO brine from a full-scale desalination plant. Water quality and membrane surface were analyzed before and after experiments to assess the impact of the SWRO brine. Despite their low concentration (0.13 mg/L as phosphorous), antiscalants present in SWRO brine alleviated the flux decline in MD operations by 68.3% compared to operations using seawater concentrate, while no significant influence was observed on the FO process. A full spectrum of water quality analysis of real SWRO brine and Red Sea water is made available for future SWRO brine reclamation studies. The operating conditions and experimental results have shown the potential of the SWRO-MD-FO hybrid system for a circular brine reclamation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyuk Soo Son
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Water Desalination and Reuse Center (WDRC), Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sofiane Soukane
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Water Desalination and Reuse Center (WDRC), Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Junggil Lee
- Thermal & Fluid System R&D Group, Korea Institute of Industrial Technology, 89 Yangdaegiro-gil, Ipjang-myeon, Seobuk-gu, Cheonan, 331-822, Republic of Korea
| | - Youngjin Kim
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Korea University, 2511, Sejong-ro, Sejong-si, Republic of Korea
| | - Young-Deuk Kim
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Hanyang University, 55 Hanyangdaehak-ro, Sangnok-gu, Ansan, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea; BK21 FOUR ERICA-ACE Center, Hanyang University, 55 Hanyangdaehak-ro, Sangnok-gu, Ansan, Gyeonggi-do, 15588, Republic of Korea
| | - Noreddine Ghaffour
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Water Desalination and Reuse Center (WDRC), Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia.
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7
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Economics and Energy Consumption of Brackish Water Reverse Osmosis Desalination: Innovations and Impacts of Feedwater Quality. MEMBRANES 2021; 11:membranes11080616. [PMID: 34436379 PMCID: PMC8399043 DOI: 10.3390/membranes11080616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Revised: 08/06/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Brackish water desalination, using the reverse osmosis (BWRO) process, has become common in global regions, where vast reserves of brackish groundwater are found (e.g., the United States, North Africa). A literature survey and detailed analyses of several BWRO facilities in Florida have revealed some interesting and valuable information on the costs and energy use. Depending on the capacity, water quality, and additional scope items, the capital cost (CAPEX) ranges from USD 500 to USD 2947/m3 of the capacity (USD 690-USD 4067/m3 corrected for inflation to 2020). The highest number was associated with the City of Cape Coral North Plant, Florida, which had an expanded project scope. The general range of the operating cost (OPEX) is USD 0.39 to USD 0.66/m3 (cannot be corrected for inflation), for a range of capacities from 10,000 to 70,000 m3/d. The feed-water quality, in the range of 2000 to 6000 mg/L of the total dissolved solids, does not significantly impact the OPEX. There is a significant scaling trend, with OPEX cost reducing as plant capacity increases, but there is considerable scatter based on the pre- and post-treatment complexity. Many BWRO facilities operate with long-term increases in the salinity of the feedwater (groundwater), caused by pumping-induced vertical and horizontal migration of the higher salinity water. Any cost and energy increase that is caused by the higher feed water salinity, can be significantly mitigated by using energy recovery, which is not commonly used in BWRO operations. OPEX in BWRO systems is likely to remain relatively constant, based on the limitation on the plant capacity, caused by the brackish water availability at a given site. Seawater reverse osmosis facilities, with a very large capacity, have a lower OPEX compared to the upper range of BWRO, because of capacity scaling, special electrical energy deals, and process design certainty.
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8
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Lim YJ, Goh K, Kurihara M, Wang R. Seawater desalination by reverse osmosis: Current development and future challenges in membrane fabrication – A review. J Memb Sci 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2021.119292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
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9
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Advances in seawater membrane distillation (SWMD) towards stand-alone zero liquid discharge (ZLD) desalination. REV CHEM ENG 2021. [DOI: 10.1515/revce-2020-0073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Seawater membrane distillation (SWMD) is a promising separation technology due to its ability to operate as a stand-alone desalination unit operation. This paper reviews approaches to improve laboratory-to-pilot-scale MD performance, which comprise operational strategies, module design, and specifically tailored membranes. A detailed comparison of SWMD and sea water reverse osmosis is presented to further analyze the critical shortcomings of SWMD. The unique features of SWMD, namely the ability to operate with extremely high salt rejection and at extreme feed concentration, highlight the SWMD potential to be operated under zero liquid discharge (ZLD) conditions, which results in the production of high-purity water and simultaneous salt recovery, as well as the elimination of the brine disposal cost. However, technical challenges, such as thermal energy requirements, inefficient heat transfer and integration, low water recovery factors, and lack of studies on real-case valuable-salt recovery, are impeding the commercialization of ZLD SWMD. This review highlights the possibility of applying selected strategies to push forward ZLD SWMD commercialization. Suggestions are projected to include intermittent removal of valuable salts, in-depth study on the robustness of novel membranes, module and configuration, utilization of a low-cost heat exchanger, and capital cost reduction in a renewable-energy-integrated SWMD plant.
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Ruan G, Wang M, An Z, Xu G, Ge Y, Zhao H. Progress and Perspectives of Desalination in China. MEMBRANES 2021; 11:membranes11030206. [PMID: 33804227 PMCID: PMC8000133 DOI: 10.3390/membranes11030206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2021] [Revised: 03/02/2021] [Accepted: 03/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
In recent decades, the ever-growing demands for clean water in households and industries have urged researchers to take every possible step to deal with the global water crisis. Seawater desalination has turned out to be the most promising and efficient way to provide clean water. Owing to the advancement of synthetic chemistries and technologies, great success has been achieved in the desalination and utilization of seawater worldwide. China, with the world’s largest population, has pushed the development of desalination and multipurpose utilization of seawater further in respect of materials, technologies and services, etc. This review reports recent progress of desalination technologies accomplished in China, from the viewpoints of facilities and equipment, collaborations, technologies, applications, research abilities, services, and standard systems. Inspired by the Fourteenth Five-year Plan, it also proposes future perspectives of desalination in China.
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11
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Investigation of novel molecularly tunable thin-film nanocomposite nanofiltration hollow fiber membranes for boron removal. J Memb Sci 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2020.118887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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12
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Alpatova A, Qamar A, Al-Ghamdi M, Lee J, Ghaffour N. Effective membrane backwash with carbon dioxide under severe fouling and operation conditions. J Memb Sci 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2020.118290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
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13
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Kim Y, Li S, Ghaffour N. Evaluation of different cleaning strategies for different types of forward osmosis membrane fouling and scaling. J Memb Sci 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2019.117731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
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Al-Ghamdi MA, Alhadidi A, Ghaffour N. Membrane backwash cleaning using CO 2 nucleation. WATER RESEARCH 2019; 165:114985. [PMID: 31445307 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2019.114985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2019] [Revised: 08/06/2019] [Accepted: 08/12/2019] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Low pressure membranes, such as ultrafiltration (UF), are widely used in water treatment applications, including the pretreatment of reverse osmosis desalination. UF membranes produce a water of superior quality, in addition to reducing the footprint and the use of chemicals, compared to conventional methods. However, membrane fouling remains a major drawback, and frequent membrane cleanings are required to maintain the flux of water and its quality. Typically, after a series of backwashes using an UF permeate, a chemical cleaning process is applied to fully recover the membrane's permeability. However, frequent chemical cleanings negatively affect the lifetime of the membrane, the environment, and increase operational costs. Here, we introduce a novel cleaning method that uses a solution saturated with CO2 to clean the membranes through the backwash step. As the pressure drops, the CO2 solution becomes supersaturated, and bubbles start to nucleate within the membrane pores and on its surface, resulting in the effective removal of the deposited fouling material. These foulants are further helping the nucleation process as they are considered as imperfection sites with high creation and growth of bubbles. Investigations performed for different synthetic feed solutions of organic compounds (sodium alginate), colloidal matter (silica) and sea salts, at different concentrations, show that our new physical cleaning process using CO2 is more performant than the regular backwash using Milli-Q water. We obtain a 100% flux recovery, in a short time, even under severe irreversible fouling conditions. Based on these results, we conclude that replacing water by a solution saturated with CO2 for the backwash cleaning of filtration membranes provides significant benefits to existing cleaning processes, and represent a promising alternative for improving and lowering the frequency of conventional chemical cleaning methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohanned A Al-Ghamdi
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Water Desalination and Reuse Center (WDRC), Biological & Environmental Science & Engineering Division (BESE), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdulsalam Alhadidi
- FujiFilm Manufacturing Europe B.V, Oudenstaart 1, 5047, TK, Tilburg, the Netherlands
| | - Noreddine Ghaffour
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Water Desalination and Reuse Center (WDRC), Biological & Environmental Science & Engineering Division (BESE), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia.
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15
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Synthesis of Negatively Charged Polyol-Functional PSF Membranes with Good Hydrophilic and Efficient Boron Removal Properties. Polymers (Basel) 2019; 11:polym11050780. [PMID: 31052453 PMCID: PMC6572502 DOI: 10.3390/polym11050780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2019] [Revised: 04/18/2019] [Accepted: 04/25/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Boron removal remains a major barrier to water purification, it is important to develop a specialized adsorption membrane for boron removal. By means of a simple and effective method, a hydrophilic membrane for boron removal with a polyhydroxy functional group on the surface was prepared. Firstly, a polysulfone (PSF) membrane was modified by co-depositing polyethyleneimine (PEI) with dopamine (DA) in one-step to produce amine-rich surfaces, then the DA/PEI-functionalized membranes were reacted with glycidol, with the prepared membranes corresponding to PSF-PDA/PEI membranes and PSF-diol membranes. The prepared membranes were characterized by water-uptake, FTIR, (X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy) XPS, (Field emission scanning electron microscope) FESEM, and zeta potential measurements. The hydrophilicity of the membrane was characterized by the static water contact angle (WCA) test. In addition, we systematically studied the impact of initial boron concentration, chelating time, and pH value on boron removal performance. The results showed that the PSF-diol membrane had strong hydrophilicity with a WCA of about 38°. The maximum adsorption capacity of boron appeared to be 1.61 mmol/g within 10 min at a boron concentration of 300 mg/L. Adsorption kinetics showed that saturation adsorption can be achieved in minutes at the initial concentration of 5 mg/L, which is beneficial to a rapid filtration process.
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Nan X, Liu J, Wang X, Pan X, Wang X, Zhang X. Preparation of Superhydrophilic Adsorbents with 3DOM Structure by Water-Soluble Colloidal Crystal Templates for Boron Removal from Natural Seawater. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2018; 10:36918-36925. [PMID: 30289685 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.8b11763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Three-dimensionally ordered macroporous cross-linked poly(glycidyl methacrylate) (3DOM) was constructed by water-soluble colloidal crystal templates and further functionalized with N-methyl-d-glucamine (NMDG) to prepare superhydrophilic adsorbents for boron removal from natural seawater. 3DOM adsorbents possess features of interconnected macropore structure, ultrathin pore wall, and superhydrophilicity, making efficient adsorption possible. The effect of cross-linking degree on the adsorption capacity toward boron was investigated. The NMDG-modified 3DOM adsorbent with rich vicinal diol functional groups showed superhydrophilicity and outstanding performance of adsorption. Significantly, its adsorption effect in boron removal from natural seawater indicated that the concentration of boron in natural seawater could decline to 0.16 from 4.24 mg·L-1 when the adsorbent dosage was 1 g·L-1, whereas the boron rejection reached 96.2%. After 10 regeneration-adsorption cycles, the adsorption capacity of 3DOM adsorbent remained over 85% of the initial value and the ordered structure was hardly changed. Additionally, 3DOM adsorbent could be directly and quickly separated from the seawater by a filter mesh of 16 mesh number. Research shows that the 3DOM adsorbent exhibits an adsorption performance for practical applications in boron removal from natural seawater.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xueri Nan
- School of Chemical Engineering , Hebei University of Technology , Tianjin 300130 , P.R. China
| | - Jing Liu
- The Institute of Seawater Desalination and Multipurpose Utilization, SOA , Tianjin 300192 , China
| | - Xiuli Wang
- School of Chemical Engineering , Hebei University of Technology , Tianjin 300130 , P.R. China
| | - Xianhui Pan
- The Institute of Seawater Desalination and Multipurpose Utilization, SOA , Tianjin 300192 , China
| | - Xiaomei Wang
- School of Chemical Engineering , Hebei University of Technology , Tianjin 300130 , P.R. China
| | - Xu Zhang
- School of Chemical Engineering , Hebei University of Technology , Tianjin 300130 , P.R. China
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17
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Alpatova A, Alsaadi A, Ghaffour N. Boron evaporation in thermally-driven seawater desalination: Effect of temperature and operating conditions. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2018; 351:224-231. [PMID: 29550556 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2018.02.056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2017] [Revised: 02/04/2018] [Accepted: 02/28/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The volatilization of boron in thermal desalination processes, namely multi-stage flash (MSF) and air-gap membrane distillation (AGMD) was investigated for the first time. This phenomenon was observed at feed temperatures above 55 °C in both studied processes. In simulated MSF process with two feeds, model boric acid and Red Sea water, boron concentration in distillate increased with feed temperature increase from 55 °C to 104 °C because of the increase in boric acid vapor pressure. Salinity and pH were the main factors controlling boron evaporation. The achieved boron concentrations in simulated MSF process were consistent with those measured in distillate samples collected from commercial MSF plants. The AGMD process also revealed a strong influence of operating temperature on boron removal. However, unlike MSF process, the boron concentration in AGMD permeate decreased with the feed temperature increase from 55 °C to 80 °C due probably to increase in vapor production and corresponding permeate dilution. When AGMD was operated in concentrating mode at a constant feed temperature of 80 °C, permeate boron concentration increased with process time due to concentration polarization and membrane fouling. A 10% flux decline observed after 21 h was attributed to CaCO3 scaling on the membrane surface.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Alpatova
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Water Desalination and Reuse Center (WDRC), Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division (BESE), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - A Alsaadi
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Water Desalination and Reuse Center (WDRC), Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division (BESE), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - N Ghaffour
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Water Desalination and Reuse Center (WDRC), Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division (BESE), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia.
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Fortunato L, Jang Y, Lee JG, Jeong S, Lee S, Leiknes T, Ghaffour N. Fouling development in direct contact membrane distillation: Non-invasive monitoring and destructive analysis. WATER RESEARCH 2018; 132:34-41. [PMID: 29304446 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2017.12.059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2017] [Revised: 12/20/2017] [Accepted: 12/22/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Fouling development in direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD) for seawater desalination was evaluated combining in-situ monitoring performed using optical coherence tomography (OCT) together with destructive techniques. The non-invasive monitoring with OCT provided a better understanding of the fouling mechanism by giving an appropriate sampling timing for the membrane autopsy. The on-line monitoring system allowed linking the flux trend with the structure of fouling deposited on the membrane surface. The water vapor flux trend was divided in three phases based on the deposition and formation of different foulants over time. The initial flux decline was due to the deposition of a 50-70 nm porous fouling layer consisting of a mixture of organic compounds and salts. Liquid chromatography with organic carbon detection (LC-OCD) analysis revealed the abundance of biopolymer in the fouling layer formed at the initial phase. In the second phase, formation of carbonate crystals on the membrane surface was observed but did not affect the flux significantly. In the last phase, the water vapor flux dropped to almost zero due to the deposition of a dense thick layer of sulfate crystals on the membrane surface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Fortunato
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Water Desalination and Reuse Center (WDRC), Biological and Environmental Science & Engineering Division (BESE), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Yongsun Jang
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Kookmin University, Jeongneung-Dong, Seongbuk-Gu, Seoul 136-702, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung-Gil Lee
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Water Desalination and Reuse Center (WDRC), Biological and Environmental Science & Engineering Division (BESE), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sanghyun Jeong
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Water Desalination and Reuse Center (WDRC), Biological and Environmental Science & Engineering Division (BESE), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia; Graduate School of Water Resources, Sungkyunkwan University, 2066 Seobu-ro, Jangan-Gu, Suwon, Gyeonggi-Do 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Sangho Lee
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Kookmin University, Jeongneung-Dong, Seongbuk-Gu, Seoul 136-702, Republic of Korea
| | - TorOve Leiknes
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Water Desalination and Reuse Center (WDRC), Biological and Environmental Science & Engineering Division (BESE), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Noreddine Ghaffour
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Water Desalination and Reuse Center (WDRC), Biological and Environmental Science & Engineering Division (BESE), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia.
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Lee JG, Jang Y, Fortunato L, Jeong S, Lee S, Leiknes T, Ghaffour N. An advanced online monitoring approach to study the scaling behavior in direct contact membrane distillation. J Memb Sci 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2017.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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20
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Tang YP, Luo L, Thong Z, Chung TS. Recent advances in membrane materials and technologies for boron removal. J Memb Sci 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2017.07.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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21
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Tang YP, Chung TS, Weber M, Maletzko C. Development of Novel Diol-Functionalized Silica Particles toward Fast and Efficient Boron Removal. Ind Eng Chem Res 2017. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.iecr.7b03115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yu Pan Tang
- Department
of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, National University of Singapore, 4 Engineering Drive 4, Singapore 117585, Singapore
| | - Tai Shung Chung
- Department
of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, National University of Singapore, 4 Engineering Drive 4, Singapore 117585, Singapore
| | - Martin Weber
- Advanced Materials & Systems Research, BASF SE, RAP/OUB - B001, 67056 Ludwigshafen, Germany
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Li S, Lee ST, Sinha S, Leiknes T, Amy GL, Ghaffour N. Transparent exopolymer particles (TEP) removal efficiency by a combination of coagulation and ultrafiltration to minimize SWRO membrane fouling. WATER RESEARCH 2016; 102:485-493. [PMID: 27403871 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2016.06.055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2016] [Revised: 06/21/2016] [Accepted: 06/25/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
This study investigated the impact of coagulation on the transformation between colloidal and particulate transparent exopolymer particles (TEP) in seawater; and the effectiveness of a combined pretreatment consisting of coagulation and UF on minimizing TEP fouling of seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) membranes. Coagulation with ferric chloride at pH 5 substantially transformed colloidal TEP (0.1-0.4) into particulate TEP (>0.4) leading to a better membrane fouling control. Both 50 and 100 kDa molecular weight cut-off (MWCO) UF membranes removed most of particulate and colloidal TEP without the assistance of coagulation, but coagulation is still necessary for better UF fouling control. The improvement of combined SWRO pretreatment with coagulation and 50 kDa UF membranes was not that much significant compared to UF pretreatment with 50 KDa alone. Therefore, the minimal coagulant dosage for seawater containing TEP should be based on the UF fouling control requirements rather than removal efficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheng Li
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Water Desalination and Reuse Center (WDRC), Division of Biological & Environmental Science & Engineering (BESE), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Shang-Tse Lee
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Water Desalination and Reuse Center (WDRC), Division of Biological & Environmental Science & Engineering (BESE), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Shahnawaz Sinha
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Water Desalination and Reuse Center (WDRC), Division of Biological & Environmental Science & Engineering (BESE), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - TorOve Leiknes
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Water Desalination and Reuse Center (WDRC), Division of Biological & Environmental Science & Engineering (BESE), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Gary L Amy
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Water Desalination and Reuse Center (WDRC), Division of Biological & Environmental Science & Engineering (BESE), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Noreddine Ghaffour
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Water Desalination and Reuse Center (WDRC), Division of Biological & Environmental Science & Engineering (BESE), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia.
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23
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Synthesis of hyperbranched polymers towards efficient boron reclamation via a hybrid ultrafiltration process. J Memb Sci 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2016.03.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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Imbrogno J, Belfort G. Membrane Desalination: Where Are We, and What Can We Learn from Fundamentals? Annu Rev Chem Biomol Eng 2016; 7:29-64. [DOI: 10.1146/annurev-chembioeng-061114-123202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Joseph Imbrogno
- Howard P. Isermann Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering and Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York 12180; ,
| | - Georges Belfort
- Howard P. Isermann Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering and Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York 12180; ,
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25
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Chen D, Zhao X, Li F, Zhang X. Rejection of nuclides and silicon from boron-containing radioactive waste water using reverse osmosis. Sep Purif Technol 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2016.02.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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26
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Zerze H, Özbelge HÖ, Bıçak N, Yılmaz L. Employing Imino-Bis-Propane Diol Functional Polymers for Boron Removal from Geothermal Waters Via Polymer Enhanced Ultrafiltration. SEP SCI TECHNOL 2015. [DOI: 10.1080/01496395.2014.997883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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Abstract
A hybrid process coupling reverse osmosis (RO) with electrodeionization (EDI) was investigated to remove TDS and boron from simulated seawater in this study. The effects of applied total dissolved solids (TDS) and the concentration of boron in the feed water on product water quality were investigated. According to the results obtained, the TDS of the product water increased when a high applied TDS in the feed water; however, all of the TDS of the product were complying with relevant standards within experimental parameters. When the boron concentration was below 5.64mg/L in the feed water, the boron concentration of the product water was complying with relevant standards.
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Coll M, Fortuny A, Sastre A. Boron reduction by supported liquid membranes using ALiCY and ALiDEC ionic liquids as carriers. Chem Eng Res Des 2014. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cherd.2013.11.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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29
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Francis L, Ghaffour N, Alsaadi A, Nunes S, Amy G. Performance evaluation of the DCMD desalination process under bench scale and large scale module operating conditions. J Memb Sci 2014. [DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2013.12.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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Fujioka T, Oshima N, Suzuki R, Khan SJ, Roux A, Poussade Y, Drewes JE, Nghiem LD. Rejection of small and uncharged chemicals of emerging concern by reverse osmosis membranes: The role of free volume space within the active skin layer. Sep Purif Technol 2013. [DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2013.06.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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