In-depth analyses of organic matters in a full-scale seawater desalination plant and an autopsy of reverse osmosis membrane

Sanghyun Jeong, Gayathri Naidu, Robert Vollprecht, TorOve Leiknes, Saravanamuthu Vigneswaran

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

81 Scopus citations

Abstract

In order to facilitate the global performance of seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) systems, it is important to improve the feed water quality before it enters the RO. Currently, many desalination plants experience production losses due to incidents of organic and biofouling. Consequently, monitoring or characterizing the pretreatment step using more advanced organic and biological parameters are required for better operation to lessen fouling issues. In this study, the performance of pretreatment processes (including coagulation, dual media filtration (DMF), polishing with cartridge filter (CF) coupled with anti-scalant) used at Perth Seawater Desalination Plant (PSDP) located in Western Australia were characterized in terms of organic and biological fouling parameters. These analyses were carried out using liquid chromatography with organic carbon detector (LC-OCD), three dimensional-fluorescence excitation emission matrix (3D-FEEM) and assimilable organic carbon (AOC). Furthermore, the used (exhausted) RO membrane and CF were autopsied so that the fates and behaviors of organic foulants in these treatment systems could be better understood.
Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)171-179
Number of pages9
JournalSeparation and Purification Technology
Volume162
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 19 2016

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Filtration and Separation
  • Analytical Chemistry

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