Journal
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
Volume 524, Issue -, Pages 565-575Publisher
ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV
DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2016.11.068
Keywords
Direct contact membrane distillation; Micropollutants; Organic fouling; Pretreatment; Reverse osmosis concentrate; Wastewater reclamation
Categories
Funding
- Cooperative Research Centre for Contamination Assessment and Remediation of the Environment [4.1.20-14/15]
- Sydney Olympic Park Authority
- University of New South Wales
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Membrane distillation (MD) was evaluated as a treatment option of wastewater reverse osmosis concentrate (WWROC) discharged from wastewater reclamation plants (WRPs). A direct contact MD (DCMD), at obtaining 85% water recovery of WWROC showed only 13-15% flux decline and produced good quality permeate (10-15 S/cm, 99% ion rejection) at moderate feed temperature of 55 degrees C. Prevalent calcium carbonate (CaCO3) deposition on the MD membrane occurred in treating WWROC at elevated concentrations. The combination of low salinity and loose CaCO3 adhesion on the membrane did not significantly contribute to DCMD flux decline. Meanwhile, high organic content in WWROC (58-60 mg/L) resulted in a significant membrane hydrophobicity reduction (70% lower water contact angle than virgin membrane) attributed to low molecular weight organic adhesion onto the MD membrane. Granular activated carbon (GAC) pretreatment helped in reducing organic contents of WWROC by 46-50%, and adsorbed a range of hydrophobic and hydrophilic micropollutants. This ensured high quality water production by MD (micropollutants-free) and enhanced its reuse potential. The MD concentrated WWROC was suitable for selective ion precipitation, promising a near zero liquid discharge in WRPs.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available