Demineralization

Types of membrane processes: 1

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. RO Reverse Osmosis ED Electrodialysis EDR Electrodialysis Reversal UF Ultrafiltration NF Nanofiltration

Electrodialysis (ED) Should be not operated when feedwater contains any of the following: 3 1. Chlorine residual of any concentration 2. Hydrogen sulfide of any concentration 3. "Calgon" or any other hexametaphosphate in excess of 10 mg/L 4. Manganese in excess of 0.1 mg/L 5. Iron in excess of 0.3 mg/L Reverse Osmosis (RO) Cellulose Acetate 4 Psi: 400 pH: 4-6 Max. Cl2: <1.0 mg/L TOC: <6.0 mg/L Subject to biological attack. Subject to hydrolysis. Most suitable to treatment of municipal wastes. Turbidity: < 5 NTU Nanofiltration Nanofiltration offers an 80% rejection rate vs. the 95% most others do; also it has an operating pressure range of less than 150 psi vs. 200+ psi. 2 This type of membrane is also known as softening membranes. 2 Thin Film Composite 5 Psi: 200 pH: 3-10 Max. Cl2: 0 mg/L TOC: <6.0 mg/L Not subject to biological Not subject to hydrolysis. Sensitive to oxidants in feedwater. Turbidity: < 5 NTU

Rate of hydrolysis is at a minimum at pH of about 4.7 6 Brine valves are NEVER to be fully closed. 7 Scale inhibitor most frequently used is sodium hexametaphosphate. 8 It also prevents the scaling of Ca(SO4)2 on RO membranes. 16 To remove inorganic precipitates, use an acid flush of citric acid. 10 The recovery rate is determined or limited by two things: 9 1. Desired product water quality 2. Solubility limits of minerals in the brine. The most common and serious problem resulting from concentration polarization, is the increasing tendency for the precipitation of sparingly soluble salts and the deposition of particulate matter on the membrane surface. 11 Definitions: Concentration polarization Buildup of retained particles on the membrane surface, due to dewatering of the feed closest to the membrane. The thickness is controlled by the flow velocity across the membrane. 13 Demineralization Treatment process that removes dissolved minerals (salts) from water. 14 Flux Flow 14 Hydrolysis Chemical reaction in which a compound is converted into another compound by taking up water. 13 Polarization Concentration of ions in the thin boundary layer adjacent to a membrane or pipe wall. 12 Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) All of the dissolved solids in a water. 15

Footnotes: 1. Water Quality & Treatment pg. 170 2. II; 159; 16.24 3. II; 187; 16.80 4. II; 155; table 16.1 5. II; 155; table 16.2 6. II; 173; 16.42 7. II; 174; 16.45 8. II; 173; 16.43 9. II; 159; 16.26 10.II; 178; 16.47 11.II; 164; 16.26 12.I; 353 13.II; 159 14.II; 149 15.II; 150 16.I; 375; 8.44