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An investigation into the effect of different types of antiscalant on desalination reverse osmosis (Ro) membrane flux
Author(s)
Shames, Elhashmi Adel
Date Issued
2012
Type
Thesis
Publisher
Cape Peninsula University of Technology
Abstract
Recently much research and development has been done into the creation of desalination
systems in South Africa, with particular emphasis on the commercialisation of desalination
plants that serve local communities. This has been successful - there are currently plants
running at Bitlerfontien, Bushmans River Mouth and Robben Island - although membrane
fouling and scaling remains a problem associated with membrane desalination, as it does
worldwide
The aim of this study was to Investigate the performance of different type of antiscalants
on artificially scaled membranes which we prepared inside the lab as well as on scaled
membranes which were used in pilot plant. We used two type of anti-sealants in our
research: Vitec 3000 and Zinc ions. The effects of these anti-sealants on the membrane
were determind and the RO performances of the treated and untreated membrane
compared.
A suitable autopsy procedure was established and was then used to autopsy the XLE
4040 membranes. The autopsied membranes were characterized by scanning electron
microscopy (SEM) and optical microscopy (OM). The SEM and OM results clearly showed
that scaling had taken place: deposits were observed for both the shell and core samples,
which were not present in the images of the untreated membrane, especially when
looking at high SEM images magnification.
Results also showed that the anti-sealants reduced the fouling and scaling on the
membrane surface. As a result, the membrane rejection improved. Rejection and flux
results indicated that commercial anti-sealant was more effective in preventing scaling
than the Zinc ions. For Vitec anti-sealant case, the flux was in steady state at 36.8 Imh
(5% less) after 5 hours compared to around 35 Imh (8% less) for zinc ions case. In
addition; SEM images showed that less deposited particles are formed when the
membrane was treated with commercial anti-sealant.
systems in South Africa, with particular emphasis on the commercialisation of desalination
plants that serve local communities. This has been successful - there are currently plants
running at Bitlerfontien, Bushmans River Mouth and Robben Island - although membrane
fouling and scaling remains a problem associated with membrane desalination, as it does
worldwide
The aim of this study was to Investigate the performance of different type of antiscalants
on artificially scaled membranes which we prepared inside the lab as well as on scaled
membranes which were used in pilot plant. We used two type of anti-sealants in our
research: Vitec 3000 and Zinc ions. The effects of these anti-sealants on the membrane
were determind and the RO performances of the treated and untreated membrane
compared.
A suitable autopsy procedure was established and was then used to autopsy the XLE
4040 membranes. The autopsied membranes were characterized by scanning electron
microscopy (SEM) and optical microscopy (OM). The SEM and OM results clearly showed
that scaling had taken place: deposits were observed for both the shell and core samples,
which were not present in the images of the untreated membrane, especially when
looking at high SEM images magnification.
Results also showed that the anti-sealants reduced the fouling and scaling on the
membrane surface. As a result, the membrane rejection improved. Rejection and flux
results indicated that commercial anti-sealant was more effective in preventing scaling
than the Zinc ions. For Vitec anti-sealant case, the flux was in steady state at 36.8 Imh
(5% less) after 5 hours compared to around 35 Imh (8% less) for zinc ions case. In
addition; SEM images showed that less deposited particles are formed when the
membrane was treated with commercial anti-sealant.
Additional information
Thesis (MTech (Chemical Engineering))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2012.
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