Reverse Osmosis Technology for Desalination

Abstract

A review concerning reverse osmosis technol., particularly membrane sepn. mechanisms, membrane materials, and modeling membrane sepn. processes used for water desalination applications is given. Topics discussed include: membrane filtration theory (osmosis and reverse osmosis, membranes [cellulose acetate, thin film], membrane filtration theory [transport; irreversible thermodn., homogeneous, soln./diffusion/imperfection, preferential sorption capillary flow, finely porous, and surface force pore flow models], concn. polarization, compaction); membrane modules and facility configuration (membrane modules [hollow fiber (spiral wound, tubular, flat), facility configuration of membrane modules (feed water pressure, membrane type and pore size, pretreatment requirements, product conversion rate, energy saving)]); membrane pretreatment and cleaning (membrane fouling mechanisms, feed pretreatment [conventional, disinfection, coagulation/flocculation, dechlorination, scale control], membrane cleaning and regeneration [chem., phys. (forward flushing, air/water flush, permeate back-pressure, vibration, CO2 back permeation)]); case study: Cape Coral (Florida) Water Treatment System (acidification and scale prevention pretreatment, cartridge filter pre-filtration, neutralization and post-treatment, total water prodn. and grand total costs). [on SciFinder(R)]