Integrated system of post-treatment for desalinated water using low cost egyptian natural materials – a case study

Abstract

A specific degree of re-mineralization and carbonation is required for desalinated water as it is deficient with indispensable constituents like calcium, magnesium and alkalinity. This study illustrates how we can solve these problems by using low-cost Egyptian natural materials (about 1,000 Egyptian pounds per ton) such as calcite, dolomite and hydrated lime, rather than high cost imported calcite (about 36,000 Egyptian pounds per ton). Microtox analyzer 500 and other methods were used to characterize local materials to verify that they are free of toxic substances and accommodate the use of households, respectively. Results indicated that for an integrated system, concentrations of Ca2+, Mg2+ 2–, SO4 and desalinated water alkalinity were recorded at 98, 12, 45 and 50 ppm, respectively. However, those parameters recorded 16, 00.00, 19 and 00.00 ppm, respectively, in the case of imported calcite. Accordingly, the integrated system was used instead of imported calcite in desalinated water re-mineralization due to low-cost, excellent efficiency and further-more fits the Minister of Health Decree No 458/2007 as a safeguard for foreign currency and native substitute technology, valorization of local natural resources and green environmental protection.