Renewable energy powered membrane technology: Salt and inorganic contaminant removal by nanofiltration/reverse osmosis

Laura A. Richards, Bryce S. Richards, Andrea Schaefer

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract / Description of output

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of fluctuating energy and pH on retention of dissolved contaminants from real Australian groundwaters using a solar (photovoltaic) powered ultrafiltration – nanofiltration/reverse osmosis (UF-NF/RO) system. Four NF/RO membranes (BW30, ESPA4, NF90, and TFC-S) were used. Energy fluctuations affected pressure and flow. Solar irradiance levels impacted retention of fluoride, magnesium, nitrate, potassium,
and sodium where convection/diffusion dominated retention. Retention of calcium, strontium, and uranium was very high and independent of solar irradiance, which was attributed to a combination of size and charge exclusion and for some solutes sorption and precipitation. Groundwater characteristics affected retention and the solutes were categorized into two groups according to retention as a function of pH: (1) pH independent retention (arsenic, calcium,
chloride, nitrate, potassium, selenium, sodium, strontium, and sulfate); and (2) pH dependent retention (copper, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, uranium, vanadium, and zinc). The retention of Group 1 solutes was typically high and attributed to steric effects. Group 2 solutes had dominant, insoluble species under certain conditions which led to deposition on the membrane surface (and thus varying apparent retention). The renewable energy membrane
system removed a large number of groundwater solutes reliably over a range of real energy and pH conditions.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)188-195
JournalJournal of Membrane Science
Volume369
Issue number1-2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Mar 2011

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

  • Nanofiltration
  • Reverse osmosis
  • Inorganic contaminant removal
  • Photovoltaics
  • Groundwater

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