Evaluation of forward osmosis as a pretreatment process for multi stage flash seawater desalination

Thabit, MS; Hawari, AH; Ammar, MH; Zaidi, S; Zaragoza, G; Altaee, A

Evaluation of forward osmosis as a pretreatment process for multi stage flash seawater desalination

Thabit, MS Hawari, AH Ammar, MH Zaidi, S Zaragoza, G Altaee, A

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Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Desalination, 2019, 461 pp. 22 - 29
Issue Date:: 2019-07-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Thabit, MS	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Hawari, AH	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Ammar, MH	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Zaidi, S	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Zaragoza, G	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Altaee, A https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9764-3974	en_US
dc.date.available	2021-08-12T19:00:52Z
dc.date.issued	2019-07-01	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Desalination, 2019, 461 pp. 22 - 29	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	0011-9164	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/133385
dc.description.abstract	© 2019 The present study evaluates the feasibility of applying forward osmosis (FO) process for the pretreatment of feed solution to a Multi Stage Flash (MSF) desalination plant. For the first time, real brine reject and real seawater were used as the draw solution and the feed solution, respectively in the FO process. The FO pretreatment is expected to dilute the brine reject and reduce the concentration of divalent ions, which are responsible for scale formation on the surface of heat exchanger in the MSF evaporator unit. The FO experiments were performed at different draw solution temperatures ranging between 25 and 40 °C, different draw and feed solutions flowrates and different membrane orientations. A maximum average membrane flux of 22.3 L/m2·h was reported at a draw solution temperature of 40 °C and 0.8 and 2.0 LPM flow rate of draw and feed solutions, respectively. The experimental results also revealed the process sensitivity to the feed solution temperature. It was found that the average membrane flux in the FO process operating at 0.8 and 2 LPM draw and feed solution flow rates, respectively was 16.9 L/m2·h at 25 °C brine temperature but increased to 22.3 L/m2·h at 40 °C brine temperature. These membrane fluxes resulted in 3% and 8.5% dilution of the draw solution at 25 °C and 40 °C temperatures, respectively. The average membrane flux in the FO mode was equal to that in the PRO mode at low flow rates but it was lower than that in the PRO mode at high flow rates of the feed and draw solutions. The outcomes of the study are very promising with regard to membrane flux and dilution of draw solution.	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	Desalination	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1016/j.desal.2019.03.015	en_US
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/embargoedAccess
dc.subject.classification	Chemical Engineering	en_US
dc.title	Evaluation of forward osmosis as a pretreatment process for multi stage flash seawater desalination	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	461	en_US
utslib.for	0301 Analytical Chemistry	en_US
utslib.for	0906 Electrical and Electronic Engineering	en_US
utslib.for	03 Chemical Sciences	en_US
utslib.for	09 Engineering	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology/School of Civil and Environmental Engineering
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CTWW - Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater Treatment
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	461	en_US

Abstract:

© 2019 The present study evaluates the feasibility of applying forward osmosis (FO) process for the pretreatment of feed solution to a Multi Stage Flash (MSF) desalination plant. For the first time, real brine reject and real seawater were used as the draw solution and the feed solution, respectively in the FO process. The FO pretreatment is expected to dilute the brine reject and reduce the concentration of divalent ions, which are responsible for scale formation on the surface of heat exchanger in the MSF evaporator unit. The FO experiments were performed at different draw solution temperatures ranging between 25 and 40 °C, different draw and feed solutions flowrates and different membrane orientations. A maximum average membrane flux of 22.3 L/m2·h was reported at a draw solution temperature of 40 °C and 0.8 and 2.0 LPM flow rate of draw and feed solutions, respectively. The experimental results also revealed the process sensitivity to the feed solution temperature. It was found that the average membrane flux in the FO process operating at 0.8 and 2 LPM draw and feed solution flow rates, respectively was 16.9 L/m2·h at 25 °C brine temperature but increased to 22.3 L/m2·h at 40 °C brine temperature. These membrane fluxes resulted in 3% and 8.5% dilution of the draw solution at 25 °C and 40 °C temperatures, respectively. The average membrane flux in the FO mode was equal to that in the PRO mode at low flow rates but it was lower than that in the PRO mode at high flow rates of the feed and draw solutions. The outcomes of the study are very promising with regard to membrane flux and dilution of draw solution.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/133385