Reverse Osmosis Water Treatment

Timothy English II
Overview

Overview of Reverse Osmosis

Brackish RO Characteristics
Case Study
Membrane Processes

Separation Process

Suspended Solids Microfiltration Dissolved Constituents

Ultrafiltration

Nanofiltration

Reverse Osmosis
Membrane Removal
Typical RO Finished Water Quality

Parameter Percent Removal

Turbidity ~100
TDS 90-99
TOC 90-99
Chlorides 90-99
Color 95-99
Iron & Manganese ~100
Reverse Osmosis System
Pretreatment

Addition of Acid
Used to prevent calcium carbonate
precipitation
Sulfuric Acid (most common)
Addition of Antiscalant
Used to prevent precipitation of other salts
Low dose: < 3-4 mg/L
Cartridge Filtration
Final suspended solids barrier before
membrane treatment
Safety Net to prevent membrane damage
Cartridge Filters
Reverse Osmosis Skid

Membrane Components
Pressure Vessels
Membrane Elements
Controls
Sampling Taps
Products
Permeate: Treated water sent to post-
treatment and distribution
Concentrate: Residual stream sent to
disposal site
Membrane Selection

Projection Software Provided by

Membrane Element Manufacture
Membrane Configuration
Permeate and Concentrate Water Quality
Feed Pressure
Piloting
Test Equipment without the Capital
Expense
Confirm and Optimize Performance and
Processes
Projection Software
Piloting
High Pressure Feed Pumps
Reverse Osmosis Skids
Brackish RO Performance

Operation
100-300 psi Feed Pressure
< 85% Recovery
Permeate Water Quality
TDS < 50 ppm
Hardness < 5 ppm as CaCO3
TOC < 0.5 ppm => Low Disinfection
Byproducts
Low Alkalinity
Permeate Post-Treatment

Permeate is Aggressive
Low pH
Lack of Calcium
Low Alkalinity
Corrosion Control
CO2 Degasification
Lime
Caustic
Calcium Chloride
Blend Water

Raw Brackish Water

Small Blend Ratio
TOC/DBP Concerns
Fresh Brackish Water
Limited Availability
Pretreatment and TOC/DBP
Reduces Energy Consumption and
Concentrate Volume
Concentrate Water Quality

Water
Feed TDS
Source Recovery Residual TDS (mg/L)
(mg/L)
(%)
Surface
200 85 1,330
Water

Fresh
400 85 2,660
Groundwater

Brackish
2,000 75 8,000
Groundwater

Seawater 32,000 50 64,000

Concentrate Disposal

Surface Water Discharge

Subsurface Injection
Sanitary Sewer
Evaporation Pond
Reuse
Irrigation
Land Application
Percolation Ponds
Dewatering / Zero Discharge
Case Study

RO Treatment to Meet Primary and

Secondary Standards
Pressure: ~150 psi
TDS < 100 ppm
Cl < 50 ppm
Hardness < 10 ppm
Permeate is Blended with Fresh
Groundwater prior to Post-Treatment
Concentrate Disposal via Deep Well
Injection
Case Study
 Thank You!

Questions?

1016 Spring Villas Point

Winter Springs, FL 32708

tsenglish@reisseng.com