Adsorbent Reduces RO Biofouling

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Adsorbent Reduces RO Biofouling

BiAqua from Netherlands Developed a New Technology for Preventing Biofouling in Water Treatment Plants

BiAqua, a Netherlands-based start-up, has developed a new technology that it says will prevent biofouling in water treatment plants, including brackish and seawater RO pretreatment systems.

Lute Broens, BiAqua's CEO, told WDR, "The core of our solution is simple: biofouling can be prevented if microorganisms are starved of phosphate, a critical nutrient present in most surface waters. BiAqua's PRT [phosphate removal technology] does this using regenerable adsorbents that remove phosphate down to concentrations of less than 1 ppb.

"Our portfolio includes a range of both bio-based and inorganic adsorbents, with varying capacities, to address specific customer needs. We have shown that we are able to consistently remove over 95 percent of the phosphate from feedwater with levels ranging between 0.1 and 25 mg/L."

The heart of PRT technology is a nanostructured phosphate adsorbent that can capture phosphate and store it until it is released during regeneration. In addition to being used in conjunction with a membrane pretreatment system, the PRT process can be implemented as a stand-alone solution for cooling water systems, phosphate removal for surface water discharge or to prevent reservoir souring in the oil and gas industry.

The company's research was conducted in conjunction with WLN's Dutch research laboratory. Loreen Villacorte, with UNESCO-IHE, told WDR that one of his PhD students is currently working on a four-year research study to evaluate PRT in an integrated UF/SWRO desalting system as a means of controlling or eliminating biofouling during algal blooms.

Source: Desalination

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