Hi Liv, To make thing clearer, brine management (or "brine treatment") needs to be thought of as a two part process: 1. Volume Minimisation (Process Technology Intensive) 2. Brine/Salt Disposal (Civil Infrastructure Intensive) or Resource Recovery & Sale (Process Technology Intensive). The technology used in step one (which may include multiple process units) will affect what you do at step 2; vice versa. Regarding your recommended technology, vacuum evaporation is one of the tools in the toolbox and each technology needs to be considered on a case by case basis.  If you are starting with a brackish or saline solution I'm sure you can reduce the cost of the project (CAPEX & OPEX) by placing an RO (or EDR) up-front of a thermal process which will then treat the resultant brine.  You will however increase the complexity of the overall process.  If you are starting with brine and disposing of mixed salt via landfill, the typical approach is to use a falling film evaporator (FFE), then create a salt slurry via a forced circulation crystalliser (FCC) and you will usually use a centrifuge for dewatering.  There are many variations of this treatment train regarding the pre-treatment. Cheers, Matt. Dr Matthew Brannock CEng, CSci, MIChemE, RPEQ matthew@​​​saltwatersolutions​​​​​.​com.au ​ ​​ www.​​saltwatersolutions​​​.​com.au  ​​ www.aqmb.net

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Hi Liv,

To make thing clearer, brine management (or "brine treatment") needs to be thought of as a two part process:

1. Volume Minimisation (Process Technology Intensive)

2. Brine/Salt Disposal (Civil Infrastructure Intensive) or Resource Recovery & Sale (Process Technology Intensive).

The technology used in step one (which may include multiple process units) will affect what you do at step 2; vice versa.

Regarding your recommended technology, vacuum evaporation is one of the tools in the toolbox and each technology needs to be considered on a case by case basis. 

If you are starting with a brackish or saline solution I'm sure you can reduce the cost of the project (CAPEX & OPEX) by placing an RO (or EDR) up-front of a thermal process which will then treat the resultant brine.  You will however increase the complexity of the overall process. 

If you are starting with brine and disposing of mixed salt via landfill, the typical approach is to use a falling film evaporator (FFE), then create a salt slurry via a forced circulation crystalliser (FCC) and you will usually use a centrifuge for dewatering.  There are many variations of this treatment train regarding the pre-treatment.

Cheers,

Matt.

Dr Matthew Brannock CEng, CSci, MIChemE, RPEQ

matthew@​​​saltwatersolutions​​​​​.​com.au ​ ​​

www.​​saltwatersolutions​​​.​com.au  ​​

www.aqmb.net 

 

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I have just been hired by a pickle company who is having issues with wastewater salt brine going into the municipal treatment plant. I have been asked to uncover options for disposal, recycling, reuse of the brine, and am bringing myself up to speed.    I found the Water Network and am starting here.   

 

Currently They dispose of 12,000 gallons per day of 8% brine (3-16%) and  organics from the pickling process. We run 300 days per year and expect this volume to grow in the near future.

 

We  are within eyesight of a landfill,   Our soil is sandy and flat, and acreage available for options like settling ponds evaporation ponds.  Recydling has potential.  Concentrating is being considered also.  We have no concentration equipment at this facility yet. 

 

I'm not a wastewater specialist, so I'm fishing for options, opportunities, ideas to consider, and more importantly, what not to consider as we move forward.

 

thanks,

 

jonathan D Smith, PhD

Oh Snap Pickle Company / ?GLK Foods

2230 Bohm Rd

Little Chute, WI 54140

jsmith@glkfoods.com

jsmith@ohsnappickle.com     

 

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