SWRO Biofouling

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Could anybody recommend pretreatment equipment to prevent SWRO biofouling? I mean further than the typical UF and chemicals dosing.

Thanks

 

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18 Answers

  1. You can use our electrolytical purification using common salt for chlorine development. We are using it for oopen cooling circuits. Please have a look: https://www.water-monitoring.com/en/products/open-cooling-circuits/purification-smartpure/

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  2. Physical pretreatments cannot have a sensible effect on biological fouling. 

    Also, ozone and UV are not recommended for seawater disinfection,  ozone make Bromide byproducts and UV is not effective. As I know, shock chlorination as intermittent can help you.

  3. Thank you all for your answers, interesting approaches have been stated. Still room for much more to address this issue, mostly from the technology perspective. Also considering that the seawater source is different depending on multiple factors: location, season, water intake, industrial complex proximity etc.

  4. Hi.

     

    The most important factor to consider is assessment of TSS & organics over a period of all the varying seasons.  (i am sure you will not design the system based on one analysis in one season).  Know the trend for algal contents, oil-grease (all types), TSS.  Once you have a data or a trend, you will know to what extent your pretreatment system needs to be designed.

  10. Hi Henrique,  this is our very old experience, but you may find something of use from it.  We ran a SWRO pilot facility on the coast of Namibia in the early 1980s.  Drawing sea water from the very organically rich Benguella Current of the Atlantic Ocean coming up from Antartica. We struggled a lot initially trying to achieve an acceptable SDI to put the water onto the RO membranes.  We then (by accident) found that if we stored the water chlorinated in open ponds for 48 hours we were able to achieve good SDI results using conventional treatment (coagulation, flocculation and diatomaceous earth cartridge filtration).  At that time we put the improvement down to UV oxidation linked to the chlorination and exposure to the sunlight.  Today you can probably achieve the same effect using advanced oxidation techniques (UV with ozone or hydrogen peroxide).  

    When the full scale plant was constructed some years later, they chose UF/RO configuration.

     

  11. MOL Technology has proven itself in EU sponsored full scale tests, to reduce fouling, or actually improve permeate production, while limiting the intermittent cleaning, so reducing the need for chemicals. We actually have pilotted MOL in one of our facilities open Cooling Towers (10MWth): it reversed, then contained the biofouling, while hugely reduced the chemical dosing, In this case a payback of two years, so we bought it and it is working now for over three years. It won't work under all circumstances (like any technology has limitations), but I think it is worth while to ask them about their opinion and proposal to control your biofouling. At least run a test on no cure no pay basis? MOL technology in Merseburg Germany, ask for Jan Koppe.

  12. French

    Bonjour il n’existe aucun équipement de pré traitement en Biologie. 
    Soit le biologique fonctionne, 
    Soit le biologique est en dysfonctionnement.
    Quand le biologique fonctionne c’est que le milieu a gardé ses caractéristiques Biologiques de biodégradation
    Quand le biologique dysfonctionne, le milieu a perdu ses caractéristiques biologiques.

    La seule solution c’est le désengorgement mécanique puis le rétablissement des paramètres biologiques du milieux.
    Quand le milieu est en surcharge de matière organique mais en bonne condition biologique de Vivant, que ses caractéristiques biologiques sont préservées, la population microbienne vivant en symbiose, arrive à désengorger l’obstruction.
    Si la détérioration du milieu s’aggrave, la population microbienne se réduit et n’arrive plus à effectuer son travail de biodégradation de la matière organique.
    Quand le milieu atteint un taux de putréfaction = ou > à 35 % il est impossible de revenir en arrière.
    Il faut donc agir uniquement sur l’état biologique du milieu entrant si c’est possible.

    English

    Hello there is no pre-treatment equipment in Biology. 
    Either the organic works, 
    Either the biologic is malfunctioning.
    When the organic works it is because the environment has kept its biological characteristics of biodegradation
    When the biological malfunctions, the environment has lost its biological characteristics.

    The only solution is mechanical de-cluttering and then the restoration of the biological parameters of the environment.
    When the environment is overloaded with organic matter but in good biological condition of Living, when its biological characteristics are preserved, the microbial population living in symbiosis, manages to relieve congestion.
    If the deterioration of the environment worsens, the microbial population shrinks and is no longer able to carry out its work of biodegradation of organic matter.
    When the environment reaches a putrefaction rate - or - at 35%, it is impossible to go back.
    It is therefore necessary to act only on the biological state of the incoming environment if possible.

  13. We just launched a metal alloy coated version of our fine grain ceramic filter media. It dechlorinates, is bacteriostatic and removes > 85% 5 micron particles. This will dramatically reduce biofouling as compared to GAC filtration. If you want to know more send me a note.