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Real-Time Integrity Monitoring of Reverse Osmosis Membranes
Technology Benefits
Can uniquely evaluate membrane damage/permeability due to the passage of nanoparticlesCan monitor the membrane in real time
Technology Application
Potable water productionMaintenance of RO membranes
Detailed Technology Description
None
Application No.
20150001139
Others
State Of Development
This technique has been demonstrated in laboratory experiments. Work in progress is focusing on the demonstration of the method in field studies and over a wider range of operating conditions.
Background
Saline water (both seawater and inland brackish water) makes up over 97% of the planet’s water, and could represent a significant resource if it can be easily upgraded to potable quality. Reverse osmosis (RO) is a promising technology for seawater and brackish water desalination. However, crippling problems such as membrane fouling and contaminant passage due to membrane integrity breaches still exist. One of the emerging contaminants of concern that can potentially cause these membrane breaches are nanoparticles (NPs). The use of NPs in industrial processes and commercial applications is approaching 100,000 tons by 2020; thus, NPs are increasingly released into aquatic environments and subsequently, RO feed streams.
Innovation
Dr. Yoram Cohen and colleagues have developed a novel method of monitoring the integrity and permeability of RO membranes in the presence of nanoparticles using a marker-based approach. By utilizing automated marker injection and high sensitivity detection, this monitoring system can detect integrity breaches and their severity, and assess the potential passage of NPs (as well as other contaminants of concern) at the part-per-billion level. The marker used in this method is FDA-approved, non-toxic, and economical for routine use. Through the systematic investigation and evaluation of the potential of NPs to pass through RO membranes, the contributions of different physicochemical and hydrodynamic conditions, and membrane integrity characteristics that may affect NP passage potential in RO processes, a library of data is developed and referenced with respect to the marker material. This technique allows for a real-time, systematic evaluation of the effect of NPs and other contaminants on RO membranes.
