Removal of Inorganic Scale from RO Membranes using Dissolved CO2

Membrane fouling is a major operational issue in reverse osmosis (RO) desalination plants. In particular, plants treating brackish groundwater can encounter troublesome inorganic membrane scales. A novel cleaning method is proposed to remove inorganic scales from fouled RO membranes using dissolved CO2. A comparison of cleaning methods is discussed and results are reviewed.