This presentation introduced the results of research regarding water recovery from silica-saturated RO concentrate. Our results indicated that we can get up to 85% of the water back from the concentrate by using a seawater RO system with appropriate pH control and antiscalant addition. This information is of significance to water plant operators be...

The presence of calcium sulfate in groundwater limits the degree to which water can be recovered by reverse osmosis. The ZDD (Zero Discharge Desalination) technology removes calcium sulfate as a solid that has potential commercial value. In the ZDD process, RO concentrate is treated by an electrodialysis (ED) process called EDM (electrodialysis met...

Reverse osmosis concentrate volume reduction scenarios and associated challenges for inland desalting plants. Economic evaluation in cost vs. recovery. Zero liquid discharge (ZLD) discussion....

Zero discharge desalination (ZDD) update from the University of Texas, El Paso. Explanation of electro dialysis (ED) vs. electro dialysis metathesis (EDM). EDM is the heart of the ZDD process in dealing with difficult Tularosa Basin (New Mexico) ground water that contains gypsum CaSO4....

Concentration of supersaturated brackish reverse osmosis (BRO) concentrate with electro dialysis (ED) research study by the University of Texas, El Paso. Simulated system recoveries were improved from 75-80% to 88-94% adding ED to the treat the concentrate....

hollow-fiber MF filtration systems...

Reverse osmosis (RO) desalination may be used for desalination of brackish and saline waters, but the product water may have low concentrations of hardness and alkalinity, which may corrode infrastructure. Addition of pH, hardness, and alkalinity may be required to meet potable water guidelines. Upflow calcite contactors may be used instead of li...

This paper highlights the challenges and potential advantages of Point of Use filtration systems in regions of the works where clean potable water is not readily available. This study considers two areas in Texas, and investigates point of use filtration systems. The objectives of this research are to (1) assess the region?s current water source an...

This study investigates the accuracy of RO membrane manufacturer's performance prediction software with respect to TDS rejection and feed pressure. Six commercial softwares were investigated and compared with real-world performance from facilities located in Texas, Florida, Arizona, Maryland, Kentucky, and Kansas. Preliminary conclusions indicate t...

This paper describes the Zero Discharge Desalination design process and optimization done at the University of Texas at El Paso, as well as plans for pilot testing in Honduras in 2016. The target was to produce 250 liters of drinking water with less than 600 mg/L total dissolved solids (TDS) and 8000 liters of irrigation water with no more than 55...

One of the largest uses of water in the United States and the world is for cooling systems in power generation. Closed-cycle cooling towers produce a concentrated water stream (called blowdown) that is similar to the concentrate from a reverse osmosis system. This project was directed toward cost-effectively recovering 70% to 90 persent of the wate...

This project will provide 2,000 gallons per day of clean drinking water for the residents of Po Plume, Haiti, a community of about 500 people with no electricity whose only water source is brackish. The water treatment consists of a solar-powered Reverse-Osmosis (RO) system. A telemetry system will enable us to monitor the solar system and monitor...