Transparent expolymer particles (TEP) are believed to be a key organic compound that leads to membrane biofouling in SWRO systems. The sticky nature, high surface reactivity and micro-gel character of TEP play a major role in a membrane fouling, because deposition on the membrane surface acts as culture media for bacterial growth and as a depositio...

Subsurface intake systems are generally believed to deliver higher quality of feed water compared to open-ocean intake systems. Some new research results are reported from several desalination plants; two plants located on the Red Sea and one on the Caribbean Sea. These facilities were assessed to compare the feedwater fouling potential of the open...

Cartridge filter performance at Seawater Reverse Osmosis (SWRO) plants were studied at both open-ocean intake and well intake feed. The well intake showed no improvement in feed for NOM, bacteria and algae concentrations but did see an increase in bacteria concentrations. The open-ocean intake showed a reduction in biopolymer, bacteria, and algae c...