Assessing pretreatment effectiveness for particulate, organic and biological fouling in a full-scale swro desalination plant

Journal article (2021)

Authors

Almotasembellah Abushaban IHE Delft Institute for Water Education, Sanitary Engineering - CEG , Mohammed VI Polytechnic University
Sergio G. Salinas-Rodriguez IHE Delft Institute for Water Education
Delia Pastorelli SUEZ RandD Center
Jan C. Schippers IHE Delft Institute for Water Education
Subhanjan Mondal Promega Corporation
Said Goueli Promega Corporation
M.D. Kennedy IHE Delft Institute for Water Education, Sanitary Engineering - CEG
Research Group
Sanitary Engineering (CEG) (TU Delft)
Copyright: © 2021 Almotasembellah Abushaban, Sergio G. Salinas-Rodriguez, Delia Pastorelli, Jan C. Schippers, Subhanjan Mondal, Said Goueli, M.D. Kennedy
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes11030167
More Info
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Published Date

2021

Language

English

Faculty

Civil Engineering & Geosciences

Department

Water Management

Research Group

Sanitary Engineering

Abstract

In this study, the removal of particulate, organic and biological fouling potential was investigated in the two-stage dual media filtration (DMF) pretreatment of a full-scale seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) desalination plant. Moreover, the removal of fouling potential in two-stage DMF (DMF pretreatment) was compared with the removal in two-stage DMF installed after dissolved air floatation (DAF) (DAF-DMF pretreatment). For this purpose, the silt density index (SDI), modified fouling index (MFI), bacterial growth potential (BGP), organic fractions and microbial adenosine triphosphate (ATP) were monitored in the pretreatment processes of two full-scale SWRO plants. Particulate fouling potential was well controlled through the two stages of DMF with significant removal of SDI15 (>80%), MFI0.45 (94%) and microbial ATP (>95%). However, lower removal of biological/organic fouling potential (24–41%) was observed due to frequent chlorination (weekly) of the pretreatment, resulting in low biological activity in the DMFs. Therefore, neutralizing chlorine before media filtration is advised, rather than after, as is the current practice in many full-scale SWRO plants. Comparing overall removal in the DAF-DMF pretreatment to that of the DMF pretreatment showed that DAF improved the removal of biological/organic fouling potential, in which the removal of BGP and biopolymers increased by 40% and 16%, respectively. Overall, monitoring ATP and BGP during the pretreatment processes, particularly in DMF, would be beneficial to enhance biological degradation and lower biofouling potential in SWRO feed water.