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Preparation of Composite Polyamide
Reverse Osmosis (RO) membrane for Brackish Water Desalination
Introduction
Reverse osmosis (RO) is an efficient desalination technology
for providing safe drinking water from brackish and sea water.
Brackish water desalination is very common nowadays as most
of the surface water available is brackish water. With proper
collection and utilization, the reject stream can also be
beneficially utilized.
Membrane is the key component of the desalination process.
BARC is engaged in the research and development of membrane
preparation, assembling in different configurations and applications
in various fields. Earlier BARC has developed and transferred
the technologies for UF membranes. Technology for rolling
of these membranes in spiral module has also been transferred.
Present technology is developed for thin film based composite
polyamide membranes and prototype 2512 spiral module. These
membranes are capable of removing 90% salinity from brackish
water (~feed concentration upto 3000 ppm). Using the developed
technology, commercial size flat sheet membranes can also
be made.
Specifications of 2512 Brackish Water
Reverse Osmosis (BWRO) :
| Item |
Description |
| Diameter |
2.5 inches (6.25 cm) |
| Length |
12 inches (30.0 cm) |
| Membrane type |
Thin-film composite (TFC) BWRO |
| Module configuration |
Spiral wound |
| Recovery (max) % |
Up to 60% |
| Feed flow rate (max) LPM |
10 -14 lpm |
| Operating pressure (max) bar |
10 -15 bar (depending on feed salinity
/ flow rate) |
| Feed salinity (max) ppm |
500 - 5000 ppm of NaCl |
| Typical performance |
~ 450 - 500 LMD flux with ~90-94%
NaCl separation |
Advantages
- Process is capable of removing dissolved salt to a tolerant
level along with contaminant like iron and microbiological
contamination with high level of reproducibility from brackish
water with upto 3000 ppm salinity.
- Membrane prepared in this process can be used from small
units suitable for domestic level to bigger industrial application.
Applications
- This technology can be applied for desalination of brackish
water, water reuse (in pharma /biotech, waste water, electrocoating,
food and beverage industries) and radioactive waste treatment.
- The TFC membranes in spiral module are capable of removing
90% salinity from brackish water (~feed concentration upto
3000 ppm). There is a potential to use these units for domestic
desalination systems.
For further information please contact
:
Bhabha Atomic Research Centre,
Trombay, Mumbai- 400 085
Tel : 091-022-25505337/25593897
Fax : 091-022-25505151
Email : headttcd@barc.gov.in
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