Login | Request Account (DAF staff only)

Downstream processing of reverse osmosis brine: Characterisation of potential scaling compounds

View Altmetrics

Zaman, M., Birkett, G., Pratt, C., Stuart, B. and Pratt, S. (2015) Downstream processing of reverse osmosis brine: Characterisation of potential scaling compounds. Virology, 80 . pp. 227-234. ISSN 0043-1354

Full text not currently attached. Access may be available via the Publisher's website or OpenAccess link.

Article Link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2015.05.004

Publisher URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0043135415002833

Abstract

Reverse osmosis (RO) brine produced at a full-scale coal seam gas (CSG) water treatment facility was characterized with spectroscopic and other analytical techniques. A number of potential scalants including silica, calcium, magnesium, sulphates and carbonates, all of which were present in dissolved and non-dissolved forms, were characterized. The presence of spherical particles with a size range of 10–1000 nm and aggregates of 1–10 microns was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Those particulates contained the following metals in decreasing order: K, Si, Sr, Ca, B, Ba, Mg, P, and S. Characterization showed that nearly one-third of the total silicon in the brine was present in the particulates. Further, analysis of the RO brine suggested supersaturation and precipitation of metal carbonates and sulphates during the RO process should take place and could be responsible for subsequently capturing silica in the solid phase. However, the precipitation of crystalline carbonates and sulphates are complex. X-ray diffraction analysis did not confirm the presence of common calcium carbonates or sulphates but instead showed the presence of a suite of complex minerals, to which amorphous silica and/or silica rich compounds could have adhered. A filtration study showed that majority of the siliceous particles were less than 220 nm in size, but could still be potentially captured using a low molecular weight ultrafiltration membrane.

Item Type:Article
Business groups:Animal Science
Keywords:Reverse osmosis Brine Scaling compound Filtration
Subjects:Agriculture > Agriculture (General) > Agricultural chemistry. Agricultural chemicals
Agriculture > Agriculture (General) > Soils. Soil science > Soil chemistry
Technology > Technology (General) > Spectroscopy
Live Archive:06 Jul 2015 01:11
Last Modified:03 Sep 2021 16:50

Repository Staff Only: item control page