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Desalination of Seawater by Reverse Osmosis

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Membrane and Desalination Technologies

Part of the book series: Handbook of Environmental Engineering ((HEE,volume 13))

Abstract

Desalination allows the use of non-conventional water sources such as seawater for the production of potable water. Reverse osmosis (RO), one of the technologies for desalination, is becoming popular in the water industry. In this chapter, theory of RO process, plant configurations, and practical considerations related to the plant operation are addressed. Factors such as high permeate flux, high solute rejection, and mechanical and chemical stability govern the production of membranes for RO. Cellulose acetate membrane is popular due to the chlorine and fouling resistance. When it comes to rejection, thin film membranes are advantageous. Membranes are usually arranged in modules. Concentration polarization and compaction are two major limiting factors in the RO technology. Feed water must be pretreated using conventional and/or membrane filtration technologies in order to minimize membrane fouling. Reduction in permeate, pressure drop over the system, and decrease in rejection are the indications for the requirement of cleaning and regeneration of membranes. Chemical and/or physical methods can be used for the cleaning and regeneration of membranes. A case study and the recent developments are discussed in order to enhance the understanding of the process.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Environmental Science and Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore

    Jiaping Paul Chen & K. G. Nadeeshani Nanayakkara

  2. School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA

    Edward S. K. Chian

  3. Siltronic Singapore Pte Ltd, Singapore, Singapore

    Ping-Xin Sheng

  4. Lenox Institute of Water Technology, Lenox, MA, USA

    Lawrence K. Wang

  5. Krofta Engineering Corporation, Lenox, MA, USA

    Lawrence K. Wang

  6. Zorex Corporation, Newtonville, New York, NY, USA

    Lawrence K. Wang

  7. Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore

    Yen-Peng Ting

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  1. Jiaping Paul Chen
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  2. Edward S. K. Chian
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  3. Ping-Xin Sheng
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  4. K. G. Nadeeshani Nanayakkara
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  5. Lawrence K. Wang
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Zorex Corporation, Newtonville, New York, NY, USA

    Lawrence K. Wang PhD, PE, DEE

  2. Lenox Institute of Water Technology, Lenox, MA, USA

    Lawrence K. Wang PhD, PE, DEE  & Nazih K. Shammas PhD  & 

  3. Krofta Engineering Corporation, Lenox, MA, USA

    Lawrence K. Wang PhD, PE, DEE  & Nazih K. Shammas PhD  & 

  4. Division of Environmental Science and Engineering, National University of Singapore, Kent Ridge, Singapore

    Jiaping Paul Chen PhD

  5. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Cleveland State University, Cleveland, OH, USA

    Yung-Tse Hung PhD, PE, DEE

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Chen, J.P., Chian, E.S.K., Sheng, PX., Nanayakkara, K.G.N., Wang, L.K., Ting, YP. (2011). Desalination of Seawater by Reverse Osmosis. In: Wang, L.K., Chen, J.P., Hung, YT., Shammas, N.K. (eds) Membrane and Desalination Technologies. Handbook of Environmental Engineering, vol 13. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59745-278-6_13

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59745-278-6_13

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