Evaluation of Single Pass Seawater Reverse Osmosis Modules and Pretreatment Techniques. Phase II.

Abstract

An experimental 200-gallon-per-day, single pass, reverse osmosis desalination system was operated on natural, unacidified seawater to evaluate the performance of ultrafiltration and diatomaceous earth filtration as particulate removal techniques for seawater feed. Chlorine produced electrolytically from seawater was used to disinfect the feedwater. Results showed diatomaceous earth filtration to be an effective method of particulate removal for seawater. The ultrafiltration system at times provided satisfactory filtration but was found to be somewhat unreliable. Bacteriological analyses showed that electrolytically produced chlorine was effective in killing bacteriological species in the seawater feed, including coliform, and that the resulting reverse osmosis permeate was bacteriologically safe for human consumption. throughout the duration of the evaluation, permeate total dissolved solids remained below the maximum acceptable level of 500 parts per million. Investigations of alternative filtration techniques are recommended to develop an acceptable filtration method that does not require a consumable filter media (such as diatomaceous earth) aboard ship.

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Feb 01, 1977
Accession Number
ADA035773

Entities

People

  • J. F. Pizzino

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Chlorine
  • Filters
  • Filtration
  • Osmosis
  • Particulates
  • Reverse Osmosis
  • Test And Evaluation
  • Ultrafiltration

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Environmental Engineering
  • Systems Analysis and Design