Operation and modelling of RO desalination process in batch mode

Abstract

The performance of a batch reverse osmosis (RO) desalination process in terms of permeate quantity and salinity as a function of feed pressure and feed salinity is evaluated by using laboratory experiments and process modelling. Special attention is paid to the water and salt permeability constants (Kw, Ks) which affect the permeate and salt flux across the membrane. Kw and Ks are found to be strongly pressure-dependent for the batch system which is in-line with earlier observations for continuous RO systems. However, the most important findings of this work are the dependence of Kw and Ks on feed salinity, something that have never been observed or reported in the literature. In order to better qualify these observations, further experiments with the batch system are conducted with a constant feed salinity so that the operating condition resembles that of a continuous RO process.