EVALUATION OF FORWARD, REVERSE AND HYBRID OSMOSIS AS DESALINATION OPTIONS FOR SEAWATER

Abstract

In this project, the different technologies that are needed for desalination are compared by ranking using the rate of foulant rejection by semi-permeable membrane, energy consumption and the feasibility of the cost. The purpose of this work is to assess the economic feasibility of forward osmosis and reverse osmosis process for co-treatment of seawater and impaired water. Reverse osmosis has been in use for desalination process of saline water and treatment for advance reclamation of water leading to indirect potable water reuse. But the system is energy intensive, sensitive for membrane fouling, and rejections of salt, micro-pollutants of some membrane are incomplete. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the economic performance of the process stated below: Comparative performance of the combination of forward osmosis and reverse osmosis desalination, effect of membrane fouling and solute rejection (micro-pollutants). Recommendation and cost estimation of FO-RO hybrid system for concurrent treatment of wastewater and saline water. The result showed that membrane desalination processes are economically more feasible than thermal process due to excess heat involved in thermal process. But for hybrid processes, the combination of FO and RO are economically more feasible due to non-existence of external pressure in FO which is the major basis for increasing the energy usage and cost involved in the RO desalination process. The research demonstrates that membrane desalination of sea water is outgrowing traditional practices for serving freshwater needs through thermal desalination process. Hence, this work should thus serve as a paradigm for water security in developing countries, in Europe and regions facing energy challenges.