730108-B

2009-12-15

General description of
the RO process
Seawater desalination with
Reverse Osmosis
 730108-B
2009-12-15

CONTNENTS

1  DESCRIPTION OF THE PROCESS ..................................................................................................................... 1 
1.1  REVERSE OSMOSIS ........................................................................................................................................... 1 
1.2  FUNCTION ........................................................................................................................................................ 2 
2  MEMBRANE FOULING ................................................................................................................................... 3 
2.1  SCALING ........................................................................................................................................................... 3 
2.2  METAL OXIDES ................................................................................................................................................. 3 
2.3  PARTICULATE MATTER ..................................................................................................................................... 4 
2.4  COLLOIDS ......................................................................................................................................................... 4 
2.5  BIOLOGICAL MATTER ....................................................................................................................................... 4 
2.6  HYDROLYSE BY CHLORINE ................................................................................................................................ 4 
3  CLEANING ..................................................................................................................................................... 5 
3.1  CLEANING AGENTS ........................................................................................................................................... 5 
3.2  CLEANING METHOD ......................................................................................................................................... 5 
3.3  CLEANING PROCEDURE .................................................................................................................................... 5 
 730108-B
2009-12-15

1 DESCRIPTION OF THE PROCESS

1.1 REVERSE OSMOSIS

RO is the abbreviation for reverse osmosis. The word Osmosis has its origin in the greek
language, osmos = pressure, thrust. Osmos is the capability of liquids and liquid soluble
substances to permeate a membrane. Osmosis takes place when two solutions of
different concentrations are on either side of a membrane. The highest concentrated
solution will always attract water from the weaker until the same concentration is
attained on both sides of the membrane. This occurs under the condition that the water,
and not the dissolved substance, can pass through the membrane. The membrane is
permeable for one substance but not the other i.e. semi permeable or partially
penetrable. It´s used to separate different substances.

RO involves utilizing osmosis with the help of technology. By raising the pressure of the
“contaminated” liquid, the water is forced through a synthetic, semi permeable
membrane, which separates the smallest particles, molecules and ions, and only allows
clean water to pass.

PRESSURE

OSMOTIC
PRESSURE

FRESH WATER

SALT WATER

MEMBRANE

Figure 1. Osmosis Figure 2. Osmotic equilibrium Figure 3. Reverse Osmosis

1
 730108-B
2009-12-15

The membrane is fitted in a pressurized vessel. This construction is referred to as an

RO-module or just module.

MEMBRANE ELEMENT

SEPARATOR

COLLECTION CHANNEL FOR

TREATED WATER

INPUT WATER, THAT TURNS TO

CONCENTRATE

CLEAN WATER
Figure 4. Spiral wounded module

1.2 FUNCTION
 
Before the water is desalinated in the membrane, the water must be free from chlorine,
iron, aluminum, silicic acid, particles, organic and biological contaminants, etc.
It´s common that the feed water is pretreated before it passes through the system.
Pretreatment is intended to reduce particles and contaminants that would otherwise
damage the membrane, block piping or damage the high pressure pump.

The water filter requires a certain pressure to be able to clean the water. To achieve the
necessary pressure, a feed water pump raises the pressure of the feed water before it
reaches the filter.

Thereafter, the water flows through a second filter to remove smaller particles, and then
through a high pressure pump. The pump increases pressure of feed water until it
exceeds the osmotic pressure, before the water is desalinated in the membrane.
It´s important for the high pressure pump, that water keeps required working pressure
when passing, lower pressure can result in pump failure. A pressure control valve is
installed before the pump. It automatically stops the flow of water if the pressure is too
low.

After the water has passed the RO-module, two flows are produced. One is desalinated
water and the other is salt concentrate (brine). The brine is immediately discharged.

The treated water (product water) from the RO-module passes through a conductivity
cell that measures the conductivity in the product water. If the conductivity is too high,
the water is automatically discharged through a 3-way magnetic valve.

2
 730108-B
2009-12-15

2 MEMBRANE FOULING

Membran-fouling is a complex phenomenon which involves trapping material in the fibre

bundle or on the surface of the membrane inside the RO-module. When a RO-module
fouls, the salt concentration of the product water usually increases. The conductivity
meter shows higher conductivity. When it has reached an unacceptable level is it time
for chemical treatment.

The following foulings are the most common:

- Scaling
- Metal oxides
- Particulate matter
- Colloids
- Biological matter
- Hydrolyse by chlorine

2.1 SCALING

Scaling is caused by deposits of minerals. A high concentration of minerals as CaCO3

and CaSO4 precipitate in the RO-module.

2.2 METAL OXIDES

Fouling with metal oxides is caused by the formation of the oxide and/or the hydroxide of
iron, manganese or aluminium, but iron is the most common reason.

Iron fouling can be avoided by selecting the best non corrosive material on the
feedwater side of the unit.

Fouling by metal oxides is identified by rapid conductivity increasing (within 24 hours) to

a level of full scale on the meter.

3
 730108-B
2009-12-15

2.3 PARTICULATE FOULING

the mechanical filtration of particulate matters which are
Particulate plugging is caused by big particles (larger than 20 micron) stucked between
the walls of the membrane. To avoid particulate plugging, be sure that right micro
cartridge is used and is properly installed.

2.4 COLLOIDAL FOULINGS

Colloidal fouling is caused by coagulation of colloids at the membrane surface. Colloids

are very small particles usually ranging from 0,3 to 1,0 micron in size. To avoid colloidal
fouling do not operate the unit in harbours and water which is polluted. If the unit is
intended to be operated in such water, an extended pre-treatment section is required.

2.5 BIOLOGICAL FOULINGS

Biological fouling occurs when feed water contains sufficient nutrients, to sustain rapid
growth of organisms inside the RO-module. This growth leads to deposition of slimes.
To avoid biological fouling, do not operate the unit in water which is strongly
contaminated with bacteria. Such as harbour water etc.

2.6 HYDROLYSE BY CHLORINE

If the unit is operated with water containing chlorine, a carbon filter has to be used as a
pre-treatment.

Chlorine, even in very week concentration will cause damage to membranes.

Flush water from storage, can sometimes contain chlorine e.g. when the water tanks
have been filled up with water which contains chlorine. It is of highest importance that
the carbon cartridge is properly installed in the filter house for flush water and has not
been replaced by a normal cartridge filter.

Normal seawater does not contain any chlorine.

4
 730108-B
2009-12-15

3 CLEANING
3.1 CLEANING AGENTS
There are three different agents used for cleaning:

1. MT 10 P3-ultrasil 10 pH 12,5
Useful in removing inorganic scale (e.g. calcium carbonate, calcium sulfate, barium
sulfate, strontium sulfate) and metal oxides/hydroxides (e.g. iron, manganese, nickel,
copper, zinc), and inorganic-based colloidal material.

2. MT 20 Sulfamic Acid pH 1,2

Useful for removing calcium sulfate scale and to moderate levels of organic foulants of
natural origin.

3. MT 5 Biosperse 250 microbiocide

Useful in the removal of organic foulants of natural origin and biological material (fungi,
mold, slimes and biofilm).

3.2 CLEANING ORDER

CLEANING
When performing a cleaning, both low pH and high pH agents are used. The agents are
used in the following order:

1. MT 10 P3-ultrasil 10 pH 12,5
2. MT 20 Sulfamic Acid pH 1,2

STERILIZATION
When performing a sterilization, microbiocide is used, but high pH agent is used as pre-
treatment. The agents are used in the following order:

1. MT 10 P3-ultrasil 10 pH 12,5
2. MT 5 Biosperse 250 microbiocide

3.3 CLEANING PROCEDURE

Cleaning and sterilization of the unit is done with the following procedures:

 Water is produced to the cleaning tank (don´t use chlorinated fresh water).
 Chemical agent is mixed in the cleaning tank.
 The solution is circulated in the system.
 Circulation is stopped, and the solution is soaked in.
 The solution is circulated.
 The solution in the container is discharged.
 Feed water is connected and the system is started.