Pathways for minimal and zero liquid discharge with enhanced reverse osmosis technologies: Module-scale modeling and techno-economic assessment

Atia, Adam A.; Yip, Ngai Yin; Fthenakis, Vasilis

doi:10.1016/j.desal.2021.115069

Pathways for minimal and zero liquid discharge with enhanced reverse osmosis technologies: Module-scale modeling and techno-economic assessment

Journal Article · Wed Apr 07 00:00:00 EDT 2021 · Desalination

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2021.115069· OSTI ID:2309761

Atia, Adam A. ^[1]; Yip, Ngai Yin ^[2]; Fthenakis, Vasilis ^[2]

Columbia University, New York, NY (United States); Columbia University
Columbia University, New York, NY (United States)

While mechanical vapor compression is typically applied for the concentration of brine, new approaches that are less costly and less energy intensive are needed to facilitate minimal and zero liquid discharge. Several variations of reverse osmosis for high-salinity desalination and increasing recovery rates beyond the pressure limitation of conventional RO have been proposed in the literature. Furthermore, the promise of these enhanced RO approaches entails a reduction in energy consumption when compared with thermal desalination methods. In this paper, low-salt rejection reverse osmosis (LSRRO), cascading osmotically assisted reverse osmosis (COMRO), and osmotically assisted reverse osmosis (OARO) were comparatively assessed via module-scale, cost optimization models to gain an accurate perspective of the performance differences between each of these configurations. We quantified the optimal levelized cost of water (LCOW) of each technology for the case of desalinating feedwater at 70 g/L at 75% recovery, which would result in a brine concentration near 250 g/L, a level that allows further treatment with crystallizers. For baseline scenarios, LCOW results for LSRRO, COMRO, and OARO were 6.63, 7.90, and 5.14 $/m3 of product water, respectively, while the corresponding specific energy consumption (SEC) values were 28.9, 12.8, and 10.3 kWh/m3. A sensitivity analysis is also presented.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Columbia University, New York, NY (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship; USDOE; USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Renewable Power Office. Solar Energy Technologies Office

Grant/Contract Number:: EE0008401

OSTI ID:: 2309761

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1815145
OSTI ID: 1848773

Journal Information:: Desalination, Journal Name: Desalination Vol. 509; ISSN 0011-9164

Publisher:: ElsevierCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

References (40)

Progress in membrane crystallization Drioli, Enrico; Di Profio, Gianluca; Curcio, Efrem Current Opinion in Chemical Engineering, Vol. 1, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coche.2012.03.005	journal	May 2012
Nonlinear modeling, estimation and predictive control in APMonitor Hedengren, John D.; Shishavan, Reza Asgharzadeh; Powell, Kody M. Computers & Chemical Engineering, Vol. 70 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compchemeng.2014.04.013	journal	November 2014
Pilot demonstration of the NH3/CO2 forward osmosis desalination process on high salinity brines McGinnis, Robert L.; Hancock, Nathan T.; Nowosielski-Slepowron, Marek S. Desalination, Vol. 312 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2012.11.032	journal	March 2013
Can batch or semi-batch processes save energy in reverse-osmosis desalination? Werber, Jay R.; Deshmukh, Akshay; Elimelech, Menachem Desalination, Vol. 402 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2016.09.028	journal	January 2017
Thermodynamic analysis of brine management methods: Zero-discharge desalination and salinity-gradient power production Chung, Hyung Won; Nayar, Kishor G.; Swaminathan, Jaichander Desalination, Vol. 404 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2016.11.022	journal	February 2017
Osmotically assisted reverse osmosis for high salinity brine treatment Bartholomew, Timothy V.; Mey, Laura; Arena, Jason T. Desalination, Vol. 421 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2017.04.012	journal	November 2017
Techno-economic comparison of membrane distillation and MVC in a zero liquid discharge application Schwantes, R.; Chavan, K.; Winter, D. Desalination, Vol. 428 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2017.11.026	journal	February 2018
Energy optimization of a multistage reverse osmosis process for seawater desalination Ahunbay, M. Göktuğ; Tantekin-Ersolmaz, S. Birgül; Krantz, William B. Desalination, Vol. 429 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2017.11.042	journal	March 2018
Process economics and operating strategy for the energy-efficient reverse osmosis (EERO) process Chong, Tzyy Haur; Krantz, William B. Desalination, Vol. 443 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2018.05.007	journal	October 2018
Split-feed counterflow reverse osmosis for brine concentration Bouma, Andrew T.; Lienhard, John H. Desalination, Vol. 445 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2018.07.011	journal	November 2018
Cost and energy requirements of hybrid RO and ED brine concentration systems for salt production Nayar, Kishor G.; Fernandes, Jenifer; McGovern, Ronan K. Desalination, Vol. 456 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2018.11.018	journal	April 2019
Cost and energy needs of RO-ED-crystallizer systems for zero brine discharge seawater desalination Nayar, Kishor G.; Fernandes, Jenifer; McGovern, Ronan K. Desalination, Vol. 457 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2019.01.015	journal	May 2019
Osmotically assisted reverse osmosis (OARO): Five approaches to dewatering saline brines using pressure-driven membrane processes Peters, Christian D.; Hankins, Nicholas P. Desalination, Vol. 458 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2019.01.025	journal	May 2019
Achieving high water recovery at low pressure in reverse osmosis processes for seawater desalination Ahunbay, M. Göktuğ Desalination, Vol. 465 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2019.04.023	journal	September 2019
Active-salinity-control reverse osmosis desalination as a flexible load resource Atia, Adam A.; Fthenakis, Vasilis Desalination, Vol. 468 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2019.07.002	journal	October 2019
Transport and structural properties of osmotic membranes in high-salinity desalination using cascading osmotically mediated reverse osmosis Chen, Xi; Boo, Chanhee; Yip, Ngai Yin Desalination, Vol. 479 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2020.114335	journal	April 2020
The synergy between osmotically assisted reverse osmosis (OARO) and the use of thermo-responsive draw solutions for energy efficient, zero-liquid discharge desalination Peters, Christian D.; Hankins, Nicholas P. Desalination, Vol. 493 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2020.114630	journal	November 2020
Techno-economic analysis of a membrane-hybrid process as a novel low-energy alternative for zero liquid discharge systems Martínez, José; León, Elena; Baena-Moreno, Francisco M. Energy Conversion and Management, Vol. 211 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2020.112783	journal	May 2020
Water permeability and water/salt selectivity tradeoff in polymers for desalination Geise, Geoffrey M.; Park, Ho Bum; Sagle, Alyson C. Journal of Membrane Science, Vol. 369, Issue 1-2 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2010.11.054	journal	March 2011
Osmotic power production from salinity gradient resource by pressure retarded osmosis: Effects of operating conditions and reverse solute diffusion She, Qianhong; Jin, Xue; Tang, Chuyang Y. Journal of Membrane Science, Vol. 401-402 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2012.02.014	journal	May 2012
Desalination by forward osmosis: Identifying performance limiting parameters through module-scale modeling Deshmukh, Akshay; Yip, Ngai Yin; Lin, Shihong Journal of Membrane Science, Vol. 491 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2015.03.080	journal	October 2015
Multistage vacuum membrane distillation (MSVMD) systems for high salinity applications Chung, Hyung Won; Swaminathan, Jaichander; Warsinger, David M. Journal of Membrane Science, Vol. 497 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2015.09.009	journal	January 2016
Modeling the water permeability and water/salt selectivity tradeoff in polymer membranes Zhang, Huan; Geise, Geoffrey M. Journal of Membrane Science, Vol. 520 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2016.08.035	journal	December 2016
Computational framework for modeling membrane processes without process and solution property simplifications Bartholomew, Timothy V.; Mauter, Meagan S. Journal of Membrane Science, Vol. 573 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2018.11.067	journal	March 2019
Thin film composite membrane compaction in high-pressure reverse osmosis Davenport, Douglas M.; Ritt, Cody L.; Verbeke, Rhea Journal of Membrane Science, Vol. 610 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2020.118268	journal	September 2020
High-performance and durable pressure retarded osmosis membranes fabricated using hydrophilized polyethylene separators Kwon, Soon Jin; Park, Kiho; Kim, Dal Yong Journal of Membrane Science, Vol. 619 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2020.118796	journal	February 2021
The state of desalination and brine production: A global outlook Jones, Edward; Qadir, Manzoor; van Vliet, Michelle T. H. Science of The Total Environment, Vol. 657 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.12.076	journal	March 2019
Energy efficiency of batch and semi-batch (CCRO) reverse osmosis desalination Warsinger, David M.; Tow, Emily W.; Nayar, Kishor G. Water Research, Vol. 106 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2016.09.029	journal	December 2016
Minimal and zero liquid discharge with reverse osmosis using low-salt-rejection membranes Wang, Zhangxin; Deshmukh, Akshay; Du, Yuhao Water Research, Vol. 170 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2019.115317	journal	March 2020
Zero Liquid Discharge of Ultrahigh-Salinity Brines with Temperature Swing Solvent Extraction Boo, Chanhee; Billinge, Ian H.; Chen, Xi Environmental Science & Technology, Vol. 54, Issue 14 https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.0c02555	journal	June 2020
The Global Rise of Zero Liquid Discharge for Wastewater Management: Drivers, Technologies, and Future Directions Tong, Tiezheng; Elimelech, Menachem Environmental Science & Technology, Vol. 50, Issue 13 https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.6b01000	journal	June 2016
Unlocking High-Salinity Desalination with Cascading Osmotically Mediated Reverse Osmosis: Energy and Operating Pressure Analysis Chen, Xi; Yip, Ngai Yin Environmental Science & Technology, Vol. 52, Issue 4 https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.7b05774	journal	January 2018
The Critical Need for Increased Selectivity, Not Increased Water Permeability, for Desalination Membranes Werber, Jay R.; Deshmukh, Akshay; Elimelech, Menachem Environmental Science & Technology Letters, Vol. 3, Issue 4 https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.estlett.6b00050	journal	March 2016
High-Pressure Reverse Osmosis for Energy-Efficient Hypersaline Brine Desalination: Current Status, Design Considerations, and Research Needs Davenport, Douglas M.; Deshmukh, Akshay; Werber, Jay R. Environmental Science & Technology Letters, Vol. 5, Issue 8 https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.estlett.8b00274	journal	June 2018
Membrane-less and Non-Evaporative Desalination of Hypersaline Brines by Temperature Swing Solvent Extraction Boo, Chanhee; Winton, Robert K.; Conway, Kelly M. Environmental Science & Technology Letters, Vol. 6, Issue 6 https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.estlett.9b00182	journal	April 2019
Performance Limiting Effects in Power Generation from Salinity Gradients by Pressure Retarded Osmosis Yip, Ngai Yin; Elimelech, Menachem Environmental Science & Technology, Vol. 45, Issue 23 https://doi.org/10.1021/es203197e	journal	December 2011
Raising the Bar: Increased Hydraulic Pressure Allows Unprecedented High Power Densities in Pressure-Retarded Osmosis Straub, Anthony P.; Yip, Ngai Yin; Elimelech, Menachem Environmental Science & Technology Letters, Vol. 1, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1021/ez400117d	journal	November 2013
Commercial scale membrane distillation for solar desalination Zaragoza, G.; Andrés-Mañas, J. A.; Ruiz-Aguirre, A. npj Clean Water, Vol. 1, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41545-018-0020-z	journal	October 2018
Rapid fabrication of precise high-throughput filters from membrane protein nanosheets Tu, Yu-Ming; Song, Woochul; Ren, Tingwei Nature Materials, Vol. 19, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41563-019-0577-z	journal	January 2020
Maximizing the right stuff: The trade-off between membrane permeability and selectivity Park, Ho Bum; Kamcev, Jovan; Robeson, Lloyd M. Science, Vol. 356, Issue 6343 https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aab0530	journal	June 2017

Cited By (1)

High Permeance or High Selectivity? Optimization of System-scale Nanofiltration Performance Constrained by the Upper Bound Yang, Zhe Mendeley https://doi.org/10.17632/wjsv99cw67	dataset	January 2021

Similar Records

Osmotically assisted reverse osmosis for high salinity brine treatment

Journal Article · Fri Apr 28 20:00:00 EDT 2017 · Desalination · OSTI ID:1479651

Comparative techno-economic assessment of osmotically-assisted reverse osmosis and batch-operated vacuum-air-gap membrane distillation for high-salinity water desalination

Journal Article · Thu Mar 31 20:00:00 EDT 2022 · Desalination · OSTI ID:1977061

Optimization-based modeling and analysis of brine reflux osmotically assisted reverse osmosis for application toward zero liquid discharge systems

Journal Article · Sat Jul 16 20:00:00 EDT 2022 · Desalination · OSTI ID:2418551

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
Brine management
High-salinity desalination
Minimal liquid discharge
Osmotically assisted reverse osmosis
Zero discharge
Zero liquid discharge

Pathways for minimal and zero liquid discharge with enhanced reverse osmosis technologies: Module-scale modeling and techno-economic assessment

Citation Formats

References (40)

Cited By (1)

Similar Records

Related Subjects