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U.S. Department of Energy
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Fouling effects of tri-n-butylphosphate on reverse osmosis performance and techniques for performance recovery

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6173330· OSTI ID:6173330

The F/H Effluent Treatment Facility (F/H ETF) must be on-line by November 1988 to treat the low level activity wastes presently being discharged to the F- and H- areas' seepage basins. The three main processes of the F/H ETF are filtration, reverse osmosis, and ion exchange. Any dissolved organics present in the F/H ETF's feed have the potential to affect operation of the reverse osmosis system. Earlier studies with F/H ETF feed simulant and 70 volume percent kerosene and 30 volume percent tri-n-butylphosphate (TBP) additions showed that the kerosene/TBP mixture results in partial fouling of reverse osmosis membranes. A more detailed analysis of the seepage basin feed has shown that TBP is the major dissolved organic compound. Since it is dissolved (soluble to about 400 ppM at 25{degree}C), TBP will be present in the reverse osmosis feed unless removed by a means other than filtration. Thus the fouling effect of TBP (without kerosene) on reverse osmosis performance was investigated. 4 refs., 8 figs., 2 tabs.

Research Organization:
Savannah River Lab., Aiken, SC (USA)
Sponsoring Organization:
DOE/DP
DOE Contract Number:
AC09-89SR18035
OSTI ID:
6173330
Report Number(s):
DPST-87-387; ON: DE91005116
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English