• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.60-66
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• 2005

When external pressure higher than osmosis pressure is reversely derived into solution, its solvent is moved into the solution having lower concentration, which is called 'reverse osmosis'. We investigated the desalination application of deep ocean water using reverse osmosis pressure of $40-70\;kgf/cm^2$ We observed how to operational factor j like flow rate, water temperature and pressure have effect on efficiency of reverse osmosis membrane and salts rejection. Fluxes of reverse osmosis membrane are directly proportional to water temperature and pressure. However, salts rejection rates are positively correlated with pressure and inversely proportional to water temperature. Separation efficiencies of osmosis membrane for major elements such as $Mg^{2+},\;Ca^{+2},\;Na^+\;and\;K^+$ are as follows in a strong electrolysis solution like seawater; $Ca^{2+},\;Mg^{2+}>K^+>Na^+$. Rejection rates of $Mg^{2+}\;and\;Ca^{2+}$ that have high electric charges are over 99% and show positively correlation with water temperature. Rejection rates of $Na^+$ having low electric charge is observed to be 98%-99%, which rates is much lower than those of $2^+$ charged ions like $Ca^{2+}\;and\;Mg^{2+}$. Ion rejection rates of boron, B, are much low because boron is present il free state or gas phase in seawater. Boron concentration in desalination water is over criteria of Korean drinking water, 0.3 mg/L. However, we could satisfied with the criteria of drinking water under the operation condition like temperature $5^{\circ}C$ and pressure $70kgf/cm^2$, using the relationship that rejection rates of boron is proportional to pressure and is inversely proportional to water temperature

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.811-823
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• 2009

Seawater desalination process using a reverse osmosis (RO) membrane has been considered as one of the most promising technologies in solving the water scarcity problems in many arid regions around the world. To protect RO membrane in the process, a thorough understanding of the pretreatment process is particularly needed. Seawater organic matters (SWOMs) may form a gel layer on the membrane surface, which will increase a concentration polarization. As the SWOMs can be utilized as a substrate, membrane biofouling will be progressed on the RO membrane surface, resulting in the flux decline and increase of trans-membrane pressure drop and salt passage. In the middle of disinfection, an optimal chlorine dosage and neutralizer (sodium bisulfite, SBS) should be practiced to prevent oxidizing the surface of RO membranes. Additional fundamental research including novel non-susceptible biofouling membranes would be necessary to provide a guide line for the proper pretreatment process.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.439-449
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• 2013

This study investigated the aromatic polyamide reverse osmosis membrane was modified with diphenylamine (DPA) for enhanced chlorine and fouling resistance and how to optimize. DPA has high reactivity and thermo chemical stability. The performance of a modified membranes was investigated and its surface analyzed using atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and contact angle measurement. The experiment was conducted while changing the conditions of temperature and DPA solution concentration.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.143-155
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• 2010

Fouling by inorganic scales needs to be prevented to effectively operate sea water reverse osmosis(SWRO) membrane systems. The extents of inorganic scaling with different array designs including one-pass, two-pass and several hybrid designs were evaluated using seawater from southern sea near the city of Chang-Won. The used methods for evaluation were Stiff and Davis Index(S&DSI) calculation and several laboratory experiments. The formation potential of inorganic scale fouling was quite great under the examined conditions, which was confirmed by the laboratory experimental results. The inorganic scale was not avoidable fouling if any anti-scaling measures were not applied. The RO showed decreased flux under the scale formation conditions. The increases in S&DSI from 1.43 to 5 made small decreases in flux, which indicated that formation of inorganic scales had more substantial effects on RO flux than amount of inorganic scales.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.391-396
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• 2014

Ultrapure water (UPW) is water containing nothing but water molecule ($H_2O$). The use of UPW is increasing in many industries such as the thermal and nuclear power plants, petrochemical plants, and semiconductor manufacturers. In order to produce UPW, several unit processes such as ion exchange, reverse osmosis (RO), ultraviolet (UV) oxidation should be efficiently arranged. In particular, RO process should remove not only ions but also low molecular weight (LMW) organic matters in UPW production system. But, the LMW organic matter removal data of RO membranes provided by manufacturers does not seem to be reasonable because they tested the removal in high concentration conditions like 1,000 ppm of isopropyl alcohol (IPA, MW=60.1). In this study, bench-scale experiments were carried out using 4-inches RO modules. IPA was used as a model LMW organic matter with low concentration conditions less than 1 ppm as total organic carbon (TOC). As a result, the IPA removal data by manufacturers turned out to be trustable because the effect of feed concentration on the IPA removal was negligble while the IPA removal efficiency became higher at higher permeate flux.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.127-137
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• 2020

In this study, a MWCNT(multi-wall carbon nanotube) was added to polysulfone(PSf) support layer to improve flux of TFC(thin film composite) RO(reverse osmosis) membrane. Two different kinds of MWCNT were used. Surfaces of some MWCNTs were modified hydrophilically through acid treatment, while those of other MWCNTs were modified through heat treatment to maintain their hydrophobicity. MWCNT/PSf support layer was prepared by adding PSf to the NMP mixed solvent containing 0.1 wt% MWCNTs using a phase inversion method. The surface porosity of the MWCNT/PSf support increased by 42~46% while its surface pore size being maintained. The TFC RO membrane made of MWCNT/PSf support layer showed a 20% flux increase while its salt rejection characteristics is sustained. In addition, the MWCNT/PSf support layer has better mechanical stability than the PSf support layer, there resulting in an increased resistance of flux reduction due to physical pressure.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.205-212
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• 2011

Reverse osmosis (RO) technology has developed over the past 40 years to control a 44% market share in the world desalting production capacity and an 80% share in the total number of desalination plants installed worldwide. The application of conventional and low-pressure membrane pretreatment processes to seawater RO (SWRO) desalination has undergone accelerated development over the past decade. Reliable pretreatment techniques are required for the successful operation of SWRO processes, since a major issue is membrane fouling associated with particulate matter/colloids, organic/inorganic compounds, and biological growth. While conventional pretreatment processes such as coagulation and granular media filtration have been widely used for SWRO, there has been an increased tendency toward the use of ultrafiltration/microfiltration (UF/MF) instead of conventional treatment techniques. The literature shows that both the conventional and the UF/MF membrane pretreatment processes have different advantages and disadvantages. This review suggests that, depending on the feed water quality conditions, the suitable integration of multiple pretreatment processes may be considered valid since this would utilize the benefits of each separate pretreatment.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.291-312
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• 2017

Seawater desalination is currently considered to be one of the primary technologies to resolve the global water scarcity problem. A basic understanding of membrane filtration phenomena is significant not only for further technological development but also for integrated design, optimal control, and long-term maintenance. In this vein, the present work reviews the major transport and filtration models, specifically related to reverse osmosis phenomena, provides theoretical insights based on statistical mechanics, and discusses model-based physical meanings as related to their practical implications.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.779-785
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• 2013

This study investigated the applicability of a two step microfiltration(MF) and reverse osmosis(RO) membrane system for reuse of tunnel wastewater. In this two step process, the MF system first treated only micropollutants in tunnel wastewater such as suspended solids(SS) and heavy metals, achieving less than 0.2 NTU turbidity, less than 1.1 mg/L chemical oxygen demand($COD_{Mn}$) and less than 0.8 mg/L total manganese(Mn). The RO system then removed over 95 % of the remaining pollutnats and particles, resulting in less than 0.02 NTU turbidity, less than 0.5 mg/L chemical oxygen demand($COD_{Mn}$), less than 0.04 mg/L total nitrogen(T-N) and less than 0.01 mg/L total phosphorus(T-P). In particular, addition of an RO system could lead to markedly reduced high salt concentrations in tunnel wastewater, approaching almost zero. Thus, reclaimed water using the combined membrane system could satisfy current South Korean regulations concerning wastewater reuse(turbidity ${\leq}2.0$ NTU; T-N ${\leq}10mg/L$; T-P ${\leq}0.5mg/L$; Salinity ${\leq}250mg{\cdot}Cl/L$).

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.479-482
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• 2012

Membrane process has been one of the widely applied wastewater treatment options, especially in field. However, one of the tricky issues in the process is to treat concentrates generated from reverse osmosis (RO) system in a manner of saving cost with maximum efficiency for treating a wide range of contaminants. Stimulated with the challenging issues, we have conducted a series of experimental studies in the evaluation for removing organics and nutrients using activated carbon. Results indicated that while powdered activated carbon (PAC) efficiently removed organics and the extent of removal was proportional to the PAC dosage, little removal of nitrogen and phosphorus was observed despite increasing the PAC dose. Interestingly, applying PAC was superior in removing organics than using granular activated carbon (GAC). These results suggest smaller particle size with higher surface area could provide greater chemical reactivity in removing organics.