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Silica fouling in high salinity waters in reverse osmosis desalination (sodium-silica system)

Version 2 2024-06-05, 04:19
Version 1 2016-08-30, 08:09
journal contribution
posted on 2024-06-05, 04:19 authored by L Lunevich, P Sanciolo, LF Dumee, SR Gray
Silica fouling patterns in a sodium–silica system and the effect of pH on residual dissolved silica concentrations are reported. The unique chemical affinity between sodium and silica (SO4) prevented silica scale deposition on the membrane surface during reverse osmosis (RO) desalination. It was found that high concentrations of sodium in solutions depressed silica solubility to 81–84 mg L−1 for a maximum NaCl salinity of 60–65 g L−1. Using a range of membrane examination techniques, it was found that no silica scale formed on the RO membrane surfaces from NaCl solutions free from cations such as Ca, Al and Fe. This was considered to be the result of sodium ions acting as a barrier between polymeric silica and the membrane surface.

History

Journal

Environmental science : water research & technology

Volume

2

Pagination

539-548

Location

Cambridge, Eng.

ISSN

2053-1400

Language

eng

Publication classification

C Journal article, C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal

Copyright notice

2016, Royal Society of Chemistry

Issue

3

Publisher

Royal Society of Chemistry