Performance evaluation of multi-stage reverse osmosis process with permeate and retentate recycling strategy for the removal of chlorophenol from wastewater

Abstract

Reverse osmosis (RO) is one of the most widely used technologies for wastewater treatment for the removal of toxic impurities, such as phenol and phenolic compounds from industrial effluents. In this research, performance of multi-stage RO wastewater treatment system is evaluated for the removal of chlorophenol from wastewater using model-based techniques. A number of alternative configurations with recycling of permeate, retentate, and permeate-retentate streams are considered. The performance is measured in terms of total recovery rate, permeate product concentration, overall chlorophenol rejection and energy consumption and the effect of a number of operating parameters on the overall performance of the alternative configurations are evaluated. The results clearly show that the permeate recycling scheme at fixed plant feed flow rate can remarkably improve the final chlorophenol concentration of the product despite a reduction in the total recovery rate.