Reverse Osmosis Membrane Scaling Inhibition using Kinetic Degradation Fluxion Media

Abstract

Membrane fouling can lead to reduced efficiency, increased operating costs, and shorter membrane life, which can ultimate[1]ly impact the quality of potable water produced from seawater. The use of Kinetic Degradation Fluxion (KDF) media as a pretreatment method is promising because it can potentially reduce fouling caused by CaCO3 scaling and improve the per[1]formance of RO membranes. The study's methodology, which involves comparing two identical reverse osmosis systems with and without KDF pretreatment, is appropriate and well-designed. By comparing the salt rejection and permeability flow of the two membrane systems, the study can provide valuable insights into the effectiveness of KDF media in reducing foul[1]ing caused by CaCO3 scaling. The explanation of how KDF media works to prevent the formation of mineral hardness scale by altering the morphology of the insoluble Ca and Mg carbonate and sulfate crystals and creating a redox environment is helpful in understanding the potential mechanism behind the effectiveness of KDF media as a pretreatment method. By con[1]trolling the formation of mineral scale and other contaminants, KDF media can potentially lead to improved efficiency of the RO membrane. Results suggest that KDF media can be an effective pretreatment method for reducing fouling caused by mineral scaling in RO systems. The potential mechanism behind the effectiveness of KDF media is explained, and the obser[1]vation that only a small number of KDF discs were degraded over the 40-hour period indicates that KDF media can be used for multiple cycles of RO operation, reducing the frequency of media replacement and associated operating costs. The finding that the RO-KDF membrane remained healthy and efficient for 40 hours while fouling was observed in the RO system with[1]in 20 hours is also promising, as it indicates that the KDF media can effectively reduce membrane fouling caused by scaling, leading to improved efficiency and extended membrane life. However, further studies can explore the optimal conditions for using KDF media in RO systems to maximize its effectiveness in reducing fouling and extending the lifetime of RO mem[1]branes. Investigating the potential for KDF media to reduce fouling caused by other contaminants, such as organic matter or silica, would also be interesting