Separation Science and Technology, Vol.52, No.16, 2600-2610, 2017
Studies on integration of ion exchange and nanofiltration for water desalination
This work addresses an integrated treatment to produce drinking water involving the ion exchange (IEX) and nanofiltration processes. In the first stage, the experimental procedure consisted of evaluating the IEX equilibrium and the dynamics of fixed-bed saturation/regenerations, for the system Cl-/SO42, using an anionic resin, Purolite A850, in the form sulphate. A mathematical model which considers axial dispersion for the liquid phase and linear driving force for intraparticle mass transfer predicted well the breakthrough curves of Cl- and SO42-. In the second stage, the selective separation of Cl-, Na+ and SO42- ions through a flat membrane nanofiltration TS80 was assessed.
Keywords:Water desalination;ion-exchange equilibrium;breakthrough curves;linear driving force model;nanofiltration membrane