Cleaning and Controlling Silica Scaling on Reverse Osmosis Membranes

Reference number: STC-PS-0837
Inventor(s): R. Higgin
For more information, contact: Erin M. Beaumont (505-272-7912) or Jovan Heusser, M.B.A. (505-272-7908)

Patent(s)

Application(s) pending

Background

Reverse osmosis has become an important water treatment technology because of its ability to remove a wide variety of dissolved contaminants from water, as well as desalinate brackish groundwater or seawater. Unfortunately, reverse osmosis membranes are expensive and subject to silica fouling which require these membranes to be treated with harsh chemical anti-scalants or replaced.

Technology

This technology suggests an inexpensive, green alternative to chemical anti-scalants that will increase the life expectancy of the membrane and therefore decrease water treatment costs. This water additive, unlike current anti-scalants, can be used not only to clean previously fouled membranes, but also as a means to prevent silica scaling from occurring. The use of this additive will increase the life expectancy of the membrane and therefore decrease water treatment costs.

Applications/Advantages

This technology is of particular significance in water treatment facilities.
Advantages of this additive:
• A green alternative to chemical anti-scalants
• Inexpensive
• Extends membrane life
• Can be used as a preventative measure

Manuscript Publication

• UNM-837 PUBLISHED patent app (995.8 KB PDF)

Related Categories

• Environmental Engineering and Hazardous/Radioactive Waste Technologies
• Materials, Chemistry, and Chemical Engineering