calcium

Journal of Engineering Science and Technology
Vol. 1, No. 2 (2006) 203- 211
© School of Engineering, Taylor’s University College

DRINKING WATER FROM DESALINATION OF SEAWATER:
OPTIMIZATION OF REVERSE OSMOSIS SYSTEM OPERATING
PARAMETERS
MARWAN M. SHAMEL1*, OWEE TZE CHUNG2
1

Department of Chemical Engineering
School of Engineering, Taylor’s University College
No. 1, Jalan SS15/8, 47500 Subang Jaya, MALAYSIA
*Corresponding Author: [e-mail]
2

Malay-Sino Chemical Industries Sdn. Bhd.
Kawasan Perindustrian, Teluk Kalong,
24000 Kemaman, Terengganu Darul Iman, MALAYSIA

Abstract
This paper reports on the use of pilot scale membrane separation system coupled with another pilot scale plate heat exchanger to investigate the possibilities of sweetening seawater from Telok Kalong Beach, Terengganu, Malaysia. Reverse osmosis (RO) membrane of a surface area of 0.5 m2 was used during the experimental runs. Experiments were conducted at different transmembrane pressures (TMP) ranged from 40 to 55 bars, operation temperature ranged from 35 to 45oC, feed concentration (TDS) ranged from 34900 to 52500 ppm and cross flow velocities ranged from 1.4 to 2.1 m/s. The result show that the flux values increased linearly with TMP as well as sodium ion rejection. Permeate flux values increased proportionally with the temperature and the later effect was more significant at high pressures. The temperature changing has also influenced the rejection of sodium ion.
The minerals content especially NaCl and total dissolved solid (TDS) in the drinking water produced in this research are conforming to the standards of World Health
Organization (WHO).
Keywords: Drinking water, Reverse osmosis, Pilot plant, Seawater.

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M. Shamel and O.T. Chung

Nomenclatures
Qw
Jw
CFV
ppm
TDS
Ac
Pf, Pr, Pp

Volumetric permeate rate [l/hr]
Permeate flux [l/hr.m2]
Cross flow velocity [m/s]
Part per million
Total Dissolved Solid
Membrane

References: Williams M. (2003), A Brief Review of Reverse Osmosis Membrane Technology. Hawlader M., Ho J. & Chua K. (2000). Desalination of Seawater: An Experiment with RO Membrane Villafafila A. & Mujtaba I. (2003). Fresh Water by Reverse Osmosis Based Desalination: Simulation and Optimization Niemi H. & Palosaari S. (1994). Calculation of Permeate Flux and Rejection in Simulation of Ultrafiltration and Reverse Osmosis Processes Mohammadi T., Kazemimoghadam M. & Saadabadi M. (2003). Modelling of Membrane Fouling and Flux Decline in Reverse Osmosis During Separation of Mulder M. (1991). Basic Principles of Membrane Technology. Netherlands: Kluwer Academic Publisher. World Health Organization, Guidelines for drinking-water quality (1996).