Enormous advances in membrane technology have resulted in the maturation of brackish water and seawater reverse osmosis (BWRO and SWRO) to the point where it is considered the benchmark method for the industry. The Centre is pursuing the following improvement opportunities in RO desalting:
- Assisted forward osmosis for energy savings in RO desalination, led by Dr Pierre Le-Clech, The University of New South Wales
- Control of organic membrane fouling through limitation and control of extracellular microbial products, led by Prof. Goen Ho, Murdoch University
- Development of cleaning guidelines for desalination membrane users, led by Dr Marlene Cran, Victoria University
- Development of universally applicable coatings and additives for state-of-the-art reverse osmosis and pre-treatment membranes, led by Dr Melina Ginic-Markovic, Flinders University
- Fibre-optic sensor for water quality monitoring, led by Prof. Kamal Alameh, Edith Cowan University
- Highly productive and selective bio-organic hybrid membrane water filters, led by Prof. Michael J. Monteiro, The University of Queensland
- Mitigation of membrane biofouling using natural polysaccharide surface coating, led by Dr Thuy Tran, CSIRO
- Optimising SWRO concentrate discharge during “hot standby” operation, led by Dr Badin Gibbes, University of Queensland
- Real time detection and management of biofouling conditioning films in seawater reverse osmosis, led by A/Prof. Greg Leslie, The University of New South Wales
- Smart materials for corrosion management, led by Prof. Maria Forsyth, Deakin University
Assisted forward osmosis for energy savings in RO desalination
| Primary Investigator: | Dr Pierre Le-Clech, The University of New South Wales |
| Research Participants: | The University of New South Wales, University of Nevada, Nanyang Technological University (Singapore) |
| Funded by: | National Centre of Excellence in Desalination |
| Total project value: | $673,500 |
The concept of assisted forward osmosis (AFO) will be applied as a pretreatment step for reverse osmosis (RO) desalination, resulting in significant dilution of the sea/brackish waters and optimisation of the use of renewable energy. In AFO, a slight pressure is applied to the feed side, resulting in greater dilution of the RO feed, and thus significant reduction in the energy cost for RO operation. In this project, anti-fouling strategies will be investigated to decrease AFO operational costs, detailed modelling will be performed to optimise the process, and novel membranes will be studied for this specific osmotic application.
Control of organic membrane fouling through limitation and control of extracellular microbial products
| Primary Investigator: | Prof. Goen Ho, Murdoch University |
| Research Participants: | Murdoch University, Environmental Biotechnology CRC, Nanyang Technological University (Singapore), University of California Irvine, Water Corporation, Chemistry Centre |
| Funded by: | National Centre of Excellence in Desalination, Environmental Biotechnology CRC |
| Total project value: | $810,000 |
The behaviour of model polysaccharide foulants on flux decline has been investigated and key bacterial species identified by molecular profiling of membrane autopsies. Clearly, bacterial extracellular polysaccharides (EPS) and bacterial biofilms are involved, although the exact contribution between the two is not well understood. The project will identify the source of most problematic EPS in order to develop the best removal strategies, identify which conditions increase EPS fouling of membranes and EPS production using suitable model polysaccharides and biofilm-forming bacterial isolates, and use forward osmosis as a simple testing platform for EPS fouling behaviour and compare with reverse osmosis.
Development of cleaning guidelines for desalination membrane users
| Primary Investigator: | Dr Marlene Cran, Victoria University |
| Research Participants: | Victoria University, Integrated Elements, Nalco |
| Funded by: | National Centre of Excellence in Desalination, Nalco |
| Total project value: | $102,000 |
Scale and other foulants in feed water can build up on the surface of desalination membranes and significantly reduce their performance. While membrane suppliers provide generic guidelines for cleaning and sanitisation, they do not address specialised cleaning chemicals and regimes required for specific fouling issues. This project aims to develop a set of clean-in-place guidelines for desalination membrane users in the form of a comprehensive handbook, structured based on various scaling and fouling issues that affect Australian desalination membrane users.
Development of universally applicable coatings and additives for state-of-the-art reverse osmosis and pre-treatment membranes
| Primary Investigator: | Dr Melina Ginic-Markovic, Flinders University |
| Research Participants: | Flinders University, Wind Prospect, SA Water, Siemens |
| Funded by: | National Centre of Excellence in Desalination, SA Water |
| Total project value: | $1,904,000 |
Two key problems with current membrane technology are biofouling and mechanical degradation of the membranes. The objectives of this three-year project are to develop a coating for commercially available membranes, which will inhibit biofouling and/or biofoulant growth or reproduction, and to design and synthesise a ‘universal’ additive, which will improve the mechanical properties of membranes. The fabrication of an anti-biofouling, antimicrobial coating on reverse osmosis and pre-treatment desalination membranes will result in a minimum of at least four times bio-fouling improvement over commercially available membranes, while still maintaining competitive permeation flux and rejection properties.
Fibre-optic sensor for water quality monitoring
| Primary Investigator: | Prof. Kamal Alameh, Edith Cowan University |
| Research Participants: | Edith Cowan University |
| Funded by: | National Centre of Excellence in Desalination |
| Total project value: | $456,000 |
This project aims at developing a unique optical fibre sensor for gauging water salinity and dissolved oxygen levels. The sensors are based on optical fibre technology and compared with existing sensors demonstrate superior performance. The proposed sensor will have high sensitivity and excellent discrimination capability, be corrosion-free, selectively enabled, economically efficient and suitable for use in environmental and process monitoring in desalination.
Highly productive and selective bio-organic hybrid membrane water filters
| Primary Investigator: | Prof. Michael J. Monteiro, The University of Queensland |
| Research Participants: | The University of Queensland |
| Funded by: | National Centre of Excellence in Desalination, The University of Queensland |
| Total project value: | $995,000 |
This project will develop novel bio-organic hybrid membranes with high selectivity, high water permeation rates and with low energy requirements. This research aims to deliver the next generation in membrane technology by replicating nature’s own filtration process.
Mitigation of membrane biofouling using natural polysaccharide surface coating
| Primary Investigator: | Dr Thuy Tran, CSIRO |
| Research Participants: | CSIRO |
| Funded by: | National Centre of Excellence in Desalination |
| Total project value: | $402,000 |
This project forms Phase 1 of a three-phase research program aiming to develop a novel, scaleable, non-toxic and cost-effective anti-biofouling technology using natural polysaccharide coatings. The key objectives of this project are to develop a platform technology to form durable covalent bonds between the polysaccharides and existing membrane surfaces and to demonstrate the anti-biofouling effects of the polysaccharide coatings. The anti-biofouling effect of these polysaccharide coatings is potentially more effective than traditional methods mainly because of their ability to formunique hydrophilic coatings with heavily hydrated and randomly oriented chains. The project is anticipated to bring significant improvements in membrane performance and benefits to the water treatment industry.
Optimising SWRO concentrate discharge during “hot standby” operation
| Primary Investigator: | Dr Badin Gibbes, The University of Queensland |
| Research Participants: | The University of Queensland, Seqwater, BMT WBM, Veolia Water Australia |
| Funded by: | National Centre of Excellence in Desalination, Seqwater |
| Total project value: | $798,000 |
This project aims to provide industry relevant information on the dynamics of seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) concentrate following discharge through an offshore diffuser under a range of ‘hot standby’ operating scenarios. Using environmental monitoring systems and numerical models, we will characterise the SWRO concentrate dynamics in the vicinity of the discharge zone of the Gold Coast Desalination Plant. This will provide a valuable opportunity to validate hydrodynamic models within and outside the mixing zone by comparing predicted and observed diffuser performance and will guide the development of operating procedures and monitoring/modelling technology that can be applied to SWRO facilities globally.
Real time detection and management of biofouling conditioning films in seawater reverse osmosis
| Primary Investigator: | A/Prof. Greg Leslie, The University of New South Wales |
| Research Participants: | The University of New South Wales, University of South Australia, SA Water, Sydney Water, InPhaze |
| Funded by: | National Centre of Excellence in Desalination |
| Total project value: | $540,000 |
Reducing the impact of biofilms on reverse osmosis (RO) membranes requires early detection and prevention of the development of organic conditioning films. This project seeks to adapt and evaluate impedance spectroscopy for on-line monitoring of the deposition of conditioning films and the development of biofouling. An important outcome of this project will be the provision of desalination plant operators with tools to combat the insidious problem of biofouling in RO plants.
Smart materials for corrosion management
| Primary Investigator: | Prof. Maria Forsyth, Deakin University |
| Research Participants: | Deakin University, Monash University, Ohio State University, AECOM, ASIS Scientific, AusComposites |
| Funded by: | National Centre of Excellence in Desalination |
| Total project value: | $2,542,000 |
This study will address two key areas of interest in the management of corrosion problems associated with desalination: (1) Understanding the corrosion performance of existing materials components and structures within the complex environmental conditions of desalination plants exposed to major and minor threats including hypochlorite, water and soil problems; and (2) Development of dedicated, lower cost, maintenance materials, and life cycle extension to maximise output and efficiency in the desalination industry.
