Membrane technology comparison in brackish water purification

Abstract

This work reviews membrane technologies- specifically Brackish Water Revere Osmosis (BWRO), Nanofiltration (NF) and Electrodyalisis Reversal (EDR), for drinking water production from brackish waters at lab, pilot and industrial scale. In the recent years, many fresh water resources such as surface and groundwater have become overused or misused. As a result, these resources are either diminishing or becoming low quality waters, which are supplied to population due to scarcity. These facts combined with the more demanding standards for drinking water quality cause an increasing complexity of water purification processes. Classic treatments (flocculation, oxidation, filtration, etc.) cannot reduce salinity and many so-called emerging contaminants simultaneously. Due to the variability in the composition of brackish waters and the different regulations, there are no standardized treatment processes. Therefore, reaching an environmental and economic optimal process to produce potable water is challenging.