Inland Treatment of the Brine Generated from Reverse Osmosis Advanced Membrane Wastewater Treatment Plant Using Epuvalisation System
Date
2013-07-03
Authors
Qurie, Mohannad
Abbadi, Jehad
Khamis, Mustafa
Karaman, Rafik
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
MDPI
Abstract
The reverse osmosis (RO) brine generated from the Al-Quds University
wastewater treatment plant was treated using an epuvalisation system. The advanced
integrated wastewater treatment plant included an activated sludge unit, two consecutive
ultrafiltration (UF) membrane filters (20 kD and 100 kD cutoffs) followed by an activated
carbon filter and a reverse osmosis membrane. The epuvalisation system consisted of salt
tolerant plants grown in hydroponic channels under continuous water flowing in a closed loop
system, and placed in a greenhouse at Al-Quds University. Sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum)
plants were selected, and underwent two consecutive hydroponic flowing stages using
different brine-concentrations: an adaptation stage, in which a 1:1 mixture of brine and fresh water was used; followed by a functioning stage, with 100% brine. A control
treatment using fresh water was included as well. The experiment started in April and
ended in June (2012). At the end of the experiment, analysis of the effluent brine showed a
remarkable decrease of electroconductivity (EC), PO4
3−, chemical oxygen demand (COD)
and K+ with a reduction of 60%, 74%, 70%, and 60%, respectively, as compared to the
influent. The effluent of the control treatment showed 50%, 63%, 46%, and 90% reduction
for the same parameters as compared to the influent. Plant growth parameters (plant height,
fresh and dry weight) showed no significant difference between fresh water and brine
treatments. Obtained results suggest that the epuvalisation system is a promising technique
for inland brine treatment with added benefits. The increasing of channel number or closed
loop time is estimated for enhancing the treatment process and increasing the nutrient
uptake. Nevertheless, the epuvalisation technique is considered to be simple, efficient and
low cost for inland RO brine treatment.
Description
Keywords
wastewater treatment , Ocimum Basilicum , reverse osmosis , brine , epuvalisation system