Authors:
Ignacio Martín García | Cetaqua, Centro tecnológico del agua | Spain
Jesus Salinero | Cetaqua, Centro tecnológico del agua | Spain
Marina Arnaldos Orts | Cetaqua, Centro tecnológico del agua | Spain
Xavier Bernat | Cetaqua, Centro tecnológico del agua | Spain
Alberto Mejía | Atlantic Copper S.L.U. | Spain
Irene Ruiz | Atlantic Copper S.L.U. | Spain
Guillermo Rios | Atlantic Copper S.L.U. | Spain
Carlos Echevarria | Cetaqua, Centro tecnológico del agua | Spain
The aim of the present study is to evaluate the influence of implementing flow reversal concept in reverse osmosis systems for water reuse as pre-concentration stage for ZLD implementation in Copper smelters. A 600 L/h permeate capacity pilot was employed to conduct a baseline trial as well and two additional flow reversal tests with flow reversal every 45 and 30 minutes.
Overall results from these tests indicate that it is technically feasible to achieve at least 75% recovery rates to the blend of the softened Copper smelter. Flow reversal has shown to supress scaling and improve RO performance when reversal times of 30 minutes or lower are applied.
By using the effectively undersaturated feed to sweep away the scale particles, extensive precipitation is prevented, achieving higher recoveries of water to be reused as well as lower volumes of brine to be processed in the downstream energy-intensive evaporator crystallizer.