Grantee Research Project Results

2013 Progress Report: Contaminant Removal Using Membrane Distillation for Sustainable Drinking Water Treatment

EPA Grant Number: R835333
Title: Contaminant Removal Using Membrane Distillation for Sustainable Drinking Water Treatment
Investigators: Childress, Amy E , Kolodziej, Edward P. , Park, Chanwoo
Institution: University of Nevada - Reno
Current Institution: University of Southern California
EPA Project Officer: Packard, Benjamin H
Project Period: September 1, 2013 through February 15, 2017
Project Period Covered by this Report: July 1, 2012 through June 30,2013
Project Amount: $499,743
RFA: Research and Demonstration of Innovative Drinking Water Treatment Technologies in Small Systems (2011) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Drinking Water , Water

Objective:

The main objectives of the proposed investigation are to characterize the range of drinking water contaminants and contaminant classes that can be removed by membrane distillation (MD) and to develop and test a small-scale pilot MD system that operates using waste heat to perform field testing at small water treatment systems. The steps toward achieving the goals of the proposed research are to perform bench-scale testing of MD to evaluate membrane performance for spiked feed waters and to determine waste heat requirements (temperature, thermal power, constancy, and period of supply); to evaluate a range of potential small system test sites and to select at least two sites co-located or in proximity with identified waste heat sources; to design and construct a modular small pilot-scale MD system with heat exchanger; and to test the small pilot system on existing source water as well as a side-stream of the source water spiked with contaminants.

Progress Summary:

Project progress to date is on track with the project objectives for the period. Broad spectrum contaminant testing has begunwith a bench-scale MD system (Task 1), the first site for the small pilot-scale system has been identified and evaluation for the second system is underway (Task 2), and the heat exchanger design and sizing for the small pilot-scale system is underway (Task 4). The preliminary data for Task 1 is encouraging, with overall ion contaminants rejection of 99.86% and chloride rejection of 99.999%. The main heat plant at the University of Nevada, Reno, has been identified as the first testing site of the small pilot-scale MD system, and design has begun for a heat exchanger to be incorporated into the exhaust stack of a boiler.

Future Activities:

The broad spectrum contaminant removal evaluation is currently underway with metal contaminants (arsenic, chromium, and boron) having already been tested (results pending from the NSHL). The MD system has been modified to treat potentially volatile contaminants by replacing the feed and distillate reservoirs with sealed sampling bags, and the entire system has been relocated to a chemical fume hood for safety. Once the pressure and leak tests are completed on the system, a suite of nitrogenous disinfection by-products (NDBPs) will be tested, with analysis performed by the Southern Nevada Water Authority. Halogenated DBPs, pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs), and volatile organic contaminants testing will complete the broad spectrum evaluation.

Heat exchanger design, sizing, and installation for the University of Nevada, Reno heat plant installation will also be completed in the next reporting period. This small pilot system will be constructed and operated at the UNR site in preparation during Year 2 for deployment and field testing in Year 3. The off-campus field site evaluation will continue during the next reporting period, with feed water analysis and site treatment design being completed once a site has been decided.

Journal Articles:

No journal articles submitted with this report: View all 17 publications for this project

Supplemental Keywords:

Chemicals, particulates, metals, heavy metals, organics, dissolved solids, sustainable development, clean technologies, innovative technology, renewable, water treatment

Progress and Final Reports:

Original Abstract

The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.