Techno-economic analysis of a membrane-hybrid process as a novel low-energy alternative for zero liquid discharge systems

• Published in: Energy conversion and management Vol. 211; p. 112783
• Main Authors: Martínez, José, León, Elena, Baena-Moreno, Francisco M., Rodríguez-Galán, Mónica, Arroyo-Torralvo, Fátima, Vilches, Luis F.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.05.2020; Elsevier Science Ltd
• Subjects: Alternative energy sources; Cascading osmotically mediated reverse osmosis; Discharge; Economic analysis; Economic conditions; Economic impact; Energy consumption; Forward osmosis; Industrial effluents; Industrial effluents management; Industrial wastewater; Low-energy membrane technology; Membranes; Metal industry; Metallurgical analysis; Regeneration; Reverse osmosis; Sodium chloride; Systems (metallurgical); Techno-economic analysis; Zero liquid discharge; Zero liquid discharge; Techno-economic analysis; Industrial effluents management; Forward osmosis; Low-energy membrane technology; Cascading osmotically mediated reverse osmosis
• ISSN: 0196-8904; 1879-2227
• DOI: 10.1016/j.enconman.2020.112783

[Display omitted] •Membrane technologies as low-energy alternatives in Zero Liquid Discharge systems.•A novel forward osmosis – cascading osmotically mediated reverse osmosis combination was techno-economically analyzed.•75% water can be recovered from high-salinity industrial effluents by means of the proposed process.•The specific energy consumption was 7.4 kWh/m3 of recovered water.•The specific cost was 6.05 $/m3 of recovered water. Within the framework of a sustainable economy, industrial effluent management currently faces minimal liquid discharge or zero liquid discharge processes. To reduce energy consumption, forward osmosis has been introduced into zero liquid discharge system. The main disadvantage of forward osmosis is the high-energy consumption of the draw solution regeneration. Herein the regeneration stage is subjected to a techno-economic analysis using a novel membrane technology known as cascading osmotically mediated reverse osmosis. The objective of this work was the techno-economic study of water recovery from real effluents from the metallurgical industry, using a novel combined novel system. The liquid effluents employed in this work were real currents provided by Atlantic Cooper (Huelva, Spain). The experimental results showed that up to 75% of water can be recovered (for 20 L/m2·h at 20% of sodium chloride). The specific energy consumption and economic cost of the novel hybrid process were estimated as 7.4 kWhe/m3 and 6.05 $/m3 of recovered water, respectively. Thus, this novel proposal seems a promising alternative for zero liquid discharge systems in the metallurgical industry.