Arsenic Removal Process for Drinking Water Production: Benefits of R-SiC Microfiltration Membranes
February 4th, 2016
Membrane Technology Conference and Exposition San-Antonio, Texas, USA
A. Vincent1, N. Elkhiati2, R. Neufert3, M. Moeller3,
D. Ragazzon4, M. Santalucia4, R. Bausani4
1Saint-Gobain, CREE, Cavaillon, France 2 Saint-Gobain Ceramics Materials, Les Miroirs, Paris, France
3Saint-Gobain IndustrieKeramik, Rödental, Germany 4Gruppo Zilio, Italy
Presented by: Adrien VINCENT
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tlin
e
Saint-Gobain Group / Gruppo Zilio
R-SiC membranes for liquid filtration
Application tests
Conclusions
Ou
tlin
e
Saint-Gobain Group / Gruppo Zilio
R-SiC membranes for liquid filtration
Application tests
Conclusions
SAINT-GOBAIN, ONE OF THE WORLD’S TOP 100 LEADING INDUSTRIAL CORPORATIONS
Sustainability – a cornerstone
41.1 €bn Sales (2014)
Sold in 2015
INNOVATION AT SAINT-GOBAIN
5
sold today by Saint-Gobain did not exist 5 years ago More than
patents in 2014
cross-business
R&D centers
*Source: Thomson Reuters
One of the
most innovative
companies in the world*
SAINT-GOBAIN EXPERIENCE IN SILICON CARBIDE MATERIALS
Vertical Integration of SiC - a key Differentiator: Manufacturing
SiC, Processing of raw materials, Structure - property control of
SiC
Porous SiC ceramics ● Crystar®: Recrystallized SiC (RSiC)
● Advancer® Annasicon® RTH: Nitride bonded SiC (NSiC)
● Oxide bonded SiC
Dense SiC ceramics ● Silit®: Reaction bonded, infiltrated (SiSiC)
● Hexoloy®: Directly sintered (SSiC)
Gruppo Zilio
EPC WATER
PRODUCTS
RECENT EPC
Livorno (Boron) - 350 l/s.
Latina (Arsenic) - 360 l/s. Latina (Arsenic) - 340 l/s.
Biggest Boron removal plant of the world.
First and second biggest Arsenic removal plants in Europe.
Filter masses:
- IRON OXIDE-HYDROXIDE for Arsenic removal
- ION EXCHANGE RESIN for Boron removal
- HYDROXYLAPATITE for Fluorides removal
Design and Construction of water treatment plants.
Ou
tlin
e
Saint-Gobain Group / Gruppo Zilio
R-SiC membranes for liquid filtration
Application tests
Conclusions
RECRYSTALLIZED SILICON CARBIDE
Material consolidated at high T (> 2200°C) through sublimation of fine SiC
particles that condense at large SiC grains boundaries
Pure (>99%), strong SiC grain boundaries
● High temperature stability and good thermal shock resistance
● Chemical stability (pH 0 to pH 14)
● High corrosion resistance for harsh chemical cleaning
High porosity structure (OP > 40%) high flux
Weak organic matter adsorption low reversible and irreversible fouling
SAINT-GOBAIN R-SiC MEMBRANES
Membrane Pore size = 250-1000 nm
Carrier Pore size = 5-30 µm
FILTRATION
SG SiC membranes
250 nm – 3 µm
DEAD-END VS CROSS-FLOW SiC FILTERS
Higher compactness
Lower energy consumption
(only 1 pump)
More sensitive to cleaning
operations
Light fouling water, e.g.
swimming pools and drinking
water
Self-cleaning action from axial
flow
Water with high solid loadings
Higher energy consumption
(recirculation pump)
Hard fouling water, e.g.
produced water and industrial
wastewater
Ou
tlin
e
Saint-Gobain Group / Gruppo Zilio
R-SiC membranes for liquid filtration
Application tests
Conclusions
ARSENIC REMOVAL PROCESS FOR DRINKING WATER PRODUCTION
ESTIMATED RISK OF ARSENIC IN DRINKING WATER
(based on hydrogeological conditions) WORLDWIDE CONCERN
Overall Zilio’s process description:
ARSENIC REMOVAL PROCESS FOR DRINKING WATER PRODUCTION
After MF: As < 10 μg/L
SiC filter with 600 nm membrane at 11 m² in dead end vacuum mode: ● Arsenic removal efficiency 98% (permeate at 2 µg/L)
● Permeate flow rate average at 500 LMH
● TMP (Trans-membrane pressure) as a function of filtration time
- Up to 500 mbar for 10 min of filtration
- Up to 700 mbar for 20 min of filtration
● Backwash efficiency
- Systematic initial flow rate recovery over 8 h of filtration no irreversible fouling encountered
- Backwash water consumption: around 1% of the filtrated water
ARSENIC REMOVAL PROCESS FOR DRINKING WATER PRODUCTION FIELD TESTING
Flow rate evolution for 20 min of filtration
ARSENIC REMOVAL PROCESS FOR DRINKING WATER PRODUCTION LAB TESTING
SiC filter with 600 nm membrane at 1.9 m² in dead end pressurized mode: ● Flocculent content increasing by 2.5 to simulate stronger fouling properties
- Iron removal efficiency 99.7%
● Filtration time: ~20 h
● Permeate flow rate average at 600 LMH
● TMP from 100 mbar up to 350 mbar
● Turbidity at 1.5 NTU with pics at 6-8 NTU during few seconds just after BW
● Backwash every 10 minutes
- Systematic initial flow rate recovery over 24 h of filtration no irreversible fouling encountered
Ou
tlin
e
Saint-Gobain Group / Gruppo Zilio
R-SiC membranes for liquid filtration
Application tests
Conclusions
CONCLUSIONS
Saint-Gobain – Extensive Investments in: ● Developing application expertise in water filtration
● Optimizing membrane designs
● Expanding testing of membranes across multiple industries
Drinking water ● Saint-Gobain R-SiC dead-end filters used as part of Zilio’s process
● Very good Arsenic removal efficiency (98%) demonstrated in the field
● Large and stable permeate flow rate (~500-600 LMH) demonstrated in the field and in the lab under more stringent conditions
Thank You
R-SiC AS A MEMBRANE MATERIAL
Controlled porosity high flux
Chemical stability (pH 0 to pH 14)
High corrosion resistance for harsh chemical cleaning
Weak organic matter adsorption for low reversible and irreversible
fouling
Separation and Purification Technology 79 (2011) 365-374