Characterisation and Treatment of Reverse Osmosis Concentrates from Water Recycling Applications. Concentrates from reverse osmosis (RO) pose a considerable threat to both the environment but also the successful implementation of reverse osmosis as a technology. Naturally, the concentrate contains everything that the RO retains and hence contaminants such as viruses, organics such as pharmaceutically active compounds and hormones as well as nutrients and salinity. Treatment of such waste streams ....Characterisation and Treatment of Reverse Osmosis Concentrates from Water Recycling Applications. Concentrates from reverse osmosis (RO) pose a considerable threat to both the environment but also the successful implementation of reverse osmosis as a technology. Naturally, the concentrate contains everything that the RO retains and hence contaminants such as viruses, organics such as pharmaceutically active compounds and hormones as well as nutrients and salinity. Treatment of such waste streams will enhance the health of receiving water bodies and reduce the risk of increased build up of contaminants if wastes are recycled into wastewater treatment plants. New ways to treat such contaminants will be explored, the efficiency and cost evaluated in the broader water cycle and sustainability framework.Read moreRead less
Innovative strategy for salt management and water recovery from newsprint mill effluent using membrane processes. Newsprint mills are a major employer in regional Australia. The mills are located in environmentally sensitive areas, consume large quantities of water and return high levels of salt to the environment. To remain competitive the newsprint industry, like all industries in regional Australia must develop new strategies for water recycling and salt management. Successful execution of t ....Innovative strategy for salt management and water recovery from newsprint mill effluent using membrane processes. Newsprint mills are a major employer in regional Australia. The mills are located in environmentally sensitive areas, consume large quantities of water and return high levels of salt to the environment. To remain competitive the newsprint industry, like all industries in regional Australia must develop new strategies for water recycling and salt management. Successful execution of this project will minimize water consumption in newsprint production, mitigate the effects of increased sodicity in soils irrigated with mill effluent and accelerate the commercial development a hydrophobic microporous membrane for water recycling and salt removal in environmentally sensitive areas of inland Australia.Read moreRead less
Optimising nanofiltration and reverse osmosis filtration processes for water recycling: effects of fouling and chemical cleaning on trace contaminant removal. In Australia, water recycling is considered a principal measure to manage the current ongoing water shortage and to better protect the environment. Membrane filtration processes play important roles in the treatment of reclaimed municipal wastewater. However, there is very limited knowledge regarding the reliability of such processes in re ....Optimising nanofiltration and reverse osmosis filtration processes for water recycling: effects of fouling and chemical cleaning on trace contaminant removal. In Australia, water recycling is considered a principal measure to manage the current ongoing water shortage and to better protect the environment. Membrane filtration processes play important roles in the treatment of reclaimed municipal wastewater. However, there is very limited knowledge regarding the reliability of such processes in removing trace contaminants from recycled water, which may result in unintended health consequences. This research will lead to a comprehensive understanding of the removal process of such contaminants by membrane filtration. Consequently, the likely avenue of risk can be eliminated and the treatment process can be optimised to achieve economic savings and environmental protection.Read moreRead less
Optimising dissolved air flotation (DAF) for algae removal by bubble modification in drinking water and advanced wastewater systems. Algal blooms in potable water reservoirs and advanced wastewater treatment lagoons can impact the performance and economic viability of water treatment processes resulting in taste and odour episodes and the risk of algal toxins as well as causing further limitation to already stressed water resources in Australia. This project aims to develop an adaptation of the ....Optimising dissolved air flotation (DAF) for algae removal by bubble modification in drinking water and advanced wastewater systems. Algal blooms in potable water reservoirs and advanced wastewater treatment lagoons can impact the performance and economic viability of water treatment processes resulting in taste and odour episodes and the risk of algal toxins as well as causing further limitation to already stressed water resources in Australia. This project aims to develop an adaptation of the dissolved air flotation process that is already used for algae treatment that will provide a more robust, economic and sustainable barrier to algal cells in accordance with the Australian Drinking and Recycled Water Guidelines.Read moreRead less
Assessment and optimisation of N-nitrosamine rejection by reverse osmosis for planned potable water recycling applications. Water recycling is a strategic approach to secure potable water supplies in Australia. The underlying challenge is to protect public health by ensuring robust treatment processes capable of effectively eliminating contaminants of concern. This research aims to enhance the capabilities of advanced water treatment plant designers and operators to control N-nitrosamine concent ....Assessment and optimisation of N-nitrosamine rejection by reverse osmosis for planned potable water recycling applications. Water recycling is a strategic approach to secure potable water supplies in Australia. The underlying challenge is to protect public health by ensuring robust treatment processes capable of effectively eliminating contaminants of concern. This research aims to enhance the capabilities of advanced water treatment plant designers and operators to control N-nitrosamine concentrations by optimised reverse osmosis treatment. A predictive model will be developed allowing for the optimisation of N-nitrosamine removal by reverse osmosis filtration in full scale installation. The project will directly enhance the viability of indirect potable water recycling and thus reduce dependency on water sources vulnerable to climate change.Read moreRead less
Adsorption and Removal of Trace Organic Compounds by Membrane Processes used in Water Treatment and Wastewater Recycling. Recycling of municipal wastewaters is of growing importance as a resource-conservation and environmental-protection measure in Australia. A major impediment to increased rates of water recycling is a lack of knowledge regarding the presence, fate and removal of key trace organic compounds. Among these key contaminants are pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs) and steroid ....Adsorption and Removal of Trace Organic Compounds by Membrane Processes used in Water Treatment and Wastewater Recycling. Recycling of municipal wastewaters is of growing importance as a resource-conservation and environmental-protection measure in Australia. A major impediment to increased rates of water recycling is a lack of knowledge regarding the presence, fate and removal of key trace organic compounds. Among these key contaminants are pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs) and steroid hormones. This research will lead to a thorough understanding of the mechanisms involved with the removal of these compounds by membrane treatment applications. Major benefits will be enhanced ability to undertake risk management and a lowering of costs associated with full-scale water treatment applications.Read moreRead less
Optimising Decentralised Membrane Bioreactors for Water Reuse. Water is a critical resource in Australia and as pressures on water resources increase, water recycling has emerged as an important component of water management practises throughout Australia. Decentralised wastewater treatment systems (or package plants) offer opportunities for water recycling in regional communities; however this application is limited by our understanding on the removal of contaminants of concern through these tr ....Optimising Decentralised Membrane Bioreactors for Water Reuse. Water is a critical resource in Australia and as pressures on water resources increase, water recycling has emerged as an important component of water management practises throughout Australia. Decentralised wastewater treatment systems (or package plants) offer opportunities for water recycling in regional communities; however this application is limited by our understanding on the removal of contaminants of concern through these treatment systems. This project will assess the suitability and efficiency of decentralised membrane bioreactors (MBRs) for the removal of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs) and pathogens in accordance with the 2006 National Guidelines for Water Recycling.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0882388
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$130,000.00
Summary
Advanced characterisation of organics and biopolymers in water and wastewater treatment. Although membrane technology is increasingly used for water production, wastewater treatment and reclamation, fouling by complex bio-organics is a major limitation. The liquid chromatography-organic carbon detection and the Flow FFF equipments give detailed analyses of the complex organics, thereby helping to understand the fouling and organic removal mechanisms allowing process optimisation. The availabilit ....Advanced characterisation of organics and biopolymers in water and wastewater treatment. Although membrane technology is increasingly used for water production, wastewater treatment and reclamation, fouling by complex bio-organics is a major limitation. The liquid chromatography-organic carbon detection and the Flow FFF equipments give detailed analyses of the complex organics, thereby helping to understand the fouling and organic removal mechanisms allowing process optimisation. The availability of these equipments will ramatically improve the quality of a number of research projects currently funded and being developed in Australia. This equipment would provide necessary infrastructure to keep Australian researchers world leaders in this research field (one of Australian top research priorities) and attract national and international collaborations.Read moreRead less
Impact of Fouling on Retention of Contaminants in Electrodialysis for Brackish Water and Wastewater Applications. Water desalination and water recycling are both of utmost importance in the current global water crisis. Reverse osmosis is a commonly used process in both areas but this process has two main limitations (1) it is limited in water recovery by the concentration of salts, and (2) it produces a relatively large amount of concentrates that require disposal. Using electrodialysis to treat ....Impact of Fouling on Retention of Contaminants in Electrodialysis for Brackish Water and Wastewater Applications. Water desalination and water recycling are both of utmost importance in the current global water crisis. Reverse osmosis is a commonly used process in both areas but this process has two main limitations (1) it is limited in water recovery by the concentration of salts, and (2) it produces a relatively large amount of concentrates that require disposal. Using electrodialysis to treat such concentrates will decrease the salinity problem caused by disposal and also increase the water efficiency of the treatment process. In this research project the potential performance limitations fouling and micropollutant removal will be investigated and hence the performance improved.Read moreRead less
Membrane Fouling in Submerged Hollow Fibre Membrane Bioreactor Systems: Theory, Modelling and Fouling Control. The outcomes of this project will provide fundamental insights into the mechanisms of fouling in submerged hollow fibre membrane bioreactors (SHFMBR) and will provide a sound base for optimization of design and operation of SHFMBR systems. Given the crucial role of the SHFMBR in wastewater treatment and water reuse, this project will significantly contribute to the national priority are ....Membrane Fouling in Submerged Hollow Fibre Membrane Bioreactor Systems: Theory, Modelling and Fouling Control. The outcomes of this project will provide fundamental insights into the mechanisms of fouling in submerged hollow fibre membrane bioreactors (SHFMBR) and will provide a sound base for optimization of design and operation of SHFMBR systems. Given the crucial role of the SHFMBR in wastewater treatment and water reuse, this project will significantly contribute to the national priority area of 'an environmentally sustainable Australia (water-a critical resource)'. In addition, the outcomes of this project on quantitative simulation of the gel/cake structure and resulting transport phenomena will promote Australia's reputation for high quality fundamental and applied research in the area of membrane filtration. Read moreRead less