Author(s): J. Ernesto Ramirez; Victoria Martinez; Angel Villalobos; Edith Olmos; Claudia Avila; Fidel Ortiz
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Keywords: Reverse osmosis; Ca/Mg ratio; Ca precipitation; Drinking water
Abstract: Reverse osmosis is an efficient treatment process in drinking water purification due to its high ion removal capacity to meet drinking water regulations. Physicochemical characteristics of water such as the Ca/Mg ratio are involved in the process of calcium precipitation in water pipes and it has been found that controlling the Ca/Mg ratio reduces calcium precipitation. Calcium precipitation at Ca/Mg ratio = 1.1 compared to Ca/Mg ratio = 4.0 showed less calcium precipitation. However, the effect of the Ca/Mg ratio on the reverse osmosis filtration process has not been investigated. The influence of the Ca/Mg ratio on the reverse osmosis process is investigated by studying the effect of different Ca/Mg ratios on membrane fouling in an experimental reverse osmosis system. Ca precipitation was higher in experiments at Ca/Mg = 4.0, whereas little change in Ca concentration was observed at Ca/Mg = 1.1.
Year: 2024