SUCCESS STORIES

Revolutionising RO Plant Operations: Saving Costs and Enhancing Efficiency

A municipal RO plant eliminated hasardous acid dosing, saving $150,000 annually. By switching to AWC' A-102 Plus antiscalant and using minimal permeate-line acid injection, the plant reduced sulfuric acid consumption by 90%, optimised degasifier performance, and significantly improved operational efficiency, creating a safer and more cost-effective water treatment process.

CHALLENGE

A municipal reverse osmosis (RO) plant on Florida’s west coast, with a 20 MGD capacity, faced high operational costs due to its reliance on 93% sulfuric acid for pH adjustment.

The plant used a combination of a brackish water reverse osmosis (BWRO) membranes and fiberglass-wrapped membranes across 10 trains, each operating at 75% recovery. The plant consumed approximately 2.4 million pounds of sulfuric acid annually, costing $163,800, and sought ways to reduce this expense without compromising performance.

SOLUTION

American Water Chemicals (AWC) conducted a comprehensive water analysis and utilised Proton Software® to design a cost-effective treatment plan.

  1. AWC proposed switching to AWC A-102 Plus antiscalant at 2 ppm, eliminating the need for acid dosing in the feedwater.
  2. To address higher permeate pH impacting post-treatment hydrogen sulfide (H2S) removal, AWC recommended minimal sulfuric acid injection into the permeate line ahead of the degasifier.
  3. This solution capitalised on the permeate’s low alkalinity and buffering capacity, ensuring effective pH adjustment with minimal chemical use.

RESULTS

Over five years of operation, the plant achieved remarkable savings and performance improvements:

  1. Sulfuric acid consumption dropped from 52 tanker loads to just 6 annually, reducing costs by approximately $150,000 per year.
  2. The degasifiers operated optimally with precise pH adjustments in the permeate line.
  3. Operational complexity decreased, enhancing efficiency and reducing chemical handling risks.

CONCLUSION

The Florida RO plant transformed its operations, achieving significant cost savings and improved system performance. This case demonstrates how innovative water treatment strategies can eliminate reliance on hazardous chemicals, optimise efficiency, and create sustainable solutions for municipalities.

Contact us for more information and how we can help you with your Water Treatment needs.

AWC provides water treatment solutions with a wide range of membrane chemicals, including antiscalants and cleaners for RO, NF, UF, and MF systems. They offer analytical services like membrane testing, cleaning studies, and autopsies, using lab simulations to ensure effective scale inhibition and optimal membrane system performance

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