Method of monitoring membrane separation processes
AssigneeNalco Company
InventorsE. H. Kelle Zeiher, Bosco P. Ho, John E. Hoots
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Abstract
Methods and systems for monitoring and/or controlling membrane separation systems or processes are provided. The present invention utilizes measurable amounts of inert fluorescent tracer(s) added to a feed stream to evaluate and/or control the purification of such feed stream during membrane separation. The methods and systems of the present invention can be utilized in a variety of different industrial applications including raw water processing and waste water processing.
Claims30
A method of monitoring a reverse osmosis membrane separation process including a reverse osmosis membrane capable of separating a feed stream into at least a first stream and a second stream comprising the steps of:
- providing an inert fluorescent tracer;
- introducing the inert fluorescent tracer into the feed stream;
- providing a fluorometer to detect the fluorescent signal of the inert fluorescent tracer in at least one of the feed stream, the first stream and the second stream;
- and
- using the fluorometer to determine an amount of the inert fluorescent tracer in at least one of the feed stream, the first stream and the second stream.
A method of monitoring a reverse osmosis membrane separation system including a reverse osmosis membrane capable of removing solutes from a feed stream suitable for use in an industrial process comprising the steps of:
- adding an inert tracer to the feed stream;
- contacting the reverse osmosis membrane with the feed stream;
- separating the feed stream into a permeate stream and a concentrate stream to remove solutes from the feed stream;
- providing a fluorometer to detect the fluorescent signal of the inert tracer in at least one of the feed stream, the permeate stream and the concentrate stream;
- and
- using the fluorometer to measure an amount of the inert tracer in at least one of the feed stream, the permeate stream and the concentrate stream.
A reverse osmosis membrane separation system capable of purifying an aqueous feed stream suitable for use in an industrial process comprising:
- a semi-permeable reverse osmosis membrane capable of separating the aqueous feed stream containing an inert tracer into a permeate stream and a concentrate stream to remove one or more solutes from the aqueous feed stream;
- a detection device capable of fluorometrically measuring an amount of the inert tracer ranging from about 5 ppt to about 1000 ppm in at least one of the aqueous feed stream, the permeate stream and the concentrate stream wherein the detection device is capable of producing a signal indicative of the amount of inert tracer that is measured;
- and
- a controller capable of processing the signal to monitor and/or control the purification of the aqueous feed stream.
A method of monitoring and controlling a reverse osmosis membrane separation process including a reverse osmosis membrane capable of removing solutes from a feed stream for use in an industrial process comprising the steps of:
- adding an inert tracer to the feed stream;
- contacting the reverse osmosis membrane with the feed stream;
- separating the feed stream into a first effluent stream and a second effluent stream to remove solutes from the feed stream;
- providing a fluorometer to detect the fluorescent signal of the inert tracer in at least one of the feed stream, the first effluent stream and the second effluent stream;
- using the fluorometer to measure an amount of the inert tracer ranging from about 5 ppt to about 1000 ppm in at least one of the feed stream, the first effluent stream and the second effluent stream;
- and
- evaluating one or more process parameters specific to the reverse osmosis membrane separation process based on the measurable amount of the inert tracer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.