Characterization of filter materials in multimedia filtration
for reverse osmosis desalination at the sorfert complex
Naoual Bensaad,Khadidja Benyahia,Boumediene Haddou,Nour E. Badrane,Hanane Badid
Abstract
The growing demand for high-quality freshwater makes seawater desalination essential. However, effective pretreatment is crucial to protect reverse osmosis membranes and ensure long-term efficiency. This study, conducted at the SORFERT complex, evaluates the performance of multimedia filtration by characterizing sand and Filtralite® Pure using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and UV spectroscopy. Results show that sand filtration led to increased turbidity (+3.1 NTU), suspended solids (+19 mg/L), and chemical oxygen demand (+12.28 mg/L). XRD analysis suggests structural modifications in the sand after filtration, while FTIR confirms Filtralite® Pure' superior adsorption capacity. The particle size distribution analysis reveals a shift in dominant particle sizes, highlighting the limitations of sand filtration. These findings demonstrate the importance of selecting optimal filter media to enhance seawater pretreatment for desalination.
Naoual Bensaad and Khadidja Benyahia: Department of Process and Materials Engineering, National Polytechnic School, Oran, Algeria/ Physics-Chemistry Laboratory of Catalysis and Environment Materials, USTO, Algeria
Boumediene Haddou: Physics-Chemistry Laboratory of Catalysis And Environment Materials, USTO, Algeria/ Faculty of Chemistry, USTO, Algeria
Nour E. Badrane: Department of Process and Materials Engineering, National Polytechnic School, Oran, Algeria
Hanane Badid: Physics-Chemistry Laboratory of Catalysis and Environment Materials, USTO, Algeria
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