Hydrothermal Liquefaction Studies for Desalination Membrane Management

Background: Membrane technology using Spiral Wound Reverse Osmosis (SWRO) is long established as a large scale industrial membrane process for desalination. Membranes need to be managed after their life cycle. Aim: The present study involves the AOP studies for liquefaction and depolymerization of desalination membranes under batch reactor mode. Method: Advanced Oxidation Process (AOP) based hydrothermal liquefaction process techniques have been carried out for Ultra Filtration (UF) membranes; permeate spacer and RO membranes at different stirring rates, temperatures, concentrations and reaction durations. Result: The comparison of process techniques under dynamic conditions for liquefaction and depolymerization of permeate spacer/UF & RO membranes are presented with an objective for facilitating chemical recycling or disposal of the same. Conclusion: The synergistic effect of radiation with concentration of reaction media is established.