IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/appene/v254y2019ics0306261919313868.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Combined membrane and thermal desalination processes for the treatment of ion exchange resins spent brine

Author

Listed:
  • Micari, M.
  • Cipollina, A.
  • Tamburini, A.
  • Moser, M.
  • Bertsch, V.
  • Micale, G.

Abstract

The disposal of industrial wastewater effluents represents a critical environmental issue. This work focuses on the treatment of the spent brine produced by the regeneration of ion exchange resins employed for water softening. For the first time, a comprehensive techno-economic assessment and an analysis of the energy requirements of the treatment chain are carried out, via the simulation of ad hoc implemented models. The chain is composed of nanofiltration, double-stage crystallization and multi-effect distillation. The valuable product is the brine produced by the multi-effect distillation, which can be re-used for the regeneration. Therefore, the treatment chain’s economic feasibility is evaluated via the Levelized Brine Cost, which includes the terms of cost and revenue of every unit in the chain. Varying the nanofiltration recovery, the treatment system always turns out to be economically competitive, since the Levelized Brine Cost is lower than the current cost of the fresh regenerant solution (8 $/m3). In particular, the lowest value of 4.9 $/m3 is found for a nanofiltration recovery of 25%. Moreover, the cost of the reactant used in the crystallization and the revenues of Mg(OH)2 and Ca(OH)2 play a prominent role in all scenarios. Regarding the energy demand, the thermal energy required by the evaporator is the main contribution and covers more than 30% of the operating costs (excluding the cost of the crystallization reactant, which is balanced by the hydroxides revenues). Therefore, the costs can be significantly reduced when waste heat is available in the industrial site. Overall, the treatment chain is economically feasible and allows reducing the industrial environmental impact by recycling waste streams and waste heat.

Suggested Citation

  • Micari, M. & Cipollina, A. & Tamburini, A. & Moser, M. & Bertsch, V. & Micale, G., 2019. "Combined membrane and thermal desalination processes for the treatment of ion exchange resins spent brine," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 254(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:254:y:2019:i:c:s0306261919313868
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2019.113699
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306261919313868
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.apenergy.2019.113699?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Gu, Yifan & Li, Yue & Li, Xuyao & Luo, Pengzhou & Wang, Hongtao & Robinson, Zoe P. & Wang, Xin & Wu, Jiang & Li, Fengting, 2017. "The feasibility and challenges of energy self-sufficient wastewater treatment plants," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 204(C), pages 1463-1475.
    2. Lee, Mengshan & Keller, Arturo A. & Chiang, Pen-Chi & Den, Walter & Wang, Hongtao & Hou, Chia-Hung & Wu, Jiang & Wang, Xin & Yan, Jinyue, 2017. "Water-energy nexus for urban water systems: A comparative review on energy intensity and environmental impacts in relation to global water risks," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 205(C), pages 589-601.
    3. Molinos-Senante, María & Sala-Garrido, Ramón, 2018. "Evaluation of energy performance of drinking water treatment plants: Use of energy intensity and energy efficiency metrics," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 229(C), pages 1095-1102.
    4. Longo, Stefano & d’Antoni, Benedetto Mirko & Bongards, Michael & Chaparro, Antonio & Cronrath, Andreas & Fatone, Francesco & Lema, Juan M. & Mauricio-Iglesias, Miguel & Soares, Ana & Hospido, Almudena, 2016. "Monitoring and diagnosis of energy consumption in wastewater treatment plants. A state of the art and proposals for improvement," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 179(C), pages 1251-1268.
    5. Dubreuil, Aurelie & Assoumou, Edi & Bouckaert, Stephanie & Selosse, Sandrine & Maı¨zi, Nadia, 2013. "Water modeling in an energy optimization framework – The water-scarce middle east context," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 101(C), pages 268-279.
    6. Tsolas, Spyridon D. & Karim, M. Nazmul & Hasan, M.M. Faruque, 2018. "Optimization of water-energy nexus: A network representation-based graphical approach," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 224(C), pages 230-250.
    7. Gjorgiev, Blaže & Sansavini, Giovanni, 2018. "Electrical power generation under policy constrained water-energy nexus," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 210(C), pages 568-579.
    8. Dai, Jiangyu & Wu, Shiqiang & Han, Guoyi & Weinberg, Josh & Xie, Xinghua & Wu, Xiufeng & Song, Xingqiang & Jia, Benyou & Xue, Wanyun & Yang, Qianqian, 2018. "Water-energy nexus: A review of methods and tools for macro-assessment," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 210(C), pages 393-408.
    9. Owen, Anne & Scott, Kate & Barrett, John, 2018. "Identifying critical supply chains and final products: An input-output approach to exploring the energy-water-food nexus," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 210(C), pages 632-642.
    10. Lee, Uisung & Han, Jeongwoo & Elgowainy, Amgad & Wang, Michael, 2018. "Regional water consumption for hydro and thermal electricity generation in the United States," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 210(C), pages 661-672.
    11. Panepinto, Deborah & Fiore, Silvia & Zappone, Mariantonia & Genon, Giuseppe & Meucci, Lorenza, 2016. "Evaluation of the energy efficiency of a large wastewater treatment plant in Italy," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 161(C), pages 404-411.
    12. Ahmetović, Elvis & Ibrić, Nidret & Kravanja, Zdravko, 2014. "Optimal design for heat-integrated water-using and wastewater treatment networks," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 135(C), pages 791-808.
    13. Sayyaadi, Hoseyn & Saffari, Arash, 2010. "Thermoeconomic optimization of multi effect distillation desalination systems," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 87(4), pages 1122-1133, April.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Radini, Serena & Marinelli, Enrico & Akyol, Çağrı & Eusebi, Anna Laura & Vasilaki, Vasileia & Mancini, Adriano & Frontoni, Emanuele & Bischetti, Gian Battista & Gandolfi, Claudio & Katsou, Evina & Fat, 2021. "Urban water-energy-food-climate nexus in integrated wastewater and reuse systems: Cyber-physical framework and innovations," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 298(C).
    2. Velasquez-Orta, Sharon B. & Heidrich, Oliver & Black, Ken & Graham, David, 2018. "Retrofitting options for wastewater networks to achieve climate change reduction targets," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 218(C), pages 430-441.
    3. Molinos-Senante, Maria & Maziotis, Alexandros, 2022. "Evaluation of energy efficiency of wastewater treatment plants: The influence of the technology and aging factors," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 310(C).
    4. Huang, Runyao & Shen, Ziheng & Wang, Hongtao & Xu, Jin & Ai, Zisheng & Zheng, Hongyuan & Liu, Runxi, 2021. "Evaluating the energy efficiency of wastewater treatment plants in the Yangtze River Delta: Perspectives on regional discrepancies," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 297(C).
    5. Longo, S. & Mauricio-Iglesias, M. & Soares, A. & Campo, P. & Fatone, F. & Eusebi, A.L. & Akkersdijk, E. & Stefani, L. & Hospido, A., 2019. "ENERWATER – A standard method for assessing and improving the energy efficiency of wastewater treatment plants," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 242(C), pages 897-910.
    6. Odabaş Baş, Gözde & Aydınalp Köksal, Merih, 2022. "Environmental and techno-economic analysis of the integration of biogas and solar power systems into urban wastewater treatment plants," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 196(C), pages 579-597.
    7. Zhang, S.Q. & Li, Y.P. & Huang, G.H. & Ding, Y.K. & Yang, X., 2023. "Developing a copula-based input-output method for analyzing energy-water nexus of Tajikistan," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 266(C).
    8. Adam Masłoń & Joanna Czarnota & Paulina Szczyrba & Aleksandra Szaja & Joanna Szulżyk-Cieplak & Grzegorz Łagód, 2024. "Assessment of Energy Self-Sufficiency of Wastewater Treatment Plants—A Case Study from Poland," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-19, March.
    9. Kirchem, Dana & Lynch, Muireann Á & Casey, Eoin & Bertsch, Valentin, 2019. "Demand response within the energy-for-water-nexus: A review," Papers WP637, Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI).
    10. Mehdi Sharif Shourjeh & Przemysław Kowal & Jakub Drewnowski & Bartosz Szeląg & Aleksandra Szaja & Grzegorz Łagód, 2020. "Mutual Interaction between Temperature and DO Set Point on AOB and NOB Activity during Shortcut Nitrification in a Sequencing Batch Reactor in Terms of Energy Consumption Optimization," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-21, November.
    11. Nikolaos Tsalas & Spyridon K. Golfinopoulos & Stylianos Samios & Georgios Katsouras & Konstantinos Peroulis, 2024. "Optimization of Energy Consumption in a Wastewater Treatment Plant: An Overview," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(12), pages 1-43, June.
    12. Macintosh, C. & Astals, S. & Sembera, C. & Ertl, A. & Drewes, J.E. & Jensen, P.D. & Koch, K., 2019. "Successful strategies for increasing energy self-sufficiency at Grüneck wastewater treatment plant in Germany by food waste co-digestion and improved aeration," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 242(C), pages 797-808.
    13. Ding, Tao & Liang, Liang & Zhou, Kaile & Yang, Min & Wei, Yuqi, 2020. "Water-energy nexus: The origin, development and prospect," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 419(C).
    14. Guven, Huseyin & Ersahin, Mustafa Evren & Dereli, Recep Kaan & Ozgun, Hale & Isik, Isa & Ozturk, Izzet, 2019. "Energy recovery potential of anaerobic digestion of excess sludge from high-rate activated sludge systems co-treating municipal wastewater and food waste," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 172(C), pages 1027-1036.
    15. Michela Gallo & Desara Malluta & Adriana Del Borghi & Erica Gagliano, 2024. "A Critical Review on Methodologies for the Energy Benchmarking of Wastewater Treatment Plants," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(5), pages 1-18, February.
    16. Moazeni, Faegheh & Khazaei, Javad, 2021. "Co-optimization of wastewater treatment plants interconnected with smart grids," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 298(C).
    17. Kirchem, Dana & Lynch, Muireann Á. & Bertsch, Valentin & Casey, Eoin, 2020. "Modelling demand response with process models and energy systems models: Potential applications for wastewater treatment within the energy-water nexus," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 260(C).
    18. Maziar Kermani & Ivan D. Kantor & François Maréchal, 2018. "Synthesis of Heat-Integrated Water Allocation Networks: A Meta-Analysis of Solution Strategies and Network Features," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(5), pages 1-28, May.
    19. Chew, Alvin Wei Ze & Law, Adrian Wing-Keung, 2018. "DRFM hybrid model to optimize energy performance of pre-treatment depth filters in desalination facilities," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 220(C), pages 576-597.
    20. Zaborowska, Ewa & Czerwionka, Krzysztof & Mąkinia, Jacek, 2021. "Integrated plant-wide modelling for evaluation of the energy balance and greenhouse gas footprint in large wastewater treatment plants," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 282(PA).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:254:y:2019:i:c:s0306261919313868. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/405891/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.